FACETS
JUNE 2020
The magazine for women.
FACET FACETS
Contributors
ADVERTISERS To advertise in Facets magazine, contact Mary Beth Scott at (515) 663-6951
The magazine for women. MARLYS BARKER RONNA FAABORG DAVID MULLEN Contributors KYLEE MULLEN SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ ROBBIE SEQUEIRA RONNA FAABORG KILEY WELLENDORF DAVID MULLEN KYLEE MULLEN Design ROBBIE SEQUEIRA CHELSEA PARKS KILEY WELLENDORF Design
TribunePARKS Editor CHELSEA
MICHAEL CRUMB
ADVERTISERS PHONE To advertise in Facets magazine, contact Mary Beth663-6923 Scott at (515) (515) 663-6951
ADDRESS 317 PHONE Fifth St. Ames, IA, 50010 (515) 663-6923
ADDRESS 317 Fifth St.news@amestrib.com Ames, IA, 50010
ONLINE EMAIL news@amestrib.com www.amestrib.com/sections/ special-sections/facets
ONLINE www.amestrib.com/sections/ Facets is a monthly publication special-sections/facets
of Gannett.
Facets is a monthly publication of of Gannett.
Marcia Sampson, of Nevada, shares photos of several of her plants. Contributed photo see PAGE 21 & 22
Nevada High School senior, Calissa “Callie” Derrick, poses with her book, “Cubbie and the Perfect Gift.” Photo by Marlys Barker see PAGE 4 & 5
ON THE COVER
FRANCES BARTLETT KINNE STANDS IN THE HALLWAY OF HER HOME, SURROUNDED BY PLAQUES, PHOTOS AND MEMORIES. PHOTO BY MARK E. GRISHAM/FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
see PAGE 16 & 17
ON THE COVER
Katherine Kerns, of rural Ames, says if we all make minor changes in the way we consume single-use containers, the ripple effect will be profound.
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see PAGE 6 & 7
FACETS Table of contents Features 6
Nite Owl Print and Copy
Owners retiring
14 Ames Farmer’s Market Summer
18 Stephens Auditorium Performances 2020-2021
21 Nevada Woman studies herbs Homeopathic Remedies
Spotlight 4
Making masks saves local business
8
Ames woman spreads joy with free paintings
9
Ruth David Holocaust Survivor, succumbs to COVID-19
11 Cyclone Strong online campaign raises thousands 12 Ames woman’s spiritual connection to the land 16 Fran Kinne a local legend 23 On Gardening: Angelface Wedgewood Blue
FACETS | JUNE 2020 | 3
Spotlight
Making masks saves local business, answers community call for help By David Mullen Gannett
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F
or Ames Main Street’s Threadit owner Janae Smith, March 23 was a tough day — the day she decided to close the doors to her business to encourage her customers to stay home. Although business had slowed down a bit, she said, customers were still coming to the store daily, and Smith felt guilty about it. “Customers were still coming in my shop and I felt that I was encouraging people to come out and run their normal errands,” Smith said. “I didn’t want to feel responsible for the spread of (COVID-19), and I thought of it as my social responsibility.” After two weeks of closure, however, the Iowa State University graduate began to feel the hardship. At that point, she wasn’t sure how much longer the business, which does tailoring, could last.Then, after seeing an increasing number of medical facilities like Mary Greeley and McFarland Clinic ask for personal protective equipment, she thought she could use her skills to save her business. “I knew there would be a great demand (for masks) in the area, and the best way to get masks to your local community is by sourcing them locally,” Smith said. “So yes, I wanted to answer the call for help, but it was also a strategic business move to save my business.” Since April 3, Smith and six of her associates have produced more than 350 masks to sell and have donated nearly 100 to Mary Greeley Medical Center and Youth and Shelter Services [YSS]. “We couldn’t operate the way we currently are at the hospital if we didn’t have these donations,” said Vicki Newell, manager of volunteer and older adult services at Mary Greeley Medical Center. “We can’t even begin (to say) how grateful we are.” Many others throughout the Ames and Story County communities have also answered the call for personal protective equiptment, including an Ames Police dispatcher, local 4-H groups and a grandmother in Kelley. “(Helping others) is just a way of life, and you don’t really think of it like that, but if you can (help in any way) you should,” said Angie Van Westen, a dispatcher for the Ames Police Department. “I have the ability (to sew) so I do that and I’ll keep doing that if it means I’m helping others.” Although these are unprecedented times and many fear the potential impact COVID-19 could have on the economy, their loved ones and their daily lives, Ames and Story County residents have always shown an ability to take action when needed in the past. At the beginning of 1942, shortly after President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared war on the Axis alliance in World War II, the Collegiate Manufacturing Co. in Ames decided to change ira production of caps and gowns for Iowa State students to raincoats and ponchos for the U.S.
JANAE SMITH POSES OUTSIDE OF THREADIT IN DOWNTOWN AMES, WHERE SHE HAS SWITCHED HER A TAILOR BUSINESS TO CREATING MASKS DURING THIS PANDEMIC. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Army Quartermaster Corps, said Alex Fejfar, exhibits manager at the Ames Historical Museum. Collegiate Manufacturing “was one of the first companies to get big nationally for producing products for colleges in the Midwest and nationally, but when World War II hit, they stopped production of graduation caps and gowns and starting using their large work force to support the cause,” Fejfar said. At the time, the company had two buildings on the sites the Octagon Art Center and McClanahan Studio now occupy in the 200 block of Fifth Street. It received the Army Navy “E” award for its efforts, an honor given to only 3% of companies that assisted with wartime production, Fejfar said. Harley Wilhelm, of Ames, who was in charge of production at the Ames Laboratory at the time and played an essential part in the Manhattan Project that produced the first atomic bombs, also received the prestigious honor, Fejfar said. So for businesses in Ames and residents of Story County to be answering a call at times of need is no surprise to Fejfar.
Spotlight MAKING MASKS, continued from page 4
“There’s no problem too small for Ames and the graduates of Ames to solve, and people are just proving that again today,” Fejfar said. YSS CEO Andrew Allen said they’re heroes in the war on COVID-19. “Any member of a business [or resident] who takes the time to help the front lines … are heroes,” Allen said. Although the transition from hemming pants or patching a hole in a coat hasn’t been completely smooth, Smith said she’s just happy to be able to help others, while consistently receiving support from local residents. “The local support has been overwhelming and I’m so grateful for
the community we have here,” Smith said. Orders for masks can be placed at www.threaditames.com. Masks can be picked up in person or delivered, Smith said. Ariana Engelman, an employee at Threadit, said that although times are bleak, the power of community and coming together outshines everything. “[Making these masks] is definitely a unique opportunity for all of us, but it’s just really awesome how we can all jump on board and start helping each other,” Engelman said. “As sucky as this crisis is, I think this crisis has really brought a lot of people together.”
