Area Woman Magazine Feb/Mar '17

Just right for the whole family

Alison and Jared love the way Jessica Kuhn, DNP, treats their children, helps them on their parenting journey and makes them all feel important. As a pediatric nurse practitioner, Jessica believes it’s vital to involve the entire family, not just the individual, to make sure people are feeling their best.

How can we help? Find a provider for

Pulling

PUBLISHER

Area Woman Publishing, LLC

EDITORS IN CHIEF

Mike Sherman

Becky Sherman

PROOFING EDITOR

Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss

ART DIRECTOR

Megan Elgin

ADVERTISING

Mike Sherman 701-306-5119

Jon-Michael Sherman 701-306-1288

Debbie Trombley 701-729-1910

Marietta Hartze-Andresen 701-200-3010

FIND US 701-306-5119

areawomanmagazine.com

twitter.com/AWFargo facebook.com/areawomanmagazine pinterest.com/areawomanmag

READ IT ONLINE

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PHOTOGRAPHY

5Foot20 Design Lounge

Abby Anderson

Ben Nash Photography

Chalcee Shuck Photography

Crossroad Photography

Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss

Kensie Wallner Photography

Lindsay Kaye Photography

Mike Smith

Scherling Photography

Thuen Studios

True Expressions, Kelsey Buchholz

PHOTO BY JILL OCKHARDT BLAUFUSS

CONTRIBUTORS

our writers are the voice of Area Woman Magazine. They bring to life the Fargo-Moorhead area and the incredible stories of the women we feature.

These are the talented writers featured in this issue. Learn more about these and our other contributors at areawomanmagazine.com

Alicia Underlee Nelson

Roxane B. Salonen

Kim Malakowsky

Kristy Olsgaard

Marie Laska

FEBRUARY 18

20 th ANNUAL CELEBRATION of WOMEN and THEIR MUSIC

Regional women performing a variety of musical genres from popular to classical, instrumental to vocal. Local female high school seniors in the arts receive awards, based on an application process.

$20 general admission / $50 VIP tickets available in advance at tickets300.com or 300 Broadway N | Fargo (and day of show)

4:30 PM DOORS

6:00 PM SHOWTIME Fargo Theatre

debjenkins.com/celebrationofwomen

february MARCH CALENDAR: PERFORMING ARTS

Note: All events are subject to change. Confirm dates and times before attending.

FEBRUARY 4 ROBIN HOOD

Horace Elementary Grades K – 5 with Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre presents Robin Hood. Contact Heather at hsmcnovak@gmail.com for more information.

Adults $5, Children $3 1:00 AND 4:00 PM Liberty Middle School 801 36th Ave E | West Fargo

FEBRUARY 17 & 19

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO

NDSU Opera presents Mozart’s comic opera masterwork. In addition to classic themes of love, betrayal and forgiveness, the plot includes an updated twist that sets the events during the Summer of Love, circa 1967.

Adults: $15, Seniors: $12, Students: $5 FRIDAY, 7:30 PM

SUNDAY, 2:00 PM

NDSU Festival Concert Hall

12th Ave N and Bolley Drive | Fargo ndsu.edu/performingarts.com

701-231-7969

MARCH 17-19 & 23-26

TIN ROOF THEATRE'S "PLAZA SUITE" by Neil Simon

Comedy surrounding three couples, including parents of a bride locked in a hotel suite bathroom

MARCH 17&18 at 7:30 PM

MARCH 19, 2:00 PM

MARCH 23, 24 & 25, 7:30 PM

MARCH 26, 2:00 PM

The Stage at Island Park

— home of FMCT

701-235-6778

tinrooftheatre.org

the FARGO THEATRE

An art house theater featuring independent and foreign films, and one of the highlight venues of our amazing downtown. Find the latest movie showtimes online, plus check out these fun events.

314 Broadway N | Fargo fargotheatre.org

KIDS FLICKS

MOVIES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY

SATURDAYS 10AM AND 1PM

All seats $3

Small soda and popcorn $2

FEB 4 – Kubo and the Two Strings

FEB 11 – Trolls

AN ACOUSTIC EVENING with LYLE LOVETT & JOHN HIATT

FEBRUARY 26, 8:00 PM

COMEDIAN LOUIE ANDERSON

MARCH 11, 8:00 PM

17 th ANNUAL FARGO FILM FESTIVAL

MARCH 21–25

Over 100 juried submissions from all over the U.S. and the world. All-day showings plus special guests and filmmakers.

The Ahn Trio

“With their multicultural assortment of composers and a huge talent, these women have a modernist, fusion sensibility that is perfect for our age.” – The Seattle Times

Sisters Maria, Lucia and Angella are breathing new life into the standard piano trio literature with commissioned works from visionary composers like Pat Metheny, Kenji Bunch, Maurice Jarre, Nikolai Kapustin and Michael Nyman. When they were last in Fargo-Moorhead, their performances sold out! Don’t miss the chance to see them at MSUM!

Thursday, March 2, 7:30 p.m.

Gaede Stage, Roland Dille Center for the Arts

2016-17 Cheryl Nelson Lossett

Performing Arts Series

Purchase tickets online at mnstate.edu/tickets or call (218) 477-2271 M-F from noon to 4 p.m.

Minnesota State University Moorhead is an equal opportunity educator and employer and is a member of the Minnesota State system.

februart MARCH februart MARCH

CALENDAR: GET CREATIVE

THE PLAINS ART MUSEUM

704 1st Ave N | Fargo

So much more than just an art museum, this impressive 3-story venue connects its guests — adults and children alike — through art, learning and community. Check out the art, music, workshop and craft festival offerings in February and March.

FEBRUARY 4

KID QUEST: GREAT ART FREE FOR ALL

Think big, be bold and create amazing art! The Museum is filled from floor to ceiling with lots of art to spark your creative juices. After visiting the galleries, create an artwork of your choice in the studio. Participants can sign up for one of three sessions at 1:00, 2:00 or 3:00 PM. Kid Quest is a free event, fun for the whole family. Preregistration is required.

1:00 — 4:00 PM

FEBRUARY 9

GIVING HEARTS DAY CONCERT

Performance by Darin Henze and Friends

NOON–1:00 PM

FREE and open to the public

FEBRUARY 11

ART & AUTISM WORKSHOP SERIES: NATURAL ELEMENTS

Explore the elements of water, earth and air through hands-on art centers in the exhibition Cultural Confluence: Work by Truman Lowe. After a snack break, make a hanging mobile out of natural materials in the studio. Registration deadline is Saturday, February 4. Parents/caregivers may request an orientation prior to the event — contact education@plainsart.org to schedule.

$10 per group/family

10:00 – 11:30 AM

CREATIVE VOICES TALK: TRUMAN LOWE

Hear Ho Chunk artist Truman Lowe discuss the work featured in his exhibition Cultural Confluence.

FREE

6:00 – 7:00 PM

WINTER EXHIBITION RECEPTION

Celebrate our new winter exhibitions with hors d’oeuvres, cash bar and the Max Johnk Trio. Members, partners, native artists FREE.

$10 non-members, $5 students

7:00 – 9:00 PM

FEBRUARY 16

CURRENTS: Conversations on Water, Michael Yellowbird: Decolonizing Water

This series of conversations explores the social, ecological and poetic power of water, inspired by Truman Lowe’s exhibition Cultural Confluence.

FREE 6:00 – 7:00 PM

FEBRUARY 24–25

UNGLUED: CRAFT FEST

Enjoy a weekend of celebrating creativity featuring 70 crazy talented makers, free workshops, live music and fine art at the Plains Art Museum. Admission is ticketed Friday during the Craft Gala and free all day Saturday during the Craft Fest. For tickets and info: ungluedcraftfest.com, ungluedcraftfest@gmail.com.

