FACETS
May 2018
The magazine for women.
Brent’s life as a ‘bonus mom’ Navigating the childcare maze Choosing a midwife and the benefits
FACETS 2 | FACETS | MAY 2018
The magazine for women. Editor MARGO NIEMEYER
Publisher SCOTT ANDERSON
Contributors MARLYS BARKER AUSTIN CANNON RONNA LAWLESS GRAYSON SCHMIDT CAITLIN WARE
Tribune Editor MICHAEL CRUMB
Photographs MARLYS BARKER AUSTIN CANNON
FACETS IS A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF GATEHOUSE MEDIA IOWA HOLDINGS.
ADVERTISERS To advertise in Facets magazine, contact Tiffany Hilfiker at (515) 663-6973 PHONE (515) 663-6923 ADDRESS 317 Fifth St. Ames, IA, 50010 EMAIL mniemeyer@amestrib.com ONLINE www.amestrib.com/sections/ special-sections/facets
H
appy Mother’s Day to all of you out there who fill the shoes of ‘mom.’ This issue is the second of our two-issue topic of motherhood. See April’s issue for the first round of stories. In this issue we cover the aspects of being a step-parent — or as Diseree Brent says, a ‘bonus mom,’ — making the choice be a surrogate, maternal mortality rates and the benefits of choosing a midwife. I am just as excited about this issue as I was about the first. Motherhood is such a huge topic. I encourage our readers to take time this Mother’s Day to have a conversation with mom or that maternal role model in your life and get to know them. Who were they before the choice of kids, how have kids enriched their lives and what have they learned about themselves? If you know women who have chosen not to have children, ask them about their lives. The women I know who don’t have kids have done other amazing thing with their lives. They are actually the women I tend to look up to the most! Whoever you are and whatever you decide to do with your life, do it wholeheartedly.
That is something I have learned from the women and mother figures in my life. My maternal grandma has recently been mentioning that she dislikes getting old — I have a feeling I will share that sentiment when the time comes. She wears her age as a badge of honor — even if she dislikes it some days — and loves to share stories of her life. She has taught me that everyday is a treasure. My paternal grandma is another inspiration in my life. She is a farm wife and one of the hardest working women I know. Her kitchen is where the seed for the love of canning was planted in my heart. My aunts treat me as one of their own children and will discipline if needed! My female cousins ages from 4 1/2 older to 17 years younger than me are my sisters. My sister is my annoying partner in crime and confidant. Happy Mother’s Day! P.S.: North Polk Girl Scout Troop 602 has earned their Bronze Award. Check it out on page 16.
On the cover: Diseree Brent talks about her role as a ‘bonus mom’ on page 4. Photo by Austin Cannon.
FACETS • Table of contents motherhood
Community
4
16 Bronze Award
6
Diseree Brent
Life as a ‘bonus mom’
North Polk Girl Scout Troop 602 celebrates milestone
It takes a village
The childcare maze and learning to navigate it
8
Blakely Mortvedt
savor 21 Vegetables...
Why are you still peeling them?
Ames woman talks experience as surrogate
23 Roast chicken 9
Maternal mortality rate
Perfect for a sandwich
U.S. struggles to decrease
14 Birthing option
The benefits of choosing a midwife
FACETS | MAY 2018 | 3
Photo courtesy of Desiree Brent
BY AUSTIN CANNON GateHouse Iowa
Diseree Brent’s life as a ‘bonus mom’ W
e can all agree the term “bonus mom” sounds a lot better than “stepmom,”
right? That’s what Desiree Brent, a special education associate at Roland-Story High School, says. Of her four kids, only her youngest, Ethan, is biologically hers. He calls her “Mom” while the other three — Linsey, Brooke and Ryan — call her “Des.” “I’m their bonus mom and they’re my bonus children because I think 4 | FACETS | MAY 2018
sometimes you hear ‘stepmom’ and think of, like, wicked stepmom,” Brent said, referring to Cinderella’s evil stepmother. It can sometimes be an awkward situation for stepmothers and stepfathers to walk into. For Brent, her husband Curt’s three kids still see their mom, who lives in Boone, every weekend. Brent knows she’s not a replacement mom, just another one. (Her son Ethan came from a previous relationship, but his biological
dad was never in his life, so Curt, now Desiree’s husband, adopted him.) As of mid-April, Desiree and Curt had been married for almost a year, and she said the transition has been mostly uneventful. It took a little bit of time to form the close relationships with her new kids, but it eventually worked out. Lindsey, for instance, is still in college at Iowa State University, while Ryan let his guard down after he still realized he had his biological mom, Brent said.