JANAE SMITH SEWS MASKS AT THREADIT IN DOWNTOWN AMES, WHERE SHE HAS SWITCHED HER A TAILOR BUSINESS TO CREATING MASKS DURING THIS PANDEMIC. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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Feature
NITE OWL PRINT AND COPY, AT 526 MAIN ST., NO. 101, IN AMES. PHOTO BY KYLEE MULLEN/GANNETT
STEVE AND SHERRY ERB ARE RETIRING AFTER MORE THAN 38 YEARS OF OWNING AND OPERATING NITE OWL PRINT AND COPY IN AMES. PHOTO BY KYLEE MULLEN/GANNETT
Nite Owl Print and Copy owners look toward next chapter By Kylee Mullen Gannett
A
mes’ Main Street’s Nite Owl Print and Copy has come a long way over the past 38 years. And if you ask its owners, Steve and Sherry Erb, there is still a long road ahead for the business, which has offered a range of printing services in the community since the early 1980s. However, the couple said, it will be continuing without them. “We decided it was time to retire because (Steve) is 70 and I am almost 70. It was our goal to work until we were 70,” said Sherry Erb. She said she and her husband have sold the business to a couple who recently moved to the area to be closer to family. “We’re leaving it in good hands, and they’re really excited,” she said. That doesn’t make letting go any easier, the Erbs said — especially since the history behind the business spans three generations. Making history on Hayward Avenue In some ways, Sherry Erb said, it all started when her grandfather, Joe Wattoff, moved to the Ames area from Sweden to help build the Memorial Union at Iowa State University, which was completed in 1928. He later built his own full-service gas station in Campustown, and raised his three sons while running it. Then, during the Great Depression, he lost the property to the bank, but wasn’t willing to give up. He built another building, identical to the
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first, on Hayward Avenue, and reopened his gas station there. His three sons — Vern, Don and Murl, who invested in the business after returning from military service in World War II — eventually changed the business to sell cars instead of gas, but outgrew the building Sherry’s grandfather built. When they moved to a larger location, Sherry’s father, Don, bought the Hayward Avenue building and turned it into an office and retail space, “with a whole bunch of different businesses in it, and Nite Owl was in the front of that building,” she said. Nite Owl, at the time, was owned by two men in the community, but neither had time to operate the business. They were looking to sell after just a few years, and that is when Sherry and Steve Erb decided to make the business their own. Nite Owl’s beginning The Erbs, who met in third grade at United Community School and attended Iowa State University together, were working as teachers in Winterset in 1981, but felt it was time for a change. According to Sherry Erb, they began scanning the Des Moines Register for job postings and businesses for sale. They found Nite Owl, and “saw it was in dad’s old building,” and bought it on Feb. 1, 1982, in what Steve Erb called the “pre-internet
NIGHT OWL PRINT AND COPY, continued from page 6
days.” Everything about the business, the Erbs said, was different from what it is today. “We started out with a huge blueprint machine that was 6 feet long and 6 feet wide, and a line of ISU students out the door wanting their projects to be blueprinted,” Sherry Erb said. However, it was not smooth sailing. Steve, who taught industrial arts in Winterset, had to stay and finish out the school year while Sherry, with two babies in tow, moved in with her parents in Ames and started learning the ropes. “It was scarier than scary, it really was,” Sherry Erb said. “We had sunk all of our savings into buying it, and we were trying to support children. We didn’t even have a house yet. … I was leaving my kids every day, which was really hard for me, and trying to learn all of these machines when I am not mechanical.” “It was really scary, and I was so worried there wasn’t enough money coming in to really make a go of it.” It didn’t help, she said, that at one point there were four copy centers all operating on the same block between Haywood Avenue and Welch Avenue. The competition was tough, but Nite Owl persevered. Constant evolution When the couple first bought the business, they intended to focus on making plastic signs while having copy services be “just a part of it,” but they quickly realized “there was absolutely no money to be made in plastic signing, and no repeat business.” “Immediately, we had to go a different direction,” Sherry Erb said. They instead built the business by copying and printing for students and churches, who would “come in every Friday to get their church bulletin printed,” she said. And, for the first three years or so, Steve Erb said, typing resumes on a typewriter was “our bread and butter.” However, as technology continued to advance, so did the business. For example, when the couple bought a few small Macintosh computers, “it was a new era,” said Sherry Erb, who would use the computers to type resumes from home while watching their kids and send them to the shop through the telephone line. Then, as more people got access to computers and printers in their homes, the couple “went more commercial,” printing and copying for businesses, organizations and clubs. According to Sherry Erb, being able to adapt and change with the times played a big role in bringing them where they are today. “Steve has been really good at keying in on how to make money in order to survive,” Sherry Erb said. “Surviving in a small business for 38 years is really difficult. … Changing the business, deciding where you can actually make money and adapting the business constantly so that it was fluid, was key. Otherwise the business would have died.” Moving downtown About four years ago, the Erbs were faced with another change, bigger than either of them had ever imagined. “We got evicted because they were tearing down Grandpa’s building to put up a high-rise apartment building,” Sherry Erb said. “They forced me out, kicking and screaming and crying, and we had a six-week notice at Christmastime.”
Feature With little time to find and move into a new location, the couple were hard-pressed. At the same time, both of Sherry’s parents were dying, and Steve’s mother died unexpectedly. “It was just brutal, especially at our age, and it was the hardest time that we’ve ever been through,” Sherry Erb said. Luckily, they found a space at the old Ames depot, and Steve Erb began to work all day at the old shop, and all night and weekends building shelves at the new one, so they could move before the electricity would be turned off. “Our whole family and our whole church helped us one Saturday to move everything in one day so we could be open again on Monday morning,” Sherry Erb said. “But we do like the new location. It’s a gorgeous space, we love the old depot, and we have more than twice as much space as we did then.” Since then, the couple said, business has been great, and working with one another has been even better. Sherry Erb said they make it work by “always making time for jokes,” shooting rubber bands at each other or sneakily sticking packing tape on one another’s backs, and “whenever our favorite song comes on the radio, we stop whatever we are doing and we dance.” She hopes the new owners will find a similar joy when they officially begin running the business on their own. New beginnings Despite COVID-19 causing disruption for businesses all over the country, Sherry Erb said Nite Owl is still “at its peak,” and she looks forward to seeing where the new owners, Deb and Craig Tapp, take it. “It does feel slightly different now that we are keeping our front doors locked and not letting walk-in traffic come in, but we’re still getting a ton of work over the computer,” Sherry Erb said. “We’re here every day, working as fast as we can, and shipping it out, but we’re not seeing faces so it feels completely different. “It’s a really good time for the new owners to take over.” The Tapps started their first official day at Nite Owl on Thursday, and are excited to be the business’s new owners. Deb, who arrived at the shop early Thursday to begin learning from the Erbs, said, “There’s a lot to learn from their 38 years, so I hope I can learn everything they teach me.” She also looks forward to meeting the customers and facing new challenges, saying, “We’re excited for this next chapter.” Leaving will be hard for the Erbs — especially for Sherry, who said, “I’ve been doing a lot of crying. We have 38 years of relationships with people who we will probably never see again. I just cry coming into work every morning.” But the Erbs say they are looking forward to whatever is in store next, including babysitting their five grandchildren and traveling together. And, at the end of the day, they said, they are walking away proud of what they’ve built. “It’s been interesting. It’s been fun. It’s been painful. It’s been hard, hard work,” Sherry Erb said. A MECHANICAL PRINTER STEVE AND SHERRY ERB BOUGHT IN 1986 IS STILL USED TODAY FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS, INCLUDING PRINTING ON MICROWAVABLE POPCORN BAGS. PHOTO BY KYLEE MULLEN/ GANNETT
FACETS | JUNE 2020 | 7
Feature Spotlight
By David Mullen Gannett
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Local Ames woman spreads joy with free paintings
I
n an effort to provide cheer during the COVID-19 pandemic, an Ames artist and mother is sharing her love of art — and her art, too. Every three or four days, Laurie Hoifeldt sets out several canvases on a table outside of her home — four blocks northwest of Mary Greeley Medical Center in the 1500 block of Douglas Ave. — for anyone to take for free. Five years ago, Hoifeldt began an arts and painting “club” among four or five of her friends. Prior to the pandemic, they’d meet every Tuesday, as long as their schedules aligned. Since then, Hoifeldt and her friends have made hundreds if not thousands of paintings, and as their collections grew, they began storing them. “I just thought everything in the world was so dark in early March and April, and I noticed more people walking by, so I thought about my paintings that weren’t doing any good in my basement, [and] I thought maybe it would brighten somebody’s day if they get something for free, or maybe be a surprise for someone else,” Hoifeldt said. She said that since the first time she set up the the folding table with a big cardboard sign displaying “Art 4 Free” on her front lawn, she has observed more people than she could have ever imagined stopping and taking her paintings. The best part, she said, is seeing their reactions. “One time we saw a mom and two little kids. One was on a bike,” Hoifeldt said. “She rode up and her face lit up, and I told them they could take a couple of pieces. It was truly special.” Hoifeldt’s daughter Kathryn Musilek, who now lives in New York City, said the small act of kindness isn’t uncharacteristic of her mother. “It’s just a testament of her really big heart, and that she’s really giving of her talents,” Musilek said. While growing up in Nevada with her sister Julie, who now lives in San Francisco, and her brother Jens, who lives in Minneapolis, Hoifeldt always encouraged the three to get involved with arts programs, whether it was theater, band or choir, or painting, Musilek said. And although the paintings of rabbits, flowers, trees, dogs and cats have brought a countless number of laughs and smiles to community members in recent weeks, her mother’s ability to bring optimism to the community in negative times is what sticks out the most, she said. “It really just brightens people’s spirits and it shows how impactful art can become to a community,” Musilek said. “It’s a nice offering to everyone and a great way to create a community without being dangerously close to people.” Although Hoifeldt’s children won’t be coming back home to central Iowa to celebrate their mother on Mothers Day, they all will be in contact with her on social media — giving her the same love she’s been giving back to the community.