FEB 24, 5:00 – 9:00 PM

FEB 25, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Plains Art Museum

FEBRUARY 25

BEGINNER HARDANGER

EMBROIDERY DOILY

Two sessions: Feb 25 and March 4. Registration is required. Register through Moorhead Community Education.

1:00 PM

Nordic Needle

1314 Gateway Dr. | Fargo 701-235-5231

Rachel Ness, MD, FAAD board certified dermatologist

februart MARCH

CALENDAR: FUN EVENTS FOR A CAUSE

FEBRUARY 11

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES

28 th ANNUAL SWEETHEART BALL

The Sweetheart Ball is the focal point of the Ronald McDonald House Charities fundraising efforts to advance their work in the Red River Valley. Dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions combine for an enchanting evening.

6:00 PM

Holiday Inn

3803 13th Ave S | Fargo 701-232-3980

rmhcfargo.org

FEBRUARY 16

PAINTING, DINNER & DESSERTS!

No art-smarts required – It’s the art of socializing. Come paint "Floating Fireworks" with friends. Guaranteed to bring out creativity, fun and laughter. Light dinner, desserts and beverages will be provided. Half of funds benefit MOMS Club of Fargo. Pre-registration and $35 ticket payment required. Contact: penelope.galleryonthego.com/tickets

6:15 – 9:00 PM

First Congregational Church of Fargo

1101 17th Ave S | Fargo

701-781-0042

penelope@galleronthego.com

FEBRUARY 16

2017 LIVE UNITED AWARDS & CAMPAIGN RESULTS EVENT

Join United Way at this new event to honor and recognize the people and businesses who boldly invested and volunteered in our community last year. Registration by February 10 required. FREE

3:30 – 5:00 PM ( social to follow )

Hilton Garden Inn 4351 17th Ave S | Fargo unitedwaycassclay.org

FEBRUARY 16

SOUP & PIE DINNER

Homemade soup and pie served with fresh baked popovers, lovingly made by members of the Catholic Daughters of America, Court of St. Mary. It’s a fast and friendly dinner—perfect for a Thursday evening.

4:30 – 6:30 PM

St. Joseph’s Gathering Place (door 7)

1005 2nd Ave S | Moorhead 701-212-2159

MARCH 7

REBUILDING TOGETHER — CLAWS FOR A CAUSE

Relax and enjoy a delicious lobster dinner, drinks, silent and live Auction, and horse races.

Dress code: Tourist attire.

Individual tickets: $75, Table of 10: $600

5:00 PM social , 6:00 – 9:00 PM event

Ramada Plaza Suites 1635 42nd Ave S | Fargo rebuildingtogetherfma.org

MARCH 11

ST. JOSEPH’S SCHOOL DINNER DANCE AUCTION

Come celebrate with us at our biggest event of the year. Join us as we celebrate our accomplishments, honor our traditions, and show our support for our school’s future.

Tickets in advance at St. Joseph’s School or parish office. For questions, please call Allison at 218-233-0553.

4:30 PM – MIDNIGHT

Avalon Events Center

2525 9th Ave S | Fargo 218-233-0553

MARCH 13

FIRSTCHOICE CLINIC FUNDRAISING BANQUET

Dinner and program. Reservations required.

7:00 – 9:00 PM

Holiday Inn (Great Hall)

3803 13th Ave S | Fargo Call Mona at 701-237-6530

MARCH 16

2017 UNITED WAY ANNUAL MEETING & REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

Join United Way at the 2017 Annual Meeting to hear more about the impact we all can have on our community, as well as a keynote speaker (to be announced). Register at unitedwaycassclay.org

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Delta by Marriot

(former Ramada Inn & Suites)

1635 42nd St S, Fargo

MARCH 30 CHEFS’ GALA

Please join us as the area’s finest chefs stir up support for the perishable food recov ery program of the Great Plains Food Bank. Tickets will go on sale February 15 at www.fmchefsgala.org.

5:30 – 8:00 PM

Ramada Plaza and Suites

1635 42nd St S, Fargo ramadafargo.com

kallodcarpet.com

february MARCH february MARCH

SCHOOL REGISTRATION

2017-2018 School Year

FARGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

FEBRUARY 27, MARCH 1 & 3

7:30 AM – 4:00 PM

FEBRUARY 28, MARCH 2 & 6

7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

Register at the school your child will attend. If you are unsure of your school boundaries, please call 701-446-1043. fargo.k12.nd.us/registration

ST. JOSEPH’S SCHOOL

ENROLLMENT BEGINS FEBRUARY 1

Become a part of the St. Joseph’s School family. Call to set up a tour anytime and enroll online.

St. Joseph’s School

1005 2nd Ave S | Moorhead 218-233-0553

sjs-saints.com

QUOTABLE

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. Then you will seek me and find me: when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord."

— JEREMIAH 29: 11-14

for MOMS

FEBRUARY

17

& MARCH 17 MOMS CAFÉ

This event is hosted by the MOMs Club of Fargo-Moorhead. Enjoy time with other moms, snacks, playtime for children, and an opportunity to learn more about the club. This event is free and open to moms and children in the Fargo-Moorhead area.

10:00 – 11:30 AM

First Congregational Church of Fargo 1101 17th Ave S | Fargo facebook.com/momsclubfargo momscluboffm@gmail.com

Moms are awesome!

thing you’ve said today!

coming events

JEREMIAH PROGRAM

3nd Annual Generation Builders 2x2 Luncheon

April 27, 2017 | 11:00 am Courtyard by Marriott

Transform lives two generations at a time! Join Generation Builders, a passionate group of ambassadors who provide a legacy of stability for determined young families. For more information, visit jeremiahprogram.org/fargo-moorhead or call 701-793-5616.

Celebrate Wishes

Celebrate Families

You can transform lives, one wish at a time, for children with critical illnesses.

Enjoy an evening of wine pairings with hearty hors d’oeuvres, live and silent auctions, entertainment and heartwarming wish stories.

Special

Tickets: $50 (available online)

auxiliary presents

40 th ANNUAL PRAYER BREAKFAST

NEW EVENING EVENT: A Movie & A Message

APRIL 20, 2017 | Hilton Garden Inn Fargo Breakfast 9:30–11:30 AM • $22

Fargo Theatre

A Movie & A Message 6:30 PM • $12

WITH GUEST SPEAKERS

KIM & KRICKITT CARPENTER

Tickets go on sale

March 9

All seats reserved

Kim & Krickitt Carpenter, authors of The Vow, a #1 New York Times Bestseller, share how they overcame adversity when as newlyweds a devastating car wreck shattered their life. Krickitt didn’t recognize her husband. Through their common faith in Jesus Christ, Kim stood by Krickitt’s side and their marriage vows even when she experienced personality changes common to those who suffer head injuries. With time, patience, and prayer, they fell in love all over again. Their story inspired the motion picture of the same name.

For more information or to order tickets online go to www.fargonlc.org or call 701-235-4453

HELPING overcome HOMELESSNESS

prayer breakfast thanks community for support

WORDS BY KRISTY OLSGAARD

Sometimes life takes

unscheduled turns. Who plans to become homeless? How can someone overcome homelessness and get back on track?

Tucked in a low-key neighborhood in north Fargo sits the New Life Center (NLC), a rescue mission since 1907 helping homeless and hurting men discover value and find hope through the love of Christ. The NLC Auxiliary assists in meeting both small and large needs and transforming lives. The word auxiliary means helper, and this is their function.

Auxiliary president Paula Johnson says, “A hundred years ago a handful of church women gathered to minister to the general work of the center and the community. Our aim is to help people go from merely surviving to truly thriving. Today the auxiliary is comprised of 37 churches that meet regularly to support the mission’s changing needs.”