motherhood I’ve really tried to make sure that we’re all a family. They’re all my children, and I’m going to treat all of them as they’re all my children She wondered if the road might get bumpier as she tried to form a relationship with Brooke, who’s in the midst of her teenage years. Brent, after all, remembered her own mother dating when she was a teenager. “She was quiet at first but now she treats me like a mom,” she said, adding that they’ll even have mother-daughter-type arguments. Brent had a stepfather growing up, and she took away an important lesson from him that she uses today: no favoritism. “My mom was a stepmom to two boys, and I remember a lot growing up, my stepdad very much favored them,” she said. “His boys got brand-new tennis shoes, didn’t matter how much it cost, and Des got, ‘Here’s $20, go buy her a pair of sneakers.’ There was a whole lot of ‘These are my children,
that one’s yours.’ I’ve really tried to make sure that we’re all a family. They’re all my children, and I’m going to treat all of them as they’re all my children and not favor this one because he’s biologically mine. If I yell at this one, I’m going to yell at this one.” She has what could be described as a professional relationship with her husband’s ex-wife. They’ll sometimes chat when Brent drops the kids off for the weekend or sit near each other during sporting events, but that’s about it. Referring to herself as “the extra mom,” Brent said she doesn’t want to step on any toes. That means Brooke goes prom dress shopping with her mom. Lindsey is getting married soon, and if she wants to go and try on wedding dresses with her mom, that’s great, Brent said.
“That’s a boundary I don’t want to cross because I know that’s a bond she wants to have,” she said. Because she usually doesn’t see her on weekends, Brent tries to get “one-on-one time” with Brooke during the week, whether that’s running to Ames for errands or practicing driving. She got to know Lindsey over a summer when she was back from ISU. She has advice for any future stepmothers and fathers out there: Be patient. It might not be like “The Brady Bunch,” at least not right away. “Take it slow. Don’t try to rush anything. Don’t try to force a relationship that isn’t there yet. Those will come in time, and they may not ever be what you have pictured in your head,” she said. “It’ll happen when it happens.”
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motherhood
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
BY CAITLIN WARE GateHouse Iowa
The childcare maze and learning to navigate it A
fter the birth of a child, one of the first, and most stressful, questions parents have to tackle is what comes next. For many families, the decision is a delicate balance of schedules, finances, work, and personal life, all to determine what is the right call when it comes to deciding next steps regarding how that child will be cared for. Will a parent, or other family member stay home until they reach school-age? Is child care a convenient, available option? What constitutes as quality child care? And even then, at a time when child care can cost thousands of dollars a month, is opting for outside family support services something that is financially feasible? All these questions and more were ones that Tami Hoffman, of Slater, went through when evaluating what would be best for her now 5-year-old daughter. Both she and her husband have Master’s degrees and prominent careers, and financially, needed to continue to have two working parents. So when push came to shove, finding childcare was the only option for her growing family. “It takes a considerable amount of thought,” Hoffman said. “There’s lots of pros and cons to mothers staying home. We looked up Harvard research on stay-at-home mothers vs. career mothers. There’s so many pieces that go into it. What is the best for my child? For their development? How are they going to be established as an adult?” Hoffman searched around for a child care option, and initially tried to get her daughter enrolled into a local child care center, but was met with a lengthy wait list. Although in the interim, she was able to find an in-home provider until the center’s wait list freed up months later, she said that availability is a serious problem when it comes to finding child care, particularly that of high quality. “I loved how academically based the facility was,” Hoffman said of what drove her to the child care center she ultimately chose. “The lead teacher had a four year degree, every lead teacher had a four year degree. That’s astronomical, you just don’t see that. Knowing that yeah, I have comfort in knowing that they’re not just there to watch TV all day. Even in the infant rooms, when they are six months old, they’re working on sensory things. They cater the curriculum to where they’re at developmentally. It’s just crazy.”