LAURIE HOIFELDT HAS BEEN GIVING SEVERAL CANVAS PAINTINGS AWAY FOR FREE SINCE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN ON HER FRONT LAWN. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Spotlight
Former Ames resident and Holocaust Survivor, Ruth David, succumbs to COVID-19
By Robbie Sequeira Gannett
R
uth David was 14 when the Kindertransport — which helped 10,000 children to escape from Adolf Hitler’s reign of terror in parts of Europe controlled by the Nazis — saved her life. She would soon translate the tragedies of being a Holocaust survivor into two books, a life of teaching and speaking internationally on life during and after the Holocaust. On April 6, at the age of 91, David passed away due to complications from the COVID-19 in Leicester where she moved to in 2000. But during her life, she once called Ames “home” for 17 years. “I know living in Ames meant an awful lot to Mom,” David’s son, Simon Finch said to the Tribune. “She also had a real gift for (developing) friendships.” Finch said his mother, who moved to Ames in 1992, created strong friendships during her first year in Ames and even adopted the “Iowa Nice” attitude. “I think the joke her new friends would say is that she found herself being the one introducing people to her husband, a long-time resident of Ames, rather than vice-versa.” Barbara Pleasants, adjunct assistant professor at Iowa State University, said David was one of the most influential people to live in Ames. Since her arrival in Ames, David was a frequent Holocaust educator through lectures and speaking engagements at the university. She, along with Pleasants, was also a member of the Ames Jewish Congregation. “There were times where she would tell stories of horrors of the Holocaust to our students and she would engage with the community (about ) stories of other survivors, and those who didn’t,” she said. “But she embraced this community as it did her in every way.” David was born in 1929 and grew up in Germany. Her parents sought refuge for her in England before being murdered by Hitler’s Nazi regime. Her most well-known book, “Child of Our Time: A Young Girl’s Flight from the Holocaust” chronicled the reality and experiences as a Holocaust survivor to groups unaware of its tragedies. Upon her return to the UK in 2000, she would annually visit Germany to teach German school children about the Holocaust. Since Hitler’s Nazi regime ended, the country has had a complicated relationship teaching and discussing the Holocaust, according to the United States Holocaust Museum. “For two decades, on annual visits to Germany, many of them found it barely imaginable that as a former pupil herself, she had once been taught under a portrait of Hitler in a class that stood up and gave the Nazi salute to teachers,”
“I KNOW LIVING IN AMES MEANT AN AWFUL LOT TO MOM,” RUTH DAVID’S SON, SIMON FINCH SAID. “SHE ALSO HAD A REAL GIFT FOR (DEVELOPING) FRIENDSHIPS.” DAVID, A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AND AMES NATIVE FOR A TIME, PASSED AWAY DUE TO COMPLICATIONS FROM THE COVID-19 ON APRIL 6. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
said Finch. Finch said that after his mother’s passing, people from all over the world reached out he and his sister Margaret Finch. But he was taken aback by the outpouring of “memories and love” from Ames, a city located miles away from Leicester, England. “In Ames, judging from the multiple letters of condolence my sister and I have received, she made several close friends and left a striking impression on dozens, if not hundreds of individuals,” Simon said. A lifelong friendship formed between Linda Emmerson and David on the tennis courts in Ames. “I remember talking to her that first time on the tennis FACETS | JUNE 2020 | 9
Spotlight RUTH - HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, continued from page 9
courts and just enjoying our talk,” said Ames native, Emmerson who stayed in touch with David until her death. “I remember visiting her two years ago in the UK; she gave me a grand tour of life there and it was the greatest day to have with her.” Emmerson and her husband, Tom visited David two years ago in the United Kingdom, and would maintain their friendship through an unbreakable chain of letters, emails and phone calls. “She always asked about how we were, how Ames was, and we’d talk about the memories shared here,” she said. “She would always invite us to the United Kingdom and always talked about future visits to Ames.” Simon said that 2019 was another banner year for David, 90, at the time. David had been active in engagements, speaking to the UK’s National Holocaust Center just weeks before her death, and making two trips to Germany and one to Madeira, Portugal in Christmas. She had so much more planned, with continued speaking engagements and lectures. She even continued visits to Simon and Margaret to spend time with grandchildren, such as spending her 90th birthday with her family in March 2019. “We had a really good year, doing all sorts including two trips to Germany and one to Madeira,” said Simon. The COVID pandemic hit the United Kingdom, with its first case on February 28. The United Kingdown went to lockdown on March 23, a three-week period of lockdown measures to ensure social distancing and limit the spread of the novel coronavirus.” Simon said his mother, Ruth had been social distancing since March 16, “taking every precaution she could.” “She was being ultra-careful since March 16 and only two people were coming into her home,” said Simon. But on March 27, Ruth who had declared that she felt ‘healthier than in months’ — had been experiencing COVID-related symptoms, which included a high-grade fever and bouts of confusion. Over the ensuing days, Ruth had been experiencing a strong cough and began losing weight. On April 2, two weeks after the UK had been shut down, Ruth was admitted into expert care at a hospital in Leicester. Ruth’s health had deteriorated rapidly, having difficulty breathing and maintaining a level of lucidity. “I remember her being lucid enough when leaving home to explain to the very nice ambulance man, ‘My parents were killed in the holocaust,’” he said. “He was terribly sympathetic.” Ruth was able to get tested at the hospital ward, and Finch said the health workers gave them the highest quality of service. “They told us within a couple of hours admission that she had COVID-19 pneumonia in both lungs and in the afternoon that she was not responding to intravenous antibiotics,” he said. Simon said Ruth was able to get tested and start palliative care as her health was worsening.