The auxiliary meets monthly on the third Friday with member churches hosting on a rotating basis.

“Each month we collect a different item,” Johnson says. “Anything from coffee to socks. We also contribute to larger projects like updating appliances or technology improvements. Some auxiliary members help in our thrift store or serve meals. We welcome more churches to join the auxiliary.”

To learn about the center, visitors are invited to “Meal at the Mission” for lunch and a tour on the third Thursday of each month. It takes just one hour. RSVP to reserve a spot.

The auxiliary’s biggest public event is the annual Prayer Breakfast, which Ruby Danielson began in 1977 to thank our community for supporting the center’s mission.

Currently Michelle Albrecht and Diane Albrecht co-chair the Prayer Breakfast. Albrecht says, “For the 40th anniversary on April 20, we booked Kim and Krickitt Carpenter, authors of the 2012 number one New York Times Bestseller, “The Vow.” Their story inspired the motion picture of the same name. They’ll share how they overcame adversity.”

Two months after saying their marriage vows, a devastating car wreck shattered the Carpenters’ lives. Coming out of a coma, Krickitt had no idea who Kim was. Kim persisted in keeping their vows, even when Krickitt experienced personality changes common to those who suffer head inju-

← New Life Center Auxiliary members prepare for Prayer Breakfast. LEFT TO RIGHT: Michelle Albrecht, Paula Johnson, Jennifer Swiers and Diane Albrecht

Photo by Dennis Krull, 5foot20 Design Lounge

↗ LEFT TO RIGHT: The Vow actors, Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams pose with Krickitt and Kim Carpenter at the movie premiere in 2012.

ries. It took time, patience and prayer, but they overcame the odds and fell in love all over again.

Albrecht says, “We’re excited about our new evening event, A Movie & A Message, at the Fargo Theatre. After viewing the movie, the Carpenters will share how they restored their relationship and lead a question-and-answer session. We think it promises to be a great date night for couples.”

As the Prayer Breakfast marks its 40th anniversary, the auxiliary realizes change is vital to every organization and it is with a heavy heart they announce this will be the last.

But a fall fundraiser begun last October picks up where the Prayer Breakfast leaves off. Last year the fundraiser addressed homelessness issues, conducted a silent auction of quilts donated by local church women and featured the personal witness of inspirational speaker Billy Butters, a former NHL player. Watch for the 2017 program announcement.

Adversity can stop people in their tracks, but it doesn’t have to. The NLC and auxiliary will help homeless people find hope-filled direction step by step.

↗ KIM & KRICKITT CARPENTER with their two children.

celebraqing 50 yearw

of BRINGING PETS and PEOPLE TOGETHER

LEO

HOMEWARD animal shelter

he pawsibilites are endless when you open your heart… Are you ready to open your heart to a shelter pet? If you can’t adopt, you can still support the shelter animals in a number of ways: donate, foster or volunteer. Remember, a shelter pet is waiting to share its love with YOU!

homewardonline.org facebook.com/HomewardAnimalShelter 1201 28th Ave N | Fargo 701-239-0077

Homeward Animal Shelter is a local and community-funded, nonprofit animal shelter. Its mission is: “Rescue. Shelter. Protect. Rehome.” It provides a second chance at happiness to lost, abandoned and owner-surrendered animals and educates the community in the proper, loving and kind treatment of animals.

LUNA

DOUG

NORA

LANCELOT CAROLINA

CASEY

ROO

ashley's 5 FAVORITES

BY ASHLEY SORNSIN

This month I’m bringing you my five favorites from new healthy recipes and workout tips, to my favorite new products and foods. Health and fitness is my passion, so I will always share some words of encouragement to help support you in choosing to live a fit and healthy lifestyle. My hope is that each one of you will find something that resonates with you. I believe that it is important as women to empower one another, lift each other up and encourage each other. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, so it’s crucial to take time for yourself and nurture positive and encouraging relationships with other women. I hope you will feel encouraged and supported, knowing that each small step you take in choosing a healthy lifestyle, brings you that much closer to the healthiest you!

ashley’s ‘BUFF BAKERY’ recipe: MINT CHOCOLATE BUFF BITES

Makes 12 (approx. 100 calories each)

1 Cup oatmeal

2 scoops chocolate whey protein powder

3 Tbsp cocoa powder

½ Cup peanut butter

2 Tbsp honey

3-4 Tbsp water

½ tsp vanilla extract

¼ tsp pure peppermint extract

Optional: Drizzle with melted semi-sweet chocolate chips OR dip in semi-sweet chocolate and top with coconut (toss in green food coloring if desired).

Combine dry ingredients; combine wet ingredients; mix together. Using a medium-sized cookie scoop, form into 12 balls, aka bites.

FIT FOODIE FIND of the month

KALE — Although kale isn’t new on the block, many have yet to try it. Move over spinach, give kale a try, and simply add a handful to your smoothie, soup or salad. Due to the deep vibrant color of the leaves, it’s highly concentrated with nutrients and antioxidants that have many benefits for your body such as: Vitamin A to protect your eyes, Vitamin C for healthy skin (as well as an immune booster), Vitamin K for strong bones, and the list goes on and on. It’s also high in fiber, calcium, magnesium and omega 3’s. No wonder they call Kale a superfood!

FIT TIP: just move!

Think of ways you can move more throughout your day. Try these simple adjustments that add up to make a big difference:

Take the stairs (if you already do, then take them two at a time)

Park at the far end of the parking lot (just like the last mile is never crowded, neither is the end of the parking lot)

Stand up as often as you can (If you have a long phone call, stand up or better yet, walk around. Each of these fiveminute walks add up, you’ll be surprised!)

•

•

with

ashley's 5 FAVORITES

QUOTE: “SHE NEEDED A HERO so

Remember that you are amazing just the way you are. You’re your own hero, as well as a hero to many others. Whether you’re a mother, daughter, sister, aunt or friend, you are setting an example of what it means to be a strong and courageous woman. Be kind to yourself and love yourself. Be confident in the woman you are.

FIT FIND: sports bras

This is one of the most important ”under cover” fitness items you need to invest in, at least annually! My birthday is always a reminder to make sure my sports bras are not having birthdays.

I recommend replacing your sports bra every 6-12 months, so make your birthday a day to do this.

Head to a local retailer like Beyond Running, where I found an excellent assortment (my favorite being Moving Comfort brand) and their knowledgeable staff will help to get you properly fitted.

ABOUT ASHLEY

Ashley Sornsin is a local health, fitness and life coach with a passion for inspiring and motivating others to live their best life. Bringing together a balance of the mind, body and soul connection, she tailors her coaching specifically to each unique client. As an online coach, Sorsin helps clients to reach their individual goals. Sorsin started her own business, BUFF Inc., teaches group fitness classes at the YMCA in Fargo, is a published health and fitness writer, has appeared on local TV as a fitness expert, and shares her life and expertise candidly on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Sorsin is also a licensed real estate agent at BHHS Premier Properties. For more information, connect with Sorsin on her website »

WEBSITE: eatlivebebuff.com

INSTAGRAM / TWITTER: @ashleysornsin

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/ ashleysornsinhealthfitnesscoach

she became one.”

You my dear, are a hero!

— ASHLEY SORNSIN

Words & Photography by ALICIA UNDERLEE NELSON

locally made think outside the jewelry box

Customize your look with rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings from jewelry designers around the region. Handcrafted from everything from gemstones and precious metals to leather and glittering crystals, these unique pieces are practically guaranteed to attract a little attention.