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motherhood According to a 2016 poll conducted by NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Hoffman is not alone in the struggles she observed in finding child care options that are both desirable and available. The poll surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,120 parents or guardians of children younger than five years old and not yet in kindergarten, who receive regular care at least once a week from someone other than a parent. The results showed that approximately one in three parents said it was difficult (“very” or “somewhat”) to find care for their child, and 72 percent reported facing at least one challenge finding care. Roughly two out of three parents said they had limited realistic options for child care, with 47 percent saying they had “just a few,” and approximately 19 percent saying they had only one option. A portion of respondents reported a lack of convenience, 13 percent relating to location and 12 percent relating to hours of operation. Another 12 percent expressed concerns about quality of care, with 11 percent not trusting available providers. For April Ranck, of Randall, trust was the name of the game. Like Hoffman, Ranck also needed to look to child care to accommodate work schedules outside of the home, and she looked to an in-home service run by a friend in Ames to find it. That model allowed her to work with someone she knew well and trusted, while also ensuring a spot for her children. “I was very interested in an in-home childcare vs. a center, due to the smaller numbers,” Ranck said. “I wanted to make sure that my child had plenty of nurturing time and attention. I chose my friend because I knew I could trust her to provide a ‘home away from home’ environment for my children. “Trust is such an important factor in choosing childcare, and for me it was the most important factor. Trusting my friend meant trusting her instincts, parenting decisions, ability to handle stress, and trusting that she was providing the love and attention my child would be receiving from me at home. There is no greater peace of mind for a parent, than to know that their child is in good hands.” The greatest challenge faced by parents when it comes to child care is the price tag that comes with it. In fact, according to the NPR, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health poll, 31 percent of parents who pay a fee for their child care said the cost caused a financial problem for their household. Approximately 71 percent said it caused a “very” or “somewhat” serious problem.
Trust is such an important factor in choosing childcare, and for me it was the most important factor. ...There is no greater peace of mind for a parent, than to know that their child is in good hands.
When Hoffman had both of her children in full-time care, her family spent $1,500 a month paying for services. That figure is not isolated or unheard of. At the non-profit child care location Ames Community Preschool Center (ACPC), the cost of tuition varies based on the earnings of each individual family. But prices top out at $990 a month for a full-time toddler, between 18 months and two years old. At fellow non-profit ChildServe in Ames, the highest tuition rate for standard child care is $234 per week per child for infants and toddlers, and lowest at $192 per week per child for three, four and five year olds. “The good ones are pretty well filled, and they’re expensive, but it’s so competitive that people pay it,” Hoffman said. The reasoning behind the figures is a matter of what is being brought to the table. As the standards for child care continue to evolve — no more just dropping kids off to play in the back yard of the neighborhood go-to stay-at-home parent — so too do the offerings they bear. Unlike the day cares of yore, these days, most child care services offer educational programming, field trips, and developmental activities to build cognitive, language and large motor skills, among countless other services. With good reason, as it has been found that care in early childhood has a major impact on a child’s long-term well-being. “The biggest cost at any child care early education facility is labor,” said Elizabeth Miner, executive director of ACPC. “Our staff (is) the most important piece. They’re the ones spending time making sure the kids are safe and taken care of, but also making sure they’re learning.”
FACETS | MAY 2018 | 7
motherhood
BY GRAYSON SCHMIDT GateHouse Iowa
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Ames woman talks experience as surrogate
A
fter she went through two pregnancies with relative ease, Blakely Mortvedt said she wanted to help those who are having difficulty conceiving naturally, and decided to make the nine-month commitment to being a surrogate. “I always thought it sounded like a great gift you could give somebody and after watching different friends and family members struggle with infertility over the years — whereas I had pretty easy pregnancies with my own kids — we just decided that it was something I would pursue,” Mortvedt said. Currently, Mortvedt, 32, serves as the Program Assistant for Heartland Surrogacy, but at the time she was just someone looking to get involved and help another family get started. In 2016 she went through a separate agency, who matched her with a couple. Mortvedt delivered the baby in June 2017 and said that her experience was what helped her eventually come in contact with Heartland Surrogacy. “I think it definitely helps me have an understanding of what the surrogates are going through. I can kind of guess what kinds of questions they may have based on my own experiences,” Mortvedt said. “Having been a surrogate I am familiar with the process, not just the outside looking at the checklist of it, but kind of knowing what some of those emotions are and what to expect next.” Mortvedt said that the biggest change between her own pregnancies and her surrogate pregnancy was the mindset or outlook she had to have going in. She said that from the start she made sure to understand that she was just carrying the child, and it was not actually hers. “When you’re pregnant with your own kids you’re planning for the future; you’re getting their room ready; you’re buying everything you need for the baby; you’re picking out a name; you’re doing all that and imagining your future with the baby,” Mortvedt said. “When you’re a surrogate you know from the beginning that the baby isn’t yours, and that you’re essentially babysitting for nine months.”