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She succumbed to the virus on April 6. “It’s been an unsure time and everything has changed,” he said. “They are beginning to ease some restrictions.” Ruth’s daughter, Margaret described her death as “rapid and shocking.” “But I suspect it was so fast that she didn’t have time to be frightened,” she said. Simon said the outpouring of love from Ruth’s Ames family, which also experiencing its own relationship with the COVID-19 pandemic, has been “amazing.” Former Ames Mayor Ann Campbell said Ruth David was a one of a kind person, who impacted Ames from the moment she set foot. “Ruth was an amazing person, the memories and stories she left here will always have an effect,” said Campbell to the Tribune. “This place has always missed her presence when she left. But Ames will always be home for her.”
Spotlight
‘Cyclone Strong’ online campaign raises thousands for students, campus By Kiley Wellendorf Gannett
T
he Iowa State Cyclone community is giving back to students who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting the university’s newest fundraising campaign, “Cyclone Strong.” Cyclone Strong first launched by the Iowa State University Foundation on March 19, after the foundation learned of students’ financial needs on campus, according to Mary Evanson, Assistant Vice President of Development at ISU Foundation. “The ISU Foundation’s mission always is to support the advancement of Iowa State University, so we do that by aligning donor passion and generosity with the needs of the University,” Evanson said. “When we learned that there were some financial needs and some impact related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ISU Foundation mobilized — like we often do — and started to gather information from our partners to learn about how we can help, what the needs are, and how private funding could potentially make a difference.” The foundation began gathering information about the impact around early March as students began returning from study abroad experiences, Evanson said. “Even in those really early conversations, it was apparent that the impact was going to be significant, and that students were going to need assistance, so taking all of that information into account and consideration, we launched the Cyclone Strong crowdfunding campaign on March 19,” Evanson said. Although Cyclone Strong is meant to help address the needs of the university created from the pandemic, the online campaign is primarily focused on student needs, according to Evanson. “We established the fund really as a fairly unrestricted fund that could help with emergency needs,” Evanson said. “Really, COVID-19 was the catalyst for this, but this fund could live on and likely will live on to address additional emergency needs as they emerge on campus.” “The needs are significant and they’re really evolving.” The fund was also launched without a goal, knowing that “whatever was donated would be put to immediate use to help students.” “This isn’t a new concept, but the conditions under which it was established are certainly very new to us,” Evanson said. “None of us have experienced anything like this before, so in a lot of ways, this is new.” More recently, Cyclone Strong has caught the interest of those at the university, sparking ISU Book Store to create an official “Cyclone Strong” t-shirt for $15 dollars, where all proceeds will be donated to the Cyclone Strong fund. Some of those needs highlighted on the Campus Store website
THE IOWA STATE CYCLONE COMMUNITY IS GIVING BACK TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN FINANCIALLY IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BY SUPPORTING THE UNIVERSITY’S NEWEST FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, “CYCLONE STRONG.” GANNETT FILE PHOTO
include assisting university citizens who were studying abroad and faced unexpected expenses due to returning home because of the pandemic, and also providing grant emergency aid for students to help with paying bills and buying groceries. “During this time, we send each of you the very best Cyclone wishes from the heart of campus,” ISU Book Store wrote online at the “Cyclone Strong” t-shirt page. “And we ask that, even as we all practice social distancing, we come together online to show our support.” Evanson said Cyclone Fanatics have also designed a “Cyclones Helping Cyclones” T-shirt where proceeds will be donated to the Cyclone Strong fund. Outside of apparel sales, the Board of Directors for the ISU Foundation recently issued a challenge to match $20,000 dollars in donations, Evanson said. “Gestures like these are so kind and appreciated,” Evanson said. “It’s a bright light in a gloomy situation. By the end of April, more than 230 donors have contributed to the campaign, raising over $53,000 dollars, according to Evanson. “The response has been overwhelmingly positive, as is often the case with Iowa State alumni and friends — they’re incredibly generous,” Evanson said. “They’ve responded by providing positive words of encouragement to our students and helping spread the message on social media.” More information on the online campaign can be found on the ISU Foundation’s website at: https://fundisu.foundation. iastate.edu/project/20443.
FACETS | JUNE 2020 | 11
Spotlight
Ames woman has spiritual connection to the land By Sara JordanHeintz Contributing Writer
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C
aitlin Wendigo self-describes as “hippy dippy.” Since her childhood days, she’s had a spiritual connection to animals and nature. By day, she works as a tattoo artist at Heroic Ink in Ames. In her downtown, she relishes spending time outdoors with her family, interacting with the plants and creatures that inhabit her 7-acre property in rural Ames. A native of Dayton, a small town in Webster County, she recalls spending her adolescence on her grandparents’ farm. “They’re the reason why I love nature. I called my grandparents ‘Grandma and Grandpa Garden,’” she said with a laugh. Visitors to her home will find her pet pig Pua grazing all day long. Wendigo said she would soon be adding chickens to the mix of creatures that roam her land. “I have a different take on it all. As humans,
TATTOO ARTIST CAITLIN WENDIGO RELISHES THE TIME SHE SPENDS OUTDOORS TAKING IN THE SIGHTS, SOUNDS AND SMELLS OF NATURE, ON HER 7-ACRE PROPERTY OUTSIDE OF AMES. PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ
Spotlight CAITLIN WENDIGO, continued from page 12
we’re the top of the food chain and we are the ‘masters’ of the earth. I truly believe we were chosen to take care of the earth,” she said. “But we need to give back to the things that were here before us, that will be here after we’re gone.” She said she has kept up with news reports about how pollution rates across the globe have gone down in light of people staying home more due to COVID-19. “The earth won’t miss us if we’re gone. What we need to do as humans is take care of the earth in a way it would miss us if we were gone,” she added. Wendigo plants a small vegetable garden every year, shops at farmers’ markets and tries to buy organic products when she can. “Everything is connected. The hummingbirds will be coming in soon and they’re really attracted to the vegetables, and the hummingbirds are great for the flowers,” she said. “When I think of plants, nature and botanicals, I remember the oxygen the trees give us.” She encourages her children to talk to plants and she’s even named the ones she grows inside her home. She tries to leave
nature alone as much as she can, resisting any urge to pull up weeds. She leaves fallen tree limbs where they fall. “Just leave things alone if you don’t know how to care for them,” she said. Wendigo feels there’s a magical element to the outdoors. “My kids say that’s where the spirits live,” she says, smiling, as she points to a pile of rocks, tree logs and vegetation growing in a spot in her back yard. “I consider myself a very spiritual person. I don’t necessarily follow any sort of traditional religion,” she said. “It’s pretty impossible to explain how perfect everything in nature is for what we need. Caring for plants, even if it’s just a tiny succulent in your apartment, it brings us this feeling of peace and tranquility; it gives you something to focus on.” She said she hopes once COVID-19’s risk diminishes, people will take to the outdoors and find projects — large and small — to work on that better the earth in some way.