← LIZ W. DESIGNS

Liz Walberg’s delicate, hand-forged sterling silver, copper and bronze creations are staples at C. Lizzy’s, the downtown Fargo shop the artist runs with her daughter. Look for dangling earrings adorned with tiny bison, graceful cross necklaces and simple, yet striking designs. Custom orders are available at clizzys.com.

↑ WUVE

Fargo designer Cari Ann Golden creates funky, cutting edge resin and gemstone jewelry for customers who want to stand out. Bold pendant necklaces and drop earrings make a statement, while rough-cut gemstone studs turn a simple staple into something surprising. Find Wuve at Vintage Point and Unglued: Craft Fest* in Fargo, Red Brick Boutique in Ottertail, Minnesota, and online at etsy.com/shop/wuvehandmade.

521HANDMADE ↑

This Fargo shop is best known for home goods, but super sparkly druzy stud earrings are a fun find. They jazz up jeans and also work for date night. Find yours at Burlap Rustic Chic Boutique, Unglued and online at 521handmade.com.

↑ MBMB MADE by MICHELLE BRUSEGAARD

Minneapolis artist, and former North Dakota resident, Michelle Brusegaard offers all kinds of screen-printed goods, but her printed leather earrings are unique statement pieces. Featherweight and seriously durable, they come in a variety of colors and styles. Find them at Unglued and at michellebrusegaard.bigcartel.com.

↓ LARISSA LODEN

This Minneapolis-based line combines vintage elements, classic shapes and a little dark and quirky imagery for an elegantly edgy look. Favorite motifs include banjos, beetles and tough little daggers. Check out the line’s popular map lockets and pendants at Unglued or place a custom order at larissaloden.com.

← J. ROSE DESIGNS

Designer Julia Knutson’s aesthetic is equal parts bohemian and tough — think beaded wrap bracelets, midi knuckle rings and earrings made from bullets. Shop in person at Parisien Hair Studio and The Green Room in Fargo, or order standout pieces like lariat necklaces with leather tassels and dramatic stone pendants online at jrosedesignsnd.com.

← AEROW HANDMADE

This Fargo jewelry line includes subtle earrings and colorful and dramatic agate necklaces, but the rings — featuring jasper, polished amethyst, turquoise, opal and sea glass — are stunners. Wear one at a time or layer for extra drama. Find your favorites this year at Unglued or online at aerowhandmade.com

5FOOT20 → DESIGN LOUNGE

Jeannie Krull sets her photographer husband Dennis Krull’s images into pocket watch faces and other vintage bits and bobs and preserves them with hand poured resin. Try one on at 5foot20 Design Lounge in Moorhead, Gallery 4 in Fargo, or order online at etsy.com/ shop/5foot20designs.

TAEA MADE ↑

Emily Brooks’ cute, fabric covered stud earrings and pendant necklaces add a fun pop of color (and pattern) to any outfit. The Fargo designer also sells bags, pillows and other products at Unglued and at taeamade.etsy.com.

* Learn more about Unglued: Craft Fest happening in February in our calendar of events.

LOREN LEE'S

Loren Lee’s invites you to dine with all your senses. The beautifully remodeled space is warm and inviting. Take the chill off in front of the fire, relax at intimate tables, or watch your favorite game in the bar. Keg wine along with craft brews and ales are on tap for your enjoyment. When your appetite has been triggered, remember fondly the seventies with a Gouda fondue or try the Scotch eggs to tease your appetite. The entrees are varied but not overwhelmingly so. Try Loren Lee’s Filet, succulent Sea Bass, tender Duck 2 Ways, or Lobster Mac & Cheese. Gather with friends and family to enjoy a sensual, casual dining experience. Reminisce and smile as you travel home after being spoiled by great service, tantalizing drinks and amazing food.

3179 BLUESTEM DRIVE, WEST FARGO 701-356-8356 | lorenlees.com

food FAVES

food FAVES

EXPERIENCE SOME of the BEST FOOD and DRINKS in the AREA

LUNA

Luna is so much more than coffee! Whether you're in need of a cold craft beer, a cheese platter for your next party, or are in the mood for casual fine dining, Luna is exceptional quality at an affordable price.

1545 S UNIVERSITY DRIVE, FARGO 701-293-8818 | luna fargo.com

BLVD

Blvd pub is located in the newly developed south end of West Fargo on Veterans Blvd. Its unique neighborhood atmosphere lets you enjoy a drink with your friends while you dine on delicious, upscale bar food. You can choose from a variety of dishes, including a weekly special and a rotating Burger of the Month. Stop by Blvd today, you will not be disppointed!

3147 BLUESTEM DRIVE, WEST FARGO 701-552-7798 | blvdpub.com

NICHOLE'S FINE PASTRY

Since 2003, Nichole’s Fine Pastry has been baking classic European and American desserts and cakes, brewing espresso and loose leaf tea, making breakfast and lunch items, and serving customers in its cozy shop. Come experience some of the best baked goods in the area on historic South 8th Street.

13 SOUTH 8TH STREET, FARGO

701-232-6430 | nicholesfinepastry.com

JOHNNY CARINO'S

Carino’s is open for lunch and dinner, with a menu that offers a wide variety, from Italian classics to their one-of-a-kind spiced Italian favorites. All of their offerings are handcrafted from the finest, freshest ingredients available. Whether you love the classics or the spice, it will always be fresh and handmade to order at Carino’s. They also have an extensive gluten-free menu, and a menu for those with restrictive diets. Carino’s has something for everyone. Come enjoy their warm, comfortable environment that invites friends and family to relax and enjoy lively conversations and a great meal.

4410 17TH AVENUE S, FARGO

701-282-2922 | curbside: 701-282-2022

THE PURPLE GOOSE

The Purple Goose in Barnesville, MN is truly a bird of a different feather. Check out their delicious burgers, pizzas, salads and daily specials featuring steak & shrimp, prime rib, and grilled chicken & ribs. Open Tuesday – Sunday from 11am – 10pm, the Purple Goose is family-friendly. And if you are looking for a night out with friends, the Purple Goose also has a full bar and 12 beers on tap. See you at the Goose!

310 FRONT STREET, BARNESVILLE | 218-354-7500

BLUSH SALON

Sexapeel instant exfoliating spray is a must-have before any special event. Gently exfoliate dead skin cells off your face and body and get clear, smooth skin. Look instantly brighter from head to toe.

1650 45th St S, Fargo 701-282-9594 | blushsalonfargo.com

where to SHOP

FARGO | MOORHEAD

DALBOL FLOWERS

Exquisite Beauty Bouquet

No other name could possibly describe this exquisitely beautiful bouquet. Its brilliant blossoms are gorgeously arranged and delivered in an exclusive lavender vase. Let her know how special she is to you by sending this fabulous gift.

1450 25th St S, Fargo 701-235-5864 | dalbolflowers.com

FUSION BOUTIQUE

Comfort footwear, meet fashion footwear. Vionic footwear features Orthaheel Technology, a podiatrist-designed contour built into every pair of shoes to provide stability, support and encourage natural alignment. Shop our unique collection of Vionic shoes and sandals for spring.

Located inside Scheels Home & Hardware 3202 13th Ave S, Fargo 701-232-8903 | scheelshomeandhardware.com

TWYLA'S COSMETIQUE

Indulgent, on-trend lipstick shades. Hundreds of colors to choose from. Custom-blend lipsticks and lipgloss available.

2420 University Drive S | Fargo 701-282-5303

CAROL WIDMAN'S CANDY CO.

With a wide variety of Valentine boxes filled with assorted chocolates, you’re sure to find something perfect for that special someone.