However, Mortvedt fully acknowledges that having that mindset is not easy and that being a surrogate might not be for everyone, and she admits that even though she would consider being a surrogate again, it would not be anytime soon. Not only did she say she did not want to go through the physical changes again, she said the travel restrictions also make the experience a little more difficult. “Everything is sort of set up within the state you plan on delivering in,” Mortvedt said. “I couldn’t leave Iowa after a certain point in the pregnancy on the off chance that I delivered early because I needed to be in Iowa.” One of the most frequently asked questions Mortvedt said she receives is about money. Heartland Surrogacy recommends a minimum base of $25,000 per carrier, and that price can be higher if the surrogate can carry multiples or has served as a surrogate in the past. “People always ask about money, and my answer to that is always pretty vague,” Mortvedt said. “I don’t ask how much money people make in their job, so it’s not really something I’m willing to discuss.” Mortvedt said that as the process has become more common, the previous stigmas have begun to subside. She said she still encounters those who are either unsure or not in favor of surrogacy. And though some people may not change their minds about the process, Mortvedt said that the majority of the reception towards surrogacy has been positive. “There are usually two types of couples that choose surrogacy, homosexual couples or couples that have struggled with infertility. Of course, it’s nobody’s first option; they would much rather be able to carry the baby themselves,” Mortvedt said. “When I first heard about surrogacy it was usually a family member carrying for somebody, like a sister or cousin, but it usually didn’t involve strangers. But as the process has evolved and people have gotten more used to it, there are agencies that help facilitate it, and there’s a lot of support.”
motherhood
U.S. struggles to decrease maternal mortality rate
M
aternal mortality is a problem many people might associate with Third World countries, but the United States continues to face the challenge of losing women as a result of pregnancy and childbirth. According to the World Health Organization, between 1990 and 2013, the United States’ maternal mortality ratio (MMR) more than doubled — jumping from an estimated 12 to 28 maternal deaths per 100,000 births. Maternal deaths are those related to or aggravated by pregnancy, which occur during or within 42 days of giving birth. Although the MMR for the U.S. decreased to 14, according to the Central Intelligence Agency’s 2015 data, the country has a higher ratio than those reported for most high-income countries and ranks 47th compared to other
countries. Greece leads the world with an MMR of 3, and Sierra Leone ranks worst among 184 countries, with an MMR of 1,360. Each year an estimated 1,200 women in the U.S. suffer complications during pregnancy or childbirth that prove fatal, according to the United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Approximately 60,000 women experience complications that are near-fatal. The leading causes of maternal deaths in the U.S. are hemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertension, embolism, infection and other chronic medical conditions.
BY RONNA LAWLESS GateHouse Iowa
MMR, page 11
Maternal Mortality Rate per 100,000 Live Births, 2003-2007. Graphic courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services FACETS | MAY 2018 | 9
motherhood Maternal Mortality by Race, United States, 1935–2007. The Black/White Ratio shows black women’s MMRs to white women’s MMRs, showing that, for example, in the mid-1990s black women were dying from pregnancy and childbirth complications five times more frequently than white women. Chart courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Maternal Mortality Rate: Top 50 Countries Deaths per 100,000 Ranking Country live births 1 Greece 3 2 Iceland 3 3 Poland 3 4 Finland 3 5 Czechia 4 6 Kuwait 4 7 Italy 4 8 Sweden 4 9 Belarus 4 10 Austria 4 11 Norway 5 12 Spain 5 13 Switzerland 5 14 Japan 5 15 Israel 5 16 Denmark 6 10 | FACETS | MAY 2018
17 Germany 18 Slovakia 19 Australia 20 United Arab Emirates 21 Cyprus 22 Montenegro 23 Netherlands 24 Canada 25 Belgium 26 France 27 Croatia 28 Macedonia 29 Ireland 30 Malta 31 Slovenia 32 United Kingdom 33 Libya 34 Estonia 35 Luxembourg
6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 10
36 Portugal 37 Singapore 38 Lithuania 39 Bulgaria 40 South Korea 41 New Zealand 42 Bosnia and Herzegovina 43 Kazakhstan 44 Saudi Arabia 45 Qatar 46 Puerto Rico 47 United States 48 Lebanon 49 Uruguay 50 Bahrain * 2015 data, according to the Central Intelligence Agency
10 10 10 11 11 11 11 12 12 13 14 14 15 15 15
motherhood Maternal Mortality Rate by Geographic Region, United States, 2003-2007. Chart courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
MMR continued from page 9
One of the major causes of maternal mortality in the U.S., according to the WHO, is the number of women who suffer from chronic conditions, such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes. All of these conditions can contribute to pregnancy-related complications. Money is a key factor in a woman’s likelihood to survive pregnancy and childbirth. Costs of maternity care in the U.S. exceeded $60 billion in 2012, according to the USAHRQ. American women who lack health insurance are almost four times more likely to die of pregnancy-related complications than those who are insured. Between 1935 and 1982, the MMR in the U.S. decreased rapidly, at an average rate of 8.6 per year. However, the rate of decline in maternal deaths was faster among white women than among black women. The risk of mortality remained 3 to 4 times higher for black women. Race continues to be a factor in maternal