CAITLIN WENDIGO SAID SHE BELIEVES NATURE PROVIDES US WITH WHAT WE NEED. HERE, SHE INTERACTS WITH HER PET PIG, PUA, WHO ENJOYS GRAZING ON THE LAND. PHOTO BY SARA JORDAN-HEINTZ
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COLORFUL PRODUCE LINES TABLES AT A PAST YEAR’S AMES MAIN STREET FARMERS’ MARKET. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
After a virtual opening, the Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market returns to downtown By Kiley Wellendorf Gannett
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he Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market opened on May 23, after being a virtual market for the first few weeks of the season. In an effort to abide by social distancing guidelines, attendance for the Saturday market is currently limited to 600 people at a time, according to a news release from the Ames Chamber of Commerce. “We are very excited to bring the Market back for another year,” market manager Lojean Petersen said in the release. “Although this year’s Market will look different than in years past, we’re taking special care to ensure the safety of our vendors and attendees.” Each vendor will be spread out, Petersen said, which will assist in social distancing and assure lines will not cross over one another. The Market also is asking that patrons refrain from
touching the items at the market. Vendors — who will wear masks and gloves — will be the only ones handling products. Though the Ames City Council voted in favor of the reopening during its May 12 meeting, it set restrictions that included the sale of foods prepared on site, food trucks, and wine and other beverage tasting. Per Gov. Kim Reynolds’ restrictions, entertainment and seating areas are prohibited at markets across Iowa. If the market does not abide by guidelines, the council reserved the right to rescind permission for it to operate. “We’re going to have our theme be, ‘stop, shop, and go,’” Petersen told the Tribune. “We’ve love you to come down and stop and shop with us, but quickly shop and exit so we can allow others to shop and follow the guidelines that the governor laid out. “We’re going to be very careful with monitoring the
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situation because of course our first priority is keeping everybody safe.” Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the market had anticipated opening at the beginning of May. It began operating online as the Virtual Market on May 9, and plans continue to offer online purchases throughout the season, with pickup at the back door of the Chamber of Commerce, the press release said. Items from the market can be found online at amesmainstreetfarmersmarket.locallygrown.net. Check the website or the Market’s Facebook page for updates as changes occur during the pandemic.
COLORFUL PRODUCE LINES TABLES AT A PAST YEAR’S AMES MAIN STREET FARMERS’ MARKET. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS
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Spotlight
Fran Kinne: The life of a local legend By Ronna Faaborg Gannett
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r. Frances Bartlett Kinne was two weeks shy of her 103rd birthday when she died on May 10. She was a glass ceiling breaker, a generous benefactor, a small-town Story City girl who never forgot her roots and never stopped loving her hometown, no matter where she was in the world. Born on May 23, 1917, six days before the birth of futurepresident John F. Kennedy, Kinne was raised in Story City and retained close ties with the town for more than a century. As recently as September, she donated $40,000 for the repair of the town’s historic Swinging Bridge, a 1936 Works Progress Administration project that sustained damage last year from flood-driven ice. Fran grew up in Story City, the daughter of Charles and Bertha Bartlett. Her father published the Story City Herald, and her mother was the first full-time librarian for the community, which made Bertha Bartlett the namesake of its library. Bertha, too, lived to see her 100th birthday. With a love for music and literature, she became a trailblazer in education: she was the first woman to receive a doctorate from the University of Frankfurt, the first female dean of a fine arts college in the United States and the first woman to serve as president of a Florida university. At the age of 16, Kinne entered Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, now known as the University of Northern Iowa, and subsequently transferred to Drake University in Des Moines. She was a talented pianist and
FRAN KINNE STANDS BETWEEN BOB HOPE AND JACK BENNY AFTER THE MEN WERE AWARDED HONORARY DOCTORATES FROM JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY. REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM “IOWA GIRL: THE PRESIDENT WEARS A SKIRT” BY FRANCES BARTLETT KINNE
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FRAN KINNE JUST AFTER JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY WON THE SUNBELT TOURNAMENT WIN IN BIRMINGHAM, ALA. PHOTO BY DAVE MARTIN/ASSOCIATED PRESS
studied music at Drake. After teaching music at a number of central Iowa schools, Kinne became a U.S. Army Entertainer during World War II. She served as a United States Army Hostess at Camp Crowder in Missouri, ultimately becoming the head hostess in a program that served 70,000 troops. Following the war, while serving as the recreational director at a V.A. hospital in Leavenworth, Kan., she met her first husband Lt. Colonel Harry Kinne. While living in China in 1948, the Kinnes were evacuated from the country’s interior as the communist revolution occurred. During the Korean War, Harry was on General MacAuthur’s staff and Fran served as Director of Music and Assistant Entertainment Director for the Far East Command for the U.S. Army’s Special Services. In 1955, Harry accepted a command assignment in Germany and Fran began completing her PhD at the University of Frankfurt. It was here that she studied under professors such as the well-known Dr. Max Horkheimer. Upon returning to the U.S, Harry accepted a position with the Florida National Guard. The move to Florida was fateful as Fran became involved with Jacksonville University as a professor. It was here that Fran would become the first woman in the United States to serve as dean of a fine arts college. A short time later she would be the first woman to serve as president of a Florida university, holding that role at JU for 10 years from 1979 to 1989. Kinne’s tenure as president included the founding of the Davis College of Business and the Keigwin School of Nursing at JU. In 1989, she moved to the new role of JU’s chancellor, retiring from the role in 1994 but retaining the title of chancellor emerita. Even as she aged past a century of life, Fran continued to remain active, serving on multiple boards, including
Spotlight FRAN KINNE, continued from page 16
the Mayo Hospital Board. She often returned to visit her beloved hometown of Story City. Despite her accomplishments and impressive resume, she remained kind and lovable and approachable. “I met Fran within the first three months of becoming the library director in Story City, and I am pretty sure she called me before I actually met her,” Bertha Bartlett Public Library director Kolleen Taylor said. “I remember she was excited to meet me, and I was a little scared — but when we met, her enthusiasm just bubbled from her.” During one of her first visits, Kinne insisted on meeting Taylor’s parents and Aunt Cleo and invited them all to lunch. “My family was overwhelmed with her joy in meeting them,” Taylor said, “and the conversation jumped rapidly from the library to music they grew up with, experiences they shared and so many topics that had to be rare to have so much commonality. “My aunt was a few years older than Fran, my dad a few years younger. My dad was smitten, my mom and aunt astonished at all she had done. From that day onward, she became part of my family, always asking about how my family was doing. “She was one of the first I told about my dad and my aunt’s deaths, and she has been a strength for me since my mom’s stroke, following the path into dementia. She shared my heartbreak on multiple occasions, and we shared tears when her nephews Phil and Carl Hermanson passed away.” Kinne remained active in university life until the coronavirus
pandemic suspended the routines of normal campus life. She had been recovering from a stroke suffered on April 21 at her home. “Fran was the best spokeswoman for her hometown, she told everyone about Story City,” said Kate Feil, director of the Museums of Story City, an organization for which Kinne was a generous benefactor. “We will miss her visits back home and the wisdom she imparted. Fran was a generous supporter of many organizations in town, Story City was truly blessed to have such a wonderful friend.” Kinne brought to JU an array of eminent personalities across a wide range of fields — from Jack Benny to Arthur Fiedler, from Linus Pauling to Ross Perot. In her many roles, she crossed paths with famous figures local and national — her autobiography, “Iowa Girl: The President Wears a Skirt,” was published in 2000 with forewords from Bob Hope, Charlton Heston and Winston Churchill, grandson of the wartime British prime minister. “Fran was such an elegant lady who cared about everyone she met and her home town of Story City,” said Mike Jensen, Story City’s mayor and a good friend of Kinne. “She always said, ‘Others before self.’ She will certainly be missed by so very many. “God bless the memory of Dr. Frances Bartlett Kinne.” Fran was preceded in death by her first husband, Col. Harry L. Kinne, who died in 1981, and her second husband, Col. M. Worthington Bordley Jr., who died in 1996. Funeral services are expected to be in Story City at a future date. Burial was in the Story City Cemetary on May 15.