4325 13th Ave S, Fargo 701-281-8664  |  carolwidmanscandy.com

@NAILS

Dry skin season is here. Treat your hands and feet to deluxe treatments enriched with collagen and shea butter, ultra nutritious moisturizer penetrates quickly to protect, nourish and moisturize. It’s paraben, sulfate, benzophenone, mineral oil, talc, ethanol and triclosan free for safe skin care.

3163 Bluestem Dr Suite #101, West Fargo | 701-356-5252 | atnailswestfargo.com

CENTRE for HAIR

Want your tummy to look flatter? Join the many women that are feeling more confident and comfortable in Ruby Ribbon Shapewear.

Downtown Moorhead 218-236-6000 centreforhairandwellness.com

PINCH & POUR

STABO Scandinavian Imports

Serve coffee with Love! Fun black mugs lined in red proclaiming "I love you" in Norwegian or Swedish.

West Acres Mall | stabo-imports.com

Purchase colorfully dramatic cheese platters from Pinch & Pour in downtown Fargo. Starting under $30.

219 Broadway N, Fargo | 701-356-7779

LOGO 2 PROMO

Personalized wedding party gifts, guest books and more. Monogrammed wood guest book features your initial cut out of the wood cover for easy personalizing. All books are made to order.

1338 3rd Ave N, Fargo 701-237-6560 | logo2promo.com

ECO CHIC BOUTIQUE

The perfect addition to your tablescape is our fixed black bird metal scale. It's a simple, decorative touch for any season.

4955 17th Ave S Fargo 701-356-6600 | iloveecochic.com

offers specific BEAUTY SOLUTIONS

Words by Alicia Underlee Nelson | Photography by Dennis Krull, 5foot20 Design Lounge

Inaddition to offering an upscale experience for guests looking to indulge and treat themselves to a little luxury, the highly trained experts at Blush Salon in Fargo also offer a menu of services designed to meet very specific client needs. Treatments and techniques like microblading, eyelash and hair extensions, scalp treatments and Brazilian Blowouts are more than just trends: they also provide targeted, customized beauty solutions for clients. “It’s not one size fits all for all clients,” says Blush Salon owner and master esthetician Lacey Spaulding. “We have several different options for what they need.”

Team members at Blush Salon complete an extensive skill certification process every six months and attend conventions, trade shows and educational events around the country to learn about what’s new. Education events are one of the salon’s biggest expenses. And it’s an important one, because the industry is always changing.

Despite the ever-changing nature of trends, there are several customer favorites at Blush Salon. “Eyelash extensions are super hot,” says Spaulding. “It is still one of our most popular services, by far.” Blush Salon is the only salon in North Dakota certified by the National Eyelash Education and Safety Association.

Another trend with big growth potential is equally precise and also requires significant training. Microblading — the process of depositing tiny strokes of pigment to fill in eye-

brows that have been over-tweezed, over-waxed or lost to illness — is quickly replacing tattooing as for a more subtle, nuanced brow look. “It gives a very, very natural look as compared to tattooing,” says Spaulding. Microblading requires no maintenance, but because the pigment isn’t deposited into the deepest layers of the skin, like it is with tattoos, the results are semi-permanent, lasting between one and two years before fading.

or asymmetrical look try natural looking balayage highlights and lowlights.

The extensions are laser bonded to the client’s own hair, which makes them especially durable and natural looking. “People can actually wear these extensions in their hair for four to six months, just depending on how fast their hair grows,” says Spaulding. The normal range for extensions is four weeks to three months.”

The technicians at Blush Salon aim to save their clients time and energy on their hair, too. Nourishing scalp treatments featuring clay, minerals and essential oils can treat everything from excess oil to thinning hair to a dry, itchy scalp. Addressing the problem at its source can cut down on the need for additional styling products and make caring for hair easier.

Making styling easier is one of the benefits of a Brazilian Blowout. It gained popularity as a way to straighten very curly hair, but it works for a variety of hair types. “It’s a very healthy treatment for the hair,” says Spaulding. “It adds a lot of shine and eliminates frizz. It can soften curl a little bit. Everybody wants their hair to look shiny and healthy and that’s one thing that Brazilian blowout does.

Hair extensions offer even more styling solutions.

“People aren’t just doing it for length anymore,” says Spaulding. Technicians can add all natural, 100 percent human hair extensions to subtly combat thinning hair at the front of the head or the temples, to add layers or bangs and increase overall fullness. Clients with a flair for the dramatic might add a pop of color, longer sections for an instant inverted bob

As an added bonus, most clients getting hair extensions at Blush Salon will be in and out in about an hour. Hair extensions usually take much longer (some clients spend hours a salon chair) but the bonding process Spaulding and her technicians use gets clients on their way in minutes.

Blush Salon clients want both beauty and efficiency, with targeted beauty solutions that work for their busy lives. And the highly trained technicians at Blush Salon are happy to oblige. [ aw ]

i

her

i love her

end ofeverything

ofeverything

Scherling Photography

Lindsay Kaye Photography

Kensie Wallner Photography

and that' s the beginning and

Kelsey Buchholz,

True Expressions

love

and that' s the beginning andend

F. SCOTT FITZGERALD ^ THE GREAT GATSBY

Abby Anderson

a dream is a wish your heart makes

WALT DISNEY'S CINDERELLA

← PHOTOGRAPHER LINDSAY KAYE ARBACH recently had a family of five in her studio. While busy photographing the youngest one, the oldest girl, AUDREY (5), who had been sitting on a couch flipping through an Area Woman magazine shouted out, "She's in a magazine!" She was referring to Lindsay, and showed her family a recent article we did of Lindsay's birth photography business. Audrey announced, "I want to be in a magazine!" So, with a little plan up her sleeve, Lindsay told Audrey she would work on that for her. And here at AW, we were happy to make Audrey's wish come true. left: audrey with her younger sister, below: audrey

lindsay-kaye.com

scherlingphotography.com

Chalcee Schuck Photography

Lindsay Kaye Photography

Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss →

Crossroad Photography

romantic getawayw SIMPLY UNPLUGGED

Romance and relationships are universal components of being human and, as such, connections and time spent with others become foundational elements of humanity. In this online age, however, there tends to be a high quantity of electronic connections that fill our everyday moments, but a shrinking amount of meaningful physical contact and shared experiences with others. Instant messaging, texting, Facebook likes, etc. have allowed us to adopt a pattern of communication that requires minimal effort and has reduced the amount of face to face sharing of space that has historically been interwoven into the functioning of societies. As well, the average social-media user can oft find themselves craving a break from the chronic ticker tape of electronic data inundating their senses.

After connecting with a Costco-based travel agency and with certain parameters in mind — including a romantic, warm and sunny destination — a weeklong trip was booked for the Cook Islands in the South Pacific, and after a twelve hour flight via Air New Zealand the Nashes arrived at the main island of Rarotonga.

After connecting with a Costco-based travel agency and with certain parameters in mind — including wanting a romantic, warm and sunny destination — a weeklong trip was booked for the Cook Islands of the South Pacific, and after a twelve hour flight via Air New Zealand the Nashes arrived at the main island of Rarotonga.

Ben and Annie spent the first few days upon arrival acclimating to the change of temperature and climate, as well as the markedly slower pace of life on the island. Unencumbered by the distraction of modern technology (the

Words by Marie Laska | Photography by Ben Nash Photography

Nashes’ villa was sans Wi-Fi and cable television and their cell phones had no service), Ben and Annie soon “found an escape from everyday life” and were able to “slow down and marvel at the beauty of creation.” With temperatures hovering in the 80s they soon found themselves enjoying a new routine, including starting each morning with a breakfast platter of fresh local fruits, basking in a nearby lagoon and exploring the markets of Rarotonga.