mortality, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In 2007, the MMR for black women was 26.5 deaths per 100,000 live births — a number that was 2.7 higher than the rate for white women at the time. According to data from 2005-2007, the MMR was highest among non-Hispanic black women (34.0), followed by Native Americans and Alaska Natives (16.9), Asians and Pacific Islanders (11.0), non-Hispanic whites (10.4) and Hispanics (9.6). Nationally, the maternal mortality rate varies from state to state, with a high of 41.6 in the District of Columbia to a low of 4.3 in Indiana, according to 2007 figures. “The states with at least 50 percent (and statistically significantly) higher maternal mortality rates than the national average include the District of Columbia, Michigan, Oklahoma, Idaho, New Jersey, Maryland, New York and Mississippi,” a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services stated. “Maine, Alaska, North Dakota, Indiana, Massachusetts, Illinois, Minnesota and Rhode Island had at least 50 percent (and statistically significantly) lower maternal mortality rates than the national average.” “Despite the dramatic reductions in overall maternal mortality between 1935 and 2007, black women, women in lower socioeconomic
groups, and women in several states continue to experience substantially increased risks of maternal mortality,” the report went on to state. “These marked social disparities pose an important challenge for the U.S. health care system, as they may indicate important inequities in access to high-quality obstetric care.”
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motherhood
BY RONNA LAWLESS GateHouse Iowa
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The BENEFITS of choosing a MIDWIFE A n expectant mother has many choices during the course of her pregnancy and the birth of her child. One option gaining popularity is having a midwife. “The term midwife reflects a philosophy of care that is directed toward women and their individual reproductive needs. A midwife usually offers a variety of options and seeks to eliminate or minimize unnecessary interventions,� said the Midwives Alliance of North America, the North American Registry of Midwives, the Midwifery Education Accreditation Council and Citizens for Midwifery in a collaborative statement. This philosophy is represented by the Midwives Model of Care, which is based on the belief that pregnancy and birth are normal life processes. The Midwives Model of Care includes: n Monitoring the physical, psychological and social well-being of the mother throughout the childbearing cycle. n Providing the mother with individualized education, counseling and prenatal care, continuous hands-on assistance during labor and delivery, and postpartum support. n Minimizing technological interventions. n Identifying and referring women who require obstetrical attention. A midwife is a health care professional who provides an array of health care services for women including gynecological examinations, contraceptive counseling, prescriptions, and labor and delivery care. Providing expert care during Photo by Thinkstock.com. labor and delivery, and after birth is a specialty that makes midwives unique, according to American
motherhood College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM). Midwives believe in facilitating a natural childbirth as much as possible, according to the American College of Nurse Midwives. It’s common for a woman to receive care from her midwife in a private birthing center or in her own home. “Because of their professionalism and expertise, midwives are often part of a labor and delivery team associated with a local hospital,” the ACNM said in a statement. A midwife can also take part in the delivery at a hospital. Below is a brief description of each of type of midwife, according to the ACNM: n Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM): a midwife trained and licensed in nursing and midwifery. Nurse-midwives must have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. They are also certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives. n Certified Midwife (CM): an individual trained and certified in midwifery. Certified midwives must have at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. They are also certified by the American College of Nurse Midwives. n Certified Professional Midwife (CPM): an individual who is trained in midwifery and meets standards of the North American Registry of Midwives. Multiple educational backgrounds are recognized to become a CPM. n Direct-Entry Midwife (DEM): an independent individual trained in midwifery through various sources that may include apprenticeship, self-study, a midwifery school, or a college/university program. n Lay Midwife: an individual who is not certified or licensed as a midwife but has received informal training through selfstudy or apprenticeship.
Expecting couple in bathtub for water birth. Thinkstock photo
According to the American College of Nurse Midwives, benefits of receiving midwifery care include: n Decreased risk of needing a cesarean. n Reduced rates of labor induction and augmentation. n Reduced use of regional anesthesia. n Decreased infant mortality rates. n Decreased risk of preterm birth. n Decreased third and fourth degree perineal tears. n Lower costs for both clients and insurers. n Increased chances of having a positive start to breastfeeding. n Increased satisfaction with quality of care. There are cases in which either the mother or the baby will require medical interventions that are outside the scope of services offered by a midwife. Midwives routinely consult with obstetricians and other healthcare professionals and will refer women to appropriate medical
professionals if complications arise. If a woman has a high-risk
pregnancy, it is recommended to choose a hospital setting.