FRAN, AGE 2, AND HER BROTHER CHARLES, AGE 5. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MUSEUMS OF STORY CITY FRANCIS BARTLETT KINNE STANDS IN THE HALLWAY OF HER HOME, SURROUNDED BY PLAQUES, PHOTOS AND MEMORIES. PHOTO BY MARK E. GRISHAM/FLORIDA TIMES-UNION
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BALLET HISPANICO WILL TAKE THE STAGE AT STEPHENS AUDITORIUM ON JAN. 25. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
ONE OF THE SHOWS IN THE BROADWAY SERIES, “CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY” WILL BE PERFORMED ON APRIL 8. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Stephens Auditorium looks forward to 2020-21 Performing Arts Series By Ronna Faaborg Gannett
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tephens Auditorium plays a leading role in central Iowa’s performing arts scene, and this week it announced the lineup for its Performing Arts Series for the new season, which starts in the fall. “Our 2020-2021 Performing Arts Series brings a classic line-up full of laughter and tears, happy endings and thought-provoking performances,” said Tammy Koolbeck, executive director of the Iowa State Center. This year’s four-show Broadway series includes “South Pacific,” “Anastasia,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Performing Arts Series subscriptions are on sale now. The Performing Arts Series is a highly anticipated opportunity to enjoy live performance — anticipated more, perhaps, than any time in recent history after the community has been sheltering in place for so long due to the pandemic. After a shutdown of performances this spring, the Iowa State Center staff has been mindful of the coronavirus and will continue to be moving forward, Koolbeck said. “As our community, our state and our country work to contain the COVID-19 virus, our staff is learning about how best to re-open Stephens when our programming starts again,” Koolbeck said. “We are working with venue industry leaders who are establishing cleaning and disinfecting protocols with governmental agencies including the CDC.” Staff at the Iowa State Center and VenuWorks, which manages Stephens Auditorium, are contemplating several different scenarios with how social distancing and PPE may become part of their events to keep patrons and staff safe and healthy. “We will not re-open until it has been determined safe,” Koolbeck said. “To that end, we will be offering refunds and
unlimited ticket exchanges to season shows for the 2020-21 season. We are expecting there to be some turbulence in this unprecedented time and we will be ready to guide our patrons through any concerns or issues that may arise.” Subscription orders can be placed online at www.center. iastate.edu/orderonline. Individual tickets go on sale in the fall. Here is the lineup of shows, as released by Stephens Auditorium: Russian String Orchestra – Tuesday, Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. The Ames International Orchestra Festival welcomes Misha Rachlevsky and the Russian String Orchestra for a mini-residency. They will present a public performance in Stephens Auditorium on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Founded in 1991 as Chamber Orchestra Kremlin, the orchestra is comprised of some of Russia’s finest young string players and has carved a niche for itself under the creative baton of founder Misha Rachlevsky. With highlyacclaimed recording and mesmerizing concerts, the Russian String Orchestra’s warmth and high energy create addictive performances that stay with listeners long after the last note has been played. The program will include “Variations on the theme by Tchaikovsky” by Anton Arensky; “Italian Serenade” by Hugo Wolf; “Serenade Melancolique for violin and orchestra” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky with Evgeny Pravilov on violin; “Longing for Light for string orchestra” by Jeffrey Prater; and “String Quartet No. 3 in A minor” by Robert Schumann. The Russian String Orchestra residency is supported, in part, through local option tax funds provided by the city of Ames through the Ames Commission on the Arts and the Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau Community Grant Program. The performance is made possible, in part, by
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generous gifts from Arthur Klein, Warren and Beverly Madden, and Rae Reilly and the estate of Peter J. Reilly. The Fab Four – Saturday, Oct 3, 8 p.m. If you want to experience the best Beatles tribute ever, you won’t want to miss The Fab Four-The Ultimate Tribute. The Emmy Award winning Fab Four is elevated far above every other Beatles tribute due to their precise attention to detail. With uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles’ classics such as “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Yesterday,” “A Day In The Life,” “Twist And Shout,” “Here Comes The Sun” and “Hey Jude,” the Fab Four will make you think you are watching the real thing. Their incredible stage performances include three costume changes representing every era of the Beatles ever-changing career. This loving tribute to the Beatles has amazed audiences in countries around the world, including Japan, Australia, France, Hong Kong, The United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico and Brazil. This performance is made possible, in part, by generous gifts from Steve and Randi Peters and Brent and Maggie Wynja. Whose Live Anyway? – Friday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m. The current cast members of the Emmy-nominated TV show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” are proud to present their new improv tour: Whose Live Anyway? The improve show is 90 minutes of hilarious improvised comedy and song all based on audience suggestions. Cast members Ryan Stiles, Jeff B. Davis, Dave Foley and Joel Murray will leave you gasping with the very witty scenes they invent before your eyes. Audience participation is key to the show, so bring your suggestions and you might be asked to join the cast on stage. Whose Live Anyway? showcases some of the improv games made famous on the long-running TV show as well as some exciting new ones. All ages are welcomed, but please note that some PG-13 language will be used during the performance. This performance is made possible, in part, by generous gifts from Jay and Karen Heldt Chapman. Capitol Steps – Monday, Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m. Originally founded by a group of Senate staffers, this satirical comedy group knows first-hand just what goes on in our nation’s capital, and they don’t pull any punches. Among the current members, 18 Congressional offices are represented from a span of over 62 years (though not all current members are former Capitol Hill staffers). From their inception, the Capitol Steps have recorded 35 albums, the most recent of which is titled “Orange is the New Barack.” Through the years, they have been featured on NBC, CBS, ABC and PBS, while producing biannual “Politics Takes a Holiday” radio specials on National Public Radio stations nationwide. While the Capitol Steps are based in Washington, D.C., their comedy is accessible to all with an interest in politics. They continually update their material to keep up with the headlines, so no matter what’s in the news, the Capitol Steps are equal opportunity offenders. This performance is made possible, in part, by generous gifts from Betty and Craig Miller, John and Suzan Shierholz and Brent and Maggie Wynja. Ballet Hispanico – Monday, Jan. 25, 7 p.m. An established international force, Ballet Hispanico continues to mold the landscape of contemporary dance in the United States and beyond. Ballet Hispanico ignites cultural pride, elevates diverse artists, and stresses the importance of the universal, physical