Though the intention of their trip was to celebrate their honeymoon, Ben and Annie also realized that traveling together encouraged “a different level of intimacy,” as they became reliant on one another for navigating their way through a new country and culture. Though the first few days proved challenging in learning to “unplug and not worry about the normal distractions in life,” the Nashes soon immersed themselves in “enjoying the here and now” and found themselves engaging with the kind and warm locals, having unforeseen adventures in trying to pass the island’s driving test, enjoying the “best fish sandwiches of their lives” and marvelling at the beauty around them.

Though becoming unplugged from their regular routines and demands of their lives took some adjusting, being surrounded by the brilliant blue oceans, lush jungles and towering mountains of the Cook Islands brought an unparalleled visual splendour to the Nashes' honeymoon and has planted the seeds for a possible return trip in the future. For further information about the Cook Islands as a possible romantic destination, please visit ben-nash.com [ aw ]

traveling together encouraged a different level of intimacy

WORDS BY Alicia Underlee Nelson

PHOTOGRAPHY BY Dennis Krull, 5foot20 Design Lounge

The homeowners, who relocated to Fargo from the Twin Cities with their daughter, fell for the home’s spacious backyard and loved the neighborhood’s quiet streets and convenient location. But the house itself just wasn’t quite right. Its somber color scheme was uninspiring. They weren’t wild about most of the finishes. And there were functional challenges too, small things like closets with blocked doors and hardly any storage space to larger issues like awkward layouts that made large rooms feel cramped.

The changes required went beyond a simple DIY fix or a weekend project. So instead of sacrificing the location they loved or simply adjusting to the features and finishes that were already in place, the couple enlisted the help of Dan Lindquist Construction, Inc., Ami Baxter Interior Design, Wood Specialists Inc. and a team of home improvement experts to help them reimagine the space. >

Building an entirely new home is a common dream, but homeowners can get similarly customized results with thoughtful remodeling. One Fargo couple completely transformed their tasteful but tame Osgood house into the striking, highly functional home they’d always dreamed of.

Some improvements were merely cosmetic, like replacing traditional wood spindles with a wrought iron banister, switching out light fixtures and adding dark, rich, hand-scraped wood flooring throughout the two level home. Others required a little more elbow grease.

Lindquist made several layout adjustments to enable the space to function more effectively for the family. The fireplace on the first floor had been set at an angle, in order to separate the living room and kitchen. Installing a shallower fireplace from Home & Hearth flat against a wall opened up the room, allowed better traffic flow between the two zones and evoked a feeling of warmth and coziness without sacrificing living space.

The gracious kitchen was tweaked to create a more functional workspace. The old kitchen countertops were angled (a feature that had always bothered the man of the house) so Wood Specialists Inc. squared them off and added new base cabinets to increase both storage and counter space. The company also installed a multitasking kitchen island with smart extras, like a composting bin and additional handy storage spots tucked away inside.

The too-skinny pendant lights were removed and replaced with light fixtures that complimented the space. The existing cabinets were custom glazed in a striking and unexpectedly complex hue that reflects and magnifies the natural light from the windows that open up to the backyard. “We just wanted to lighten up the space,” says Lindquist. “It was really dark in here before.”

A combination mudroom and laundry room got a simple facelift that made it look much larger. Lindquist removed a deep closet and replaced it with an open shelving system that offers plenty of storage and allows the eye to sweep through the space. “Now we have an extra two and a half feet of depth without really changing the dimensions of the room,” Lindquist says.

The house’s formal dining room is a quietly arresting space, with a dramatic chandelier and rich, lush wallpaper. Designer Ami Baxter worked with the family to choose a soft and soothing color palette that draws on hues found in nature, from sea foam green and bone to rich, dark wood and slate gray.

Downstairs, mom got a cozy office, and French doors create a fun craft space for the couple’s artistic daughter. Both the color scheme and the sense of drama deepen in the deluxe theater room, the lower level gathering place for parties and family movie night. Masculine elements like comfortable leather chairs combine with elegantly feminine patterned wallpaper, ornate sconces and dramatic curtains.

Despite a major renovation that affected nearly every square foot of the house, the family was able to remain in their home during the entire renovation process. They had to get a little creative with the cooking during the kitchen remodel (ordering out, using disposable plates and utensils, and eating in the garage when necessary), but their experience proves that, with patience, ingenuity and the right team of experts, you can make the home of your dreams out of the home that you have.

help for the heart

ONE MAN’S STORY OF SURVIVAL

Words by Kimberly Tubbs

Photography by Taylor Jane Photography

a person’s life can change in a matter of hours. Randy Scofield is living proof of that.

The 37-year-old husband and father from Moorhead discovered he had not one, but two major heart issues in one four-hour period. Fortunately, he’s here to share his story.

just another day

It all began on a seemingly ordinary day in March 2016. Scofield had just returned home from work and was making dinner with his wife Rebecca, a dental hygienist, and their new baby boy, Michael.

And that’s when it happened.

“I felt strange and had pain in my chest,” Scofield says. “I decided to lay down and rest for a bit in the bedroom, assuming the feeling would pass.”

After a few minutes, his wife became concerned and went to check on Scofield, finding he had lost feeling in his left leg and was becoming paralyzed from the waist down. She then took Scofield to the emergency room at Sanford Medical Center in Fargo.

The heart of the matter

Before he even arrived at the ER, Scofield also lost feeling in his right leg. Upon arrival, he was given tests and scans, ultimately discovering Scofield had suffered a serious heart condition known as an aortic dissection — his first major heart issue.

Aortic dissections are a relatively uncommon condition in which there is a tear in inner layer of the major artery carrying blood out of the heart (aorta). Blood bursts through the tear, causing blood to flow between the inner and middle layers of the aorta. This can lead to an aortic rupture or decreased blood flow to organs.

Without prompt, proper treatment, aortic dissections can be fatal. Because symptoms of aortic dissection may mimic those of other diseases, diagnosis can be delayed. The condition most frequently occurs in men in their 60s and 70s, so Scofield being such a young victim is rare.

immediate access to expert heart care

Once Scofield’s condition was discovered, the team at Sanford sprang into action. Kenneth Grosz, MD, emergency medicine and adult trauma, immediately consulted with Roxanne Newman, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon at Sanford, to repair the aortic dissection.

It’s surprising how

← Sanford Health heart care patient Randy Scofield with his family — wife, Rebecca, and son, Michael.

Newman and her cardiothoracic surgery team performed emergent complex repair of Scofield’s aortic tear. This required complete replacement of his aorta, his aortic valve and re-establishing circulation to his heart. This procedure was augmented in its success by the super cooling his body to protect his brain.

a healthy reflection

Scofield's account of the day’s events was aided by the other people who stepped in to help save his life.

“I don’t remember much after I left work on that day,” he says. “In a span of four hours, I went from a typical day in my life to learning I had significant issues with my heart.”

While Scofield doesn’t remember the emergency room staff, the surgical team who performed the surgical treatment, or the nurses who cared for him in the intensive care unit following his procedures, the experience has forever changed his life.

“I spent three months at Sanford’s cardiac rehabilitation program regaining my strength, and I plan to continue getting stronger and healthier,” Scofield says. “I now eat a healthier diet and go to the gym.”

In addition, Scofield, his wife and son had genetic testing, also available at Sanford, to see if they have markers for aortic dissection. This could help them and their medical team be better prepared for any future issues for the entire family.

“I know how fortunate I am because of my wife and my medical team at Sanford,” Scofield says. “It’s important to have an advocate there for you in times of distress. Because of my wife, the skilled emergency medical staff and the highly specialized care provided by Dr. Newman, I am able to enjoy a life with my family.” LEARN

↖ SHARON AKIN Promotional Sales Advisor

about recipes, vacations and the last book you read. And sometimes we’re amused by a story about changing a diaper or a pet accident. But certain conversations can take a leap of faith. Like talking to children about the birds and the bees. Or discussing colonoscopies. If you don’t want to think about this somewhat embarrassing screening, think again. Colorectal cancer is the number two leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. This test can and does save lives.