FACETS | MAY 2018 | 15
community
BY MARLYS BARKER GateHouse Iowa
Ali Lundgren, Ariana Krohn, Jean Krohn, Morgan Meiners and Michelle Knoll planting flowers as part of their Bronze Award project. Photo by Marlys Barker/ GateHouse Iowa
North Polk Girl Scout Troop 602 celebrates milestone of the
BRONZE AWARD F
or the past 106 years, Girl Scouts of America has been preparing girls to meet their world with courage, confidence and character. And it has been challenging girl scouts to put forth the time, commitment and effort to make a difference in their communities through service. For a group of North Polk Girl Scouts — a troop that Mary Luna-Duffy has been involved with since her daughter was in kindergarten — setting goals and accomplishing them has made the scouting experience all that it was meant to be. “Troop 602 earned the highest award as Daisy and
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Brownie Girl Scouts, the Summit Pin, by completing three take-action projects in their school and communities at each level,” Luna-Duffy said. “We have planted a rain garden at Big Creek State Park; donated a book (on pet ownership, written and illustrated by the troop) to both elementary schools; organized a clothing drive and opened a one-day Brownie Free Shop for the community to shop.” Now, in fifth grade and officially aged into the older Girl Scouts division, this troop worked this school year on the first of three huge milestone medals — the Bronze Award. To achieve it, each girl in the troop would need to
community complete at least 20 hours of service to a service project that the group would tackle together. The troop set a goal: “to improve (Alleman) Central Elementary’s outside spaces to excite and inspire students for learning.” They outlined their plans for improvements to various areas on the outside of the school, even mapping out where certain things would be located, like a gaga ball pit and a Little Free Library they would build and much more. On Thursday, April 12, after months of nonstop work on the elements of their project, the troop held a special ribbon cutting and open house outside Central Elementary School to show off the completion of their “Outdoor Upgrades to Central Elementary” project. On hand were many proud parents; some community members, including Alleman Mayor Carmella Jones; and Central’s principal, Morgan Miller. “The work that the Girl Scouts have done to earn their Bronze Award is so great,” Miller commented. “The initiative that they have had from the very beginning of the planning stages to now, to see it all become a reality, has been fun to watch.” AWARD, page 18
From top: Girl Scout Juniors (from left) Solene MacLean, Alyson Dority, and Aubrey Selmecki holding their stepping stones created for the new Butterfly Garden at their school as part of their Bronze Award project; Girl Scout Juniors (from left) Ariana Krohn, Alyson Dority, Rhiley Andersen and Sophia Luna-Duffy pose with the repainted U.S. map on Central Elementary’s playground; Girl Scout Junior Sophia Campbell displays her dirty hands from planting flowers in two large planters her troop placed and painted at North Polk Central Elementary’s front entrance. Photos by Marlys Barker/GateHouse Iowa
Girl Scout Junior Ariana Krohn challenges a North Polk Central Elementary teacher to a game of tic-tac-toe on the tree stump game board her troop made for their Bronze Award project. FACETS | MAY 2018 | 17
community
AWARD continued from page 17
Miller said the girls have held their weekly meetings at Central on Thursdays after school, so he’s been able to witness their energy and hard work first hand. “The improvements that the girls have put in place will be around at Central for a long time. I am so appreciative of that. The school and community will benefit greatly from the improvements and additions that they have brought to Central,” he said. Two days after their ribbon cutting ceremony and open house, those troop members who were able to go, traveled to Council Bluffs for the Circle of Excellence, where Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa recognize troops that have met the qualifications for special recognition. Luna-Duffy said each troop member put in 26 hours of work time to complete the school improvements project. The project included planting of flower gardens in front of the school; painting and putting in a Little Free Library in front of the school; creating a stepping stone path to the Little Free Library; putting up a gaga ball pit; and re-painting a map of the United States on the playground. The girls also built a shed for storage for the playground, but it was damaged by wind. They are planning to repair it. The girls’ project turned out pretty much as they intended it to. One thing the girls still plan to do is plant about a 18 | FACETS | MAY 2018
Above: Present for the ribbon cutting celebration on April 12 were (front row, from left) Lydia Chose, Morgan Meiners, Sophia LunaDuffy, Mary Luna-Duffy; (back row) Leader Michelle Knoll, Larissa Koth, Alyson Dority, Ariana Krohn, Solene MacLean, Sophia Campbell, Aubrey Selmecki, Kady Harmon-White, Rhiley Andersen and Ali Lundgren. Below: Ali Lundgren and Ariana Krohn work on the flowers being planted in front of Central School. Photos by Marlys Barker/GateHouse Iowa
community
dozen shade trees at the school. They were going to do the trees as part of the project’s completion, but a great opportunity from the DNR changed their plans. The DNR was offering grant funding that would allow the girls to plant around a dozen trees, from their original plan to plant just three or four. They applied for that grant and were given the funding. “So we’re waiting to do that,” LunaDuffy said. Luna-Duffy also noted that because of financial savings on signage from their original plans, the girls were able to add a tic-tactoe game made out of tree stumps
to the garden area. Last of all, troop members planned their ribbon cutting ceremony. Both Luna-Duffy and Michelle Knoll, the troop’s other leader, would agree that the opportunity to achieve has been a wonderful thing for these girls. “It is important for them to achieve the Bronze Award because I feel it prepares them to take on tasks, such as getting and staying organized, working in a group setting and presenting to organizations,” Knoll said. Next up for this troop are, the Silver, and hopefully after that, the Gold, medals.