Feature language accessible to everyone — dance! The company’s 50th anniversary touring repertory spans generations of Latinx artists honoring the legacy of those who laid the foundations and those who continue to explore, bringing people together to celebrate joy and diversity without the trappings of stereotypes. To and from Beyoncé and beyond, theatricality and passion propel every move. “When Ballet Hispanico’s dancers take the stage, watch out. No one struts, kicks, spins, leaps, and gyrates the way they do. Their joy is infectious.” – Newsday This performance is made possible, in part, by a generous gift from Elizabeth Beck. DRUMLine Live – Saturday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m. DRUMLine Live is a show-stopping attraction created by the music team behind 20th Century Fox’s hit movies, “Drumline” and “Drumline: A New Beat.” Having paraded onto some of the biggest theatre stages in America, Japan and Korea, and performed more than 300 shows since 2009, the show features new music and choreography. The legendary Historically Black College and University (HBCU) band experience comes alive with this worldclass cast of percussionists, musicians and dancers. Be prepared to laugh, sing, dance and cry, because DRUMLine Live is a highoctane musical roller coaster ride that is guaranteed to touch every emotion in your body. With riveting rhythms, bold beats and ear-grabbing energy, DRUMLine Live is a synchronized musical showcase of the legendary HBCU experience that will also feature various genres of music from hip-hop, American soul, gospel, jazz and more. DRUMLine Live brings a unique style of drumming, mesmerizing musicianship and energetic choreography never before seen on stage. This performance is made possible, in part, by a generous gift from Randy and Cathy Fitzgerald. South Pacific – Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m. (Broadway) Love transcends the harsh realities of war and prejudice in this sweeping Pulitzer Prize-winning tale centered around two unlikely love affairs. Set on a tropical island during World War II, this timeless Rodgers & Hammerstein classic features some of the most beautiful music ever composed woven into an inspiring story cherished the world over. Winner of 10 Tony Awards, the beloved score’s songs include “Some Enchanted Evening,” “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair” and “There is Nothin’ Like a Dame” amid big, Broadway performances and a chorus of American sailors and Navy nurses ready to take you to Bali Ha’i. This performance is made possible, in part, by a generous gift from Brian and Tanya Anderson. Anastasia – Thursday, Feb. 25, 8 p.m. (Broadway) Inspired by the beloved films, the romantic and adventure-filled new musical Anastasia is on a journey to Stephens Auditorium at last! From the Tony Award-winning creators of the Broadway classic “Ragtime,” this dazzling show transports us from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of Paris in the 1920s, as a brave young woman sets out to discover the mystery of her past. Pursued by a ruthless Soviet officer determined to silence her, Anya enlists the aid of a dashing conman and a lovable ex-aristocrat. Together, they embark on an epic adventure to help her find home, love and family.
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Feature “Anastasia” features a book by celebrated playwright Terrence McNally, a lush new score by Stephen Flaherty (music) and Lynn Ahrens (lyrics) with direction by Tony Award winner Darko Tresnjak. This performance is made possible, in part, by a generous gift from Duane and Megan Wolf. Fiddler on the Roof – Tuesday, March 2, 7 p.m. (Broadway) Rich with musical hits you know and love, including “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “To Life (L’Chaim!),” Fiddler on the Roof is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love and laughter. Tony-winning director Bartlett Sher and the team behind “South Pacific,” “The King and I” and 2017 Tony-winning Best Play “Oslo,” bring a fresh and authentic vision to this beloved theatrical masterpiece from Tony winner Joseph Stein and Pulitzer Prize winners Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. Featuring a talented cast, lavish orchestra and stunning movement and dance from Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter, based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins, “Fiddler on the Roof” will introduce a new generation to the uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy! To love! To life! This performance is made possible, in part, by generous gifts from Jim Beckwith and Cecilia and Jack Horner. Prague Symphony Orchestra – Friday, March 5, 7:30 p.m. Brimming with joy and national pride, the Prague Symphony Orchestra brings a cheerful, optimistic program featuring Smetana’s “Bartered Bride Overture,” Dvorak’s lush “Eighth Symphony” and Schumann’s “Piano Concerto in A minor, opus 54.” Discover the thrilling beauty of this internationally renowned orchestra as each piece takes you through an emotional experience. The Prague Symphony Orchestra is a top tier musical ensemble and the official orchestra of the Czech capital. The program will include music by Beethoven and Dvorak. This performance is made possible, in part, by generous gifts from Arthur Klein, Warren and Beverly Madden and Rae Reilly. Additional support come from local option tax funds provided by the city of Ames through the Ames Commission on the Arts. Nathan Carter – Sunday, March 7, 7 p.m. Taking the music world by storm, Irish phenomenon Nathan Carter brings his action-packed live show, Celtic Roots, to Stephens Auditorium! Backed by his stellar six-piece band and with special guest Chloe Agnew (former star of Celtic Woman), Carter’s live show is a unique blend of Celtic, Irish, country and pop favorites not to be missed. Performing with Irish warmth and infectious energy, fans will hear hits like “Caledonia,” “Wagon Wheel,” “The Rare Auld Times” and “The Irish River.” Carter first catapulted into stardom in his native Ireland, charming audiences on guitar, piano and accordion. Since his start at local venues, his career has become a national success story. With five No. 1 albums, two No. 1 singles, and three No. 1 live performance DVDs, Carter is now Ireland’s No. 1 Live Act and is blazing a trail to worldwide success. Velocity – Friday, March 26, 7 p.m. Velocity Irish Dance, the next generation in Irish tap, is an expressive, free, fast-paced and edgy performance driven by passion and pride. Led by Guinness World Record holder for The 20 | FACETS | JUNE 2020
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Fastest Feet in the World, James Devine, and five-time World Champion Irish dancer, David Geaney, and joined on stage by a motley crew of mind-blowing musicians and an old school scratch DJ, it’s nothing like you’ve ever seen before! These two illustrious hoofers come together in an intimate, no-nonsense jam session of impossible scuffles and shuffles. Honoring past traditions but blasting feet first into the 21st Century, Velocity Irish Dance breaks away from the idea of what an Irish dance show is to one that is a high-octane celebration of the past, present and future of Irish dance! This performance is made possible, in part, by a generous gift from Mike and Tammy Koolbeck. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Thursday, April 8, 7 p.m. (Broadway) Roald Dahl’s amazing tale is now Ames’ golden ticket! It’s the perfect recipe for a delectable treat: songs from the original film, including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” alongside a toe-tapping and ear-tickling new score from the songwriters of “Hairspray.” Willy Wonka is opening his marvelous and mysterious chocolate factory — to a lucky few. That includes Charlie Bucket, whose bland life is about to burst with color and confection beyond his wildest dreams. He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerizing joyride through a world of pure imagination. Now’s your chance to experience the wonders of Wonka like never before — get ready for Oompa-Loompas, incredible inventions, the great glass elevator, and more, more, more at this everlasting showstopper! This performance is made possible, in part, by a generous gift from Todd and Jill Klindt.
DRUMLINE LIVE WILL PERFORM AT STEPHENS AUDITORIUM ON JAN. 30. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
“FIDDLER ON THE ROOF” IS ONE OF THE BROADWAY SERIES SHOWS IN STEPHENS AUDITORIUM’S 2020-21 SEASON. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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MARCIA SAMPSON, OF NEVADA, SHARES PHOTOS OF SEVERAL OF HER PLANTS. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Nevada woman studies herbs, homeopathic remedies By Sara JordanHeintz Contributing Writer
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arcia Sampson, of Nevada, got interested in growing herbs for making teas and elixirs out of necessity for treating a variety of medical conditions that didn’t respond to traditional medicine. “I have allergies to a lot of medicines, so my doctor told me to think outside the box. I don’t think he meant essential oils and herbs, but this is where I went with it,” Sampson said. “I have three pages of allergies to medicine.” She says her health dramatically declined after being implanted with Essure in 2011, a medical device crafted from metal coils for female sterilization, later pulled from the market. Its manufacturer, Bayer, has been hit with thousands of lawsuits. Even after having the product removed, Sampson says she still suffers from sunlight sensitivity, severe migraines, new food allergies, hair loss and extreme weight loss, among other ailments.