Words by Kristy Olsgaard Portrait Photograph by Exposures by j.linnea

March is COLON CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Just ask 34-year-old Amanda Houston. Fortunately, it saved her and her mother’s lives. Houston is not only willing but also enthusiastic to share what she experienced and provide information and resources.

Houston, a human resources manager at the Holiday Inn Fargo, is a wife and mother of two children. No doubt everyday life can be exhausting when trying to get it all done. But she recognized something wasn’t right.

“I realized other moms weren’t coming home from work and falling asleep instantly for a couple hours. And every time I used the bathroom there were signs. Even after just passing gas I noticed blood and mucus discharges.”

For years, she’d spotted some blood in her stool. “I thought I’m not eating right or I must not be getting the right exercise or I’d find any excuse. A couple of years before my diagnosis, I told my doctor about it. He thought it might be a fissure and said if it didn’t get better, come back and see him.”

The summer of 2013, Houston was very sick and called her doctor in August. Within a week she was diagnosed with stage II colorectal cancer (CRC) after a colonoscopy and was sent to Dr. Erik Fetner, a Sanford Health colorectal surgeon.

Houston says, “It’s very rare for people under the age of 50 to hear this, but it does happen. I was fortunate I told my doctor my concerns. Most young people are diagnosed with later stage CRC. My case just required a colon resection. They also took a fair amount of lymph nodes, maybe 30, which all tested negative. Because there was no evidence the cancer had spread, I didn’t have to receive chemotherapy.”

In the meantime, Houston’s mom, Deb Lehn, had her own health issues. “Even before Amanda’s diagnosis, I was suspicious of some symptoms of my own. I took care of all the other health checkups but I kept putting off scheduling a colonoscopy. Now I was over 60 and had never had a screening.”

A month after Houston’s surgery, Lehn’s first emergency room visit resulted in a diagnosis of colitis. Then in November a colonoscopy confirmed CRC.

“After surgery I was told there was a five percent chance the cancer would spread, and I could choose to do chemotherapy or not,” Lehn says. “I didn’t choose chemo and six months later I had stage four CRC. Another surgery removed it from my liver. I guess I don’t gamble very well.”

According to Fetner, people should follow national screening guidelines especially if they have relatives with CRC. “I wish the public perception of colonoscopy wasn’t so negative,” says Fetner. “It is an extremely easy and welltolerated procedure that literally saves lives and prevents cancer. Nearly every patient says it was much easier than they had feared.”

During a colonoscopy, detected polyps are removed so they don’t develop into cancer. That’s how getting screened early can prevent cancer.

Fetner says, “The vast majority of CRCs have no known genetic link, but an increasingly recognized percentage can be passed on in families. Family history is an important risk factor. Having a single affected first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or child) with CRC increases the risk about twofold.”

It’s easy to talk

↗ AMANDA HOUSTON (left) with friend and fellow advocate Fran Lundblad of Fargo at a Fight CRC event in Washington, DC.

In general since the early 1990s, the incidence of CRC has fallen annually in the U.S. but increased slightly in people under age 50. The youngest patient treated in Fargo by Fetner was 21, but nationally even younger patients have been reported. This disease is not discriminating. Both men and women are diagnosed. And African Americans and Native Americans seem to be at a higher risk.

Both Houston and Lehn’s recent tests indicate no evidence of disease, or NED. But they will be screened often. Due to Houston’s diagnosis, her children will need to be screened at age 24.

“Maybe it’s survivor guilt, but advocacy has helped me heal,” says Houston, who is spreading the word about CRC through Fight CRC, a non-profit organization offering support and resources to CRC patients. “I want to be a voice for those who didn’t make it. There is no room for shyness about discussing it. Colorectal cancer can be prevented.”

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness month. Houston is available to help others find resources or speak. For more information, contact her at amanda.houston0@icloud.com.

Charles Dickens wrote, “Procrastination is the thief of time.” If you or someone you know has concerns, have that conversation with a doctor sooner than later.

SYMPTOMS of COLON + RECTAL CANCERS

An ongoing change of bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely)

Stools that are narrower than usual

Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool (poop)

Rectal bleeding

Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or abdominal cramps

Weight loss for no known reason

Feeling very tired (weakness/fatigue)

No signs or symptoms at all

Words by Roxane B. Salonen | Photography by Mike Smith

empowering through love

women's needs top priority for pregnancy-health clinic

“My love for my daughter and their friends has led me to this work — wanting them to have a safe place to go should they ever need it,” says Wambach, FirstChoice Clinic executive director. “And on behalf of friends and family who have had regret, felt uninformed, or wished for different help than they found.”

FirstChoice Clinic serves both men and women with free comprehensive pregnancy help services. But Wambach’s current role there wasn’t initially part of her life’s plan. As a trained nurse turned stay-at-home mom, she says her life was fulfilling and full.

But when her youngest of three daughters started school, Wambach, then living in Duluth, Minnesota, felt called to volunteer in ways that would make a difference. She wanted to help establish a place that would empower women and men to handle crises bravely, find confidence, and live a life they deserve; a safe place that would provide needed love and support.

Wambach then founded a women’s clinic for those experiencing unplanned pregnancies in downtown Duluth — a line of work she was called to again after moving to Fargo, where she and her husband, Tom, and children have lived for the past four and a half years.

Beginning at FirstChoice Clinic as a board member, Wambach transitioned in June 2016 into the position of executive director, a role she’s embraced.

“I believe in putting the women’s needs first, and that’s what FirstChoice Clinic does,” Wambach says. “It’s about empowering women to help themselves, and to stimulate lifestyle changes to truly impact their lives.”

She describes FirstChoice Clinic, which has been part of our community for 32 years now, as a “pro-woman, pro-family organization” that exists to empower those in crisis — the women, men and those who

← ANGELA WAMBACH sits in front of an art print in the clinic that incorporates butterflies into the design. “Butterflies are a sign of hope and new life. [The artwork] reminds me of how anyone can begin anew, and hope can be found in every situation. This is what I desire to bring to women, men and families through the work of FirstChoice.”

Reflecting on what most motivates her work assisting those in unplanned pregnancies, Angela Wambach points to her own children and vocation as a mother.

“'Be the change you wish to see in the world' — this quote of Gandhi’s is one of my favorites," she says. “I knew I needed to do my part to make a difference.”

love them — by meeting them where they’re at. “We provide information regarding all options so that they can make a completely informed decision that is best for themselves in a secure, non-judgmental atmosphere with a loving and supportive staff.”

wambach says FirstChoice staff understand how scary an unplanned pregnancy can be. “Sometimes it’s just giving them a place to talk and express their feelings, or discuss their concerns in an objective, supportive environment that makes the difference.”

Often, women and men who find themselves in unplanned pregnancies have the impression that they can’t handle their situation, Wambach says. They also most often state socioeconomic reasons as challenges to their situation. “We seek to help them overcome these obstacles and make decisions that can positively impact their lives.”

With the kind of support First Choice provides — counseling, education, resources for pregnancy and beyond, along with referrals to other agencies that can assist them — women and men can begin to see hope.

“I love seeing the transformation in the faces of the women and men who come through our doors, often arriving in distress and leaving with relief and feelings of hope,” Wambach says. “I enjoy seeing the relationships clients form with our staff, and the changes we see, from crisis to confidence.”

FirstChoice Clinic, a faith-based, non-denominational organization, relies on the generosity of the community to assist families in these crisis situations, and annually hosts a fundraising banquet to help provide for these needs.