Top: This gaga ball pit at the edge of the Central Elementary playground was part of the Girl Scouts school improvements project. Bottom: Girl Scout Junior Alyson Dority waters freshly planted flowers.
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Why are you still peeling all those vegetables? Photo by Stacy Zarin Goldberg/ Washington 20Post | FACETS | MAY 2018
Why are you still peeling all those vegetables? T here are certain vegetables we have a reflexive instinct to peel: carrots, parsnips, potatoes, beets. Anything that grows in the ground, really. Especially when there’s visible dirt on the vegetables when you buy them. But is peeling those veggies necessary? No. Is peeling them good for you and the planet? Not really. I’ve pretty much stopped peeling root vegetables. I never understood the urge to peel cucumbers, either. Cucumbers can be a kind of watery food, and the skin adds some needed flavor, in my book. Potatoes, I’m still coming around to, I’ll admit. My favorite types to eat with the peel are Yukon Gold and red potatoes. Those labeled as “new” are good bets, too, because they’re young with thin skins. Russets? Well, I tried leaving some in my mashed potatoes and was not a fan of the rough, tough texture. I’m more inclined to sweet potato skins, especially when thoroughly roasted so that the juices explode out and make the outside all caramelized and crisp. So here are the reasons we should stop wasting our time peeling: n It’s extra work. Do you like doing more than you have to in the kitchen? I don’t. n A good wash is plenty sufficient to clean produce. Run your produce under cold running water while gently scrubbing it. The USDA says this is enough to remove dirt and bacteria, and drying the produce with a clean paper towel or cloth will help, too. For firm items such as carrots, turnips, parsnips or beets, feel free to use a brush and scrub to your heart’s content. Don’t use soap or bleach to clean your food, because you’ll run the risk of ingesting those. Peeling also doesn’t guarantee that you will eliminate pesticides, which can penetrate produce from the outside or find their way inside through the water supply. If you’re concerned about exposure to pesticides, you can certainly choose to buy organic produce, but even that needs to be washed and can still harbor natural pesticides or other types of pesticides that have drifted from conventional produce grown nearby. At least one cleaning method seems to hold promise in breaking down pesticides: a soak in a water bath with baking soda. n Peeling contributes to food waste. We’ve all heard the scary numbers about how much of our food ends up in landfills. Chucking vegetable peels in the trash only makes it worse. (If you absolutely must peel, try throwing the scraps in vegetable broth or at least the compost bin.) n You lose part of what’s good about fresh produce. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults consume 25 to 30 grams of dietary fiber daily, but we typically only eat half that much. Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber, which helps you feel fuller and aids in digestion. There’s a lot of fiber in the exteriors of vegetables, so when you peel them away, you lose that benefit. Vitamins, minerals and antioxidants can also reside in or just below the skin. n Keeping the peel on can be an aesthetic thing, too. Surely I’m not the only one who finds that peeled carrots look weirdly sanitary? Embrace rustic chic! Don’t peel your carrots! Also, beets. If you hate having your fingers stained red, think about how the rest of your food feels. Especially when your beets are being cooked whole, leaving the peel on can keep your beets vibrant and their companions from looking like a crime scene. Wedges or slices of winter squash (acorn, delicata, etc.) roasted with the skin on hold together well and look colorful and elegant. And, yes, if they’re cooked long enough, even tough skins such as butternut will become tender enough to eat.