“It changed everything about my DNA,” she said. By day, she works as a bus driver for the Nevada School District. In her free time, she does online learning through the Heart of Herbs Herbal School. On its website, the school says it educates, “doctors, nurses, mothers, massage therapists, doulas, midwives, bankers, clergy, missionaries and basically anyone who wants to learn about herbs or aromatherapy.” Once she completes the program, Sampson would like to operate a side business selling herbs to “help people who are interested in holistic care like I am. I started doing this in 2013 when I did not know what I was doing and I made a lot of mistakes. When I started the schooling in 2017 that’s when I realized more what to do.” Sampson grows her own catnip, basil, cilantro, mint, thyme, lavender and wormwood. She is busy getting the
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small greenhouse on her property ready for an assortment of plants and flowers to reside inside. She said she and her family primarily suffer from migraines and sensitive skin. Salves for eczema and dry skin are crafted using burdock. Calendula oil has antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial components, which aid in the healing of wounds, soothes eczema and relieves diaper rash. It can also be used as an antiseptic. Feverfew traditionally is used to treat fevers, migraine headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, stomachaches, toothaches, insect bites, infertility and problems with menstruation. Wormwood can help ease digestive problems, as well as gall bladder disease and intestinal spasms. The types of herbs she brews in teas for migraine relief include catnip, spearmint, peppermint, skullcap and feverfew. Symptom relief is achieved in 45 minutes to an hour, Sampson said. “I start with using one teaspoon for making a cup of tea,” she said. “With my migraines, they’re so bad, I usually do one and a half teaspoons.” Sampson makes tinctures and elixirs. The main difference between the two is an elixir is a tincture but it is sweetened by using a simple syrup. They are both made by grinding herbs and mixing them with either alcohol, vegetable glycerin or apple cider vinegar. The concoction is then left alone in a dark cabinet for four weeks, and then strained. A dose is administered under the tongue. Its shelf life depends on how the elixirs and tinctures were made. “Some glycerin ones can last up to four years if kept in a very dark cupboard,” she said. “Also, apple cider elixirs and tinctures can keep good up to four years if they are kept in a dark cupboard; if not they won’t last past a year. Alcohol (such as brandy or vodka) ones will keep for four to six years, and this is why people use alcohol most often.” Sampson makes an elderberry syrup year-round for general health purposes. She creates a fire cider in July, which has to set for four to six weeks. It is made with apple cider vinegar, horseradish, peppers, garlic, onions, lemons and oranges. After the proper time passes, you take everything out and mix in honey. You can take a shot of it every morning, she said. Being allergic to cinnamon, Sampson creates her own holidaythemed beverage. “I make my own coffee blend: it has cloves, cherry coffee, anise, nutmeg and ginger. I have an espresso machine and brew it out. Then I put honey and half-and-half in it. Cherry coffee is low caffeine,” she noted. Trial and error is the key to working with herbs, and sometimes these plants don’t grow at the speed in which the grower would prefer. “Buy already growing lavender and then replant it. I do cheat. Ones we planted do take a while to grow,” she said. For an over-all pleasant and pleasing tea, try brewing hibiscus, rose hips or rose petals. When in doubt, she uses a popular nature app called iNaturalist, which assists people with identifying the flora and fauna around you.
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MARCIA SAMPSON, OF NEVADA, SHARES PHOTOS OF SEVERAL OF HER PLANTS. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Spotlight
On Gardening: Angelface Wedgewood Blue will make you a believer in summer snapdragons By Norman Winter Tribune News Service
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he day you look at a Wedgewood Blue Summer Snapdragon is the day you will get hooked and believe anything is possible with today’s flowers. It looks as though each flower is a rare piece of hand-painted porcelain. Wedgewood Blue is part of the Angelface series of summer snapdragons, which represents nine different selections with pages of awards. If you are about ready to hit pause button on The Garden Guy and ask what in the world is a summer snapdragon, I don’t blame you. I would return by asking: Do you know this flower by the name of angelonia? The industry spent a number of years calling the plants angelonias, and many continue the trend — and that is OK. Then others like Proven Winners switched to summer snapdragon, which is about perfect. Botanically speaking they are Angelonia angustifolia and native from Mexico to the West Indies, Central and parts of South America. They are indeed as much a snapdragon as the cool season Antirrhinum majus from Europe that many of grow as a fall planted annual. If you look at the flower close-up, you indeed see what looks like a mouth with some tiny chompers. The angelonia or summer snapdragon seems to be on an unstoppable course of rising popularity thanks to varieties like the Angelface series. It seems every year there are new varieties, new colors and habits from their heights and widths to those that trail. Not only are we experiencing the influx of new varieties, but commercial landscapers and savvy gardeners everywhere are creating new and dazzling combinations from the flower border to the mixed container. The Garden Guy has been growing Angelface Perfectly Pink and attracting a lot of attention with its large flowers and sturdy robust branching, I am using them as thriller plants in smoke-stack type containers with Lemon Coral Sedum and Whirlwind Blue Scaevola. I was amazed at the quick branching giving multiple blooming stems. Gardeners, I promise you will love it. Angelface Wedgewood Blue, the variety I mentioned first, has won awards from Oregon State University in the West to Cornell in New York, so you may be wondering about the hot, humid south. Well, it was Top Performer and Best of the Best in University of Georgia Trials and a Perfect Score All Summer at Oklahoma State University. Don’t forget its native range is hot and humid, sweltering with lots of rain. One of the most elegant uses I ever had the opportunity to see and photograph was a container with King Tut papyrus grass as a tall but airy thriller and Angelface Wedge Blue used as a drop-dead gorgeous midlevel thriller. Superbells Apricot Punch calibrachoa was the spiller that also mesmerized. The Angelface series offers four standard selections that
ANGELFACE PERFECTLY PINK CAN REACH CLOSE TO 30-INCHES AND SERVES AS THE THRILLER PLANT IN THIS MIXED CONTAINER WITH LEMON CORAL SEDUM AND WHIRLWIND BLUE SCAEVOLA. PHOTO BY NORMAN WINTER/TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
reach 18 to 30 inches in height, and two extra-sized Super Blue and Super White that can reach a whopping 40 inches. The newest are three that trail and go by the name Cascade: Cascade White, Cascade Pink and Cascade Blue. Those that trail or cascade reach up to 14 inches in height, but with the ability to spread nearly 30 inches. Growing is easy. Select a site in full sun for best blooming. Know that this plant is so tough you can even plant in mid-summer as a landscape pick-me-up. Though it is rough and persevering, please do not stick in tight, concrete-like soil. Before you plant, incorporate 2 to 3 inches of organic matter into your bed, or better yet plant on rained beds using a prepared landscape mix. Angelonias are terrific, low maintenance, worry-free plants. They will work superbly in a “grandma’s cottage garden” type landscape and yet have the ability to look at home next to bananas or elephant ears in a tropical style garden. The Angelface Series has won 143 awards, so the real issue is to make sure 2020 is the year you give them a try. ___ Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of, “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy. FACETS | JUNE 2020 | 23