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BY BECKY KRYSTAL Washington Post
FACETS | MAY 2018 | 21
savor BY JEAN MARIE BROWNSON Chicago Tribune
Perfect roast chicken for the perfect chicken sandwich Chicken factors into most lunches in our family. Chicken salad, cold fried chicken, chicken soup and leftover barbecued or grilled chicken. Chicken sandwiches of all manner. No wonder that I select the chicken sandwich at a recent lunch at Daily Provisions in New York. Their rotisserie chicken sandwich with bacon, avocado and green tomato wows. Thick slices of warm multigrain bread held the goodness together. No doubt, perfectly roast chicken makes any sandwich stellar. Large shreds of moist, nicely seasoned white and dark meat add texture, richness and
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protein to the sandwich. When the chicken and bread are both warm, the stars align. At home, I prefer to roast my own chicken rather than rely on supermarket rotisserie chicken (which can be dry). I time myself — from seasoning the chicken to serving, I need a little more than 1 1/4 hours. I like to roast two small chickens so there’s plenty for weekday rice bowls or speedy tacos. I find bread to be the biggest challenge to a good grown-up homemade sandwich. Yes, presliced, supermarket bread allowed us to make hundreds of sandwiches destined for school lunches. I eat bread less frequently now, so I want the good stuff. I look for whole grain, artisan breads sold unsliced for freshness. That also allows me to warm the bread without fear of drying and to slice it as thick as I wish. Always on the hunt for a great bakery, I stock up on bread when I find one. At Tartine in San Francisco, Hewn Bakery in Evanston, Zak the Baker in Miami, Amy’s Bread in New York City, I buy the heartiest whole grain bread they make, then wrap it well to freeze. Thawed at room temperature (still wrapped), then crisped in a hot oven or sliced and toasted on the grill, good bread motivates me to build a better sandwich. Another way to upgrade my sandwich is to think about the bread spread. It’s easy to doctor up bottled mayonnaise with deep rich flavor by stirring in olive tapenade, curry paste or sun-dried tomato pesto. Adding something fresh, such as arugula or chopped herbs,
distributes their flavor throughout each bite. Potato chips factor into nearly every Saturday lunch for as long as I can remember. The salty, crunchy treat completes the meal. Recently, I’ve taken to putting them into my cookies — an idea from a favorite aunt. She crushed just the right amount of chips into a buttery dough. For my Saturday cookies, I’m also adding crushed sourdough pretzels, chopped nuts and a bit of shredded coconut. Thinking of the chocolate-covered potato chips we like, I add bits of dark chocolate to the cookies as well. Using a bit of almond flour in place of some of the all-purpose flour and powdered sugar in place of granulated, gives the cookies a very fragile, short texture. Because they are so fragile, let the cookies cool most of the way on the baking sheet before transferring to the rack to completely cool. I pack them into a tin with wax paper between the layers to protect them. Serve the sandwiches accompanied by a green salad. In this case, an updated, speedy version of broccoli salad using bottle dressing and a crunchy cap of fried onions.
Everything roast chicken Heat oven to 375 degrees on convection or 400 on conventional. Rinse and pat dry 2 small (3 to 3 1/2 pounds each) whole chickens. Place chickens in a large roasting pan. Sprinkle generously all over with Everything Bagel Seasoning
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Roast chicken and crispy bacon are layered on thick multigrain bread slices slathered with a sun-dried tomato pesto and chopped arugula mayo and finshed with romaine. Photo by Abel Uribe/Chicago Tribune/TNS
(from Trader Joe’s or on the internet). Position chickens breast side up. Drizzle each chicken with 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil. Roast until golden brown and thigh juices run clear, 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Rest 10 minutes before serving. Or, cool and refrigerate covered up to several days.
Roast chicken and bacon sandwiches on whole grain bread Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 15 minutes Makes: 4 sandwiches Add thin slices of tomato when it’s in season. 1/3 cup mayonnaise 3 tablespoons sun-dried tomato pesto 1 cup baby arugula, finely chopped 8 thick slices (12 ounces) hickory smoked bacon 1 whole loaf (12 to 16 ounces) multigrain bread
2 to 3 cups large slices or shreds cooked chicken breast and thigh meat (boneless, skinless) 8 small romaine lettuce leaves Pickled okra or dill pickles 1. Mix mayonnaise, pesto and arugula in a small bowl. (Refrigerate covered up to 2 days.) Use at room temperature. 2. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cook the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Turn the slices occasionally, until cooked crisp and golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain on paper toweling. Keep warm. 3. Meanwhile, pop the bread into the oven to warm it briefly and crisp the crust, 5 to 10 minutes. Cool a few minutes, then cut eight 1/2-inch-thick slices. Meanwhile, put the chicken on a plate, cover with wax paper and microwave on high (100 percent) until warmed, about 1 minute. 4. To assemble the sandwiches, spread one side of all the bread slices with the mayonnaise. On 4 of the slices, layer the chicken, bacon and lettuce; top with a second bread piece. Serve right away with pickles. FACETS | MAY 2018 | 23
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