This year’s event, which will take place on Monday, March 13, at the Holiday Inn in Fargo, will feature keynote speaker Kirk Walden, author of “The Wall.” Wambach says she hopes the event also will help broaden the awareness of the essential work of FirstChoice Clinic within the community.

“We not only help women and men through the crisis and their decision, but after the decision, too, regardless of what they choose,” she says. “Each client who walks through our door is loved. We meet them where they are at and help them journey forward.”

heart attack hits LYNNETTE

heart attack hits LYNNETTE at age 47

Asa critical care nurse and emergency medical technician, Lynnette Anderson knew the symptoms of a heart attack. She’d taken care of patients as the ambulance raced to an emergency room and in the hospital after they’d had a heart attack.

Yet Anderson didn’t recognize that she was having a heart attack while doing fall chores at her family’s farm near Page, North Dakota.

“I had this aching feeling in my left arm that wouldn’t go away, no matter what I did,” Anderson recalls. She chalked the pain up to window-washing and garden cleanup. She tried over-the-counter pain relievers and a heating pad but the pain came and went over the September weekend.

Her husband, Rick, asked if she might be having a heart attack and suggested a trip to the emergency room to check it out. He’d recently heard an ad about how women often have different symptoms than men.

But Anderson insisted that she’d already gone down the checklist of heart-attack symptoms and she didn’t have chest pain, shortness of breath or sweatiness. Most important, she was only 47, had no family history of heart disease and didn’t have any risk factors.

“I just didn’t think that I could have a heart attack,” Anderson recalls.

When the pain persisted on Monday, Anderson decided to visit her physician, Dr. Richard Vetter at the Essentia Health–West Fargo clinic. An EKG showed she was having a heart attack.

“When they gave me a nitroglycerin tablet, my arm pain went away,” Anderson says. “As a nurse, I knew what was going on when the nitro worked: I was having a heart attack.”

An ambulance transported Anderson to the cardiac catherization lab at Essentia Health—Fargo. An interventional cardiology team found one artery in her heart was 99 percent blocked and placed two stents to open it.

On the morning of her hospital discharge, Anderson’s emotions finally caught up with her and she realized she could have died. “Wyatt Mitzel, the physician assistant, was wonderful with me,” she recalls. “He said you have to wrap your head around the whole deal: You’re 47. You had a heart attack and you have two stents. This is your new normal, your new life. And it’s OK.”

Anderson says support from her family and friends helped her navigate her new life. “Women who had had heart attacks came out of the woodwork and asked me, ‘How are you doing, really?’ I could confide in them and they knew exactly what I was going through,” she says.

Words by Connie Wirta

Photography by Scott Thuen of Thuen Studios

↗ LYNNETTE ANDERSON reads to her grandson, Kamden. Spending time with him is one way she works to better balance her life and reduce stress after she suffered a heart attack at age 47.

HEART ATTACK SYMPTOMS — in women —

Don’t wait to get help if you experience any of these heart-attack warning signs. Although some heart attacks are sudden and intense, most start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Pay attention to your body — and call 911 if you feel:

Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.

Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

While women most often experience chest pain, they are somewhat more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

Anderson now reaches out to other women, including sharing her story as the featured survivor at the American Heart Association’s first “Go Red for Women” luncheon on Feb. 2 in Fargo.

Anderson encourages women to know heartattack symptoms and heed them. She also stresses the need to make their health a priority. “As women and mothers, we always put everyone and everything first and put ourselves near the bottom of the list,” she says. “We need to move ourselves up on that list and make our health a priority.”

Dr. Samantha Kapphahn, Anderson’s Essentia Health cardiologist, agrees and says women tend to dismiss heart-attack symptoms or attribute them to something else. “We need to be aware of the symptoms and seek medical attention immediately,” Kapphahn says. “More minutes put more heart muscle in jeopardy. That can mean the difference in surviving a cardiac event and making a good recovery.”

“Don’t do as I did, do as I say,” Anderson stresses. “I was lucky. Know your body and pay attention to those vague symptoms. Don’t hesitate to call 911.”

Broken stronger your choice

9 truths to walk through your divorce in strength

Words by Monica Kramer McConkey »

In1967, two psychiatrists, Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe, developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (better known as the Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale). They studied the records of 5,000 plus medical patients to determine whether stressful events might cause illnesses. Patients were asked to rate a list of 43 life events from most stressful to least stressful. What a surprise that divorce was second only to death of a spouse.

Even more interesting is that many of the stressful events included on the list are experienced with the gathering of friends and family, the sharing of food, and the giving of flowers, cards and gifts. New homes, weddings, births, illness and accident, retirements, graduations, and funerals while causing a significant amount of stress, also typically generate a healthy outpouring of support.

But what about divorce? Divorce is its own animal isn’t it? Even with the comfort of close family and friends, often the most unfailing comrades have names such as Blame, Guilt, Shame, Remorse. The announcement of an impending divorce ushers in the end of a nuclear family and the forever changing of lives. It is undoubtedly accompanied by conflict and pain of all types — physical, spiritual, emotional and financial – leaving a path of derailed life plans.

My personal journey through divorce was no different. However I learned a handful of truths through those months and years that changed the way I now view life, relationships and the future. Absorbed is actually a more accurate word than learned — absorbed like the parched earth absorbs a gentle rain. These truths have saturated my mind and my soul. They are reflected on each day. I would like to share them with you.

1 You are stronger than you think you are.

2

Fearlessness is a conscious decision that needs to be made over and over and over again.

3

Some people will never support you no matter how much you strive to gain that support. No big deal ... move on without them.

4

Never take for granted those who offer unconditional love.

5 Make thinking forward your only option .

6 Never allow yourself to feel, appear or be a victim.

7 Your thoughts control your feelings.

8

There are people who should not be in your life, even if they think they belong there.

9

"I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

[jeremiah 29:11]

It is through the “absorption” of these truths that I came out on the other side of divorce a stronger, more independent and self-sufficient woman. In a strange twist of design, as in many processes, conflict and friction test the elements. And the result is one of two states: broken or stronger. Your choice.

PHOTO BY SB PHOTOGRAPHY

Words & Photography

DEVIN JOUBERT

HELPING INDIVIDUALS One Beat at a Time

Music therapy

is crucial because music is integral in our life,” says Kyle Johnson, who is just an ordinary guy whose life suddenly changed when his all-terrain vehicle was hit by a train. Johnson subsequently suffered a traumatic brain injury. About two years ago, he came to Music Therapy in Motion using a walker and had limited speech. After the accident, he set a goal that he’d like to drive his car to work and be independent. Through the help of music therapy, Johnson improved his walking from 35 beats per minute to over 80, and was able to reach his goal, driving himself to therapy and work, just as he’d originally planned.

“Music therapy changed his life,” said Emily Wangen, owner of Music Therapy In Motion.

With a heart full of compassion and a mission to help more individuals one beat at a time, Wangen is happy to announce their new Fargo clinic, which opened April 2016.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy at UND, Wangen began her music therapy career. She started out by driving about 900 miles a week to help people across North Dakota and Minnesota. Now, with the two clinics in Fargo and Grand Forks, she is hoping to help many more. At Music Therapy In Motion, they use music to achieve non-musical goals, which are unique to each individual they help.

Music Therapy In Motion employs six music therapists and two interns. They do a variety of

music therapy sessions including one-on-one sessions, group jam sessions and adaptive lessons. “Music therapy encompasses the entire brain,” says Wangen. “We use specific music therapy techniques to stimulate the affected side of the brain. As a result, the engagement activates the hemisphere’s healthy tissue, building neuropathways to recognize a desired response.”

In the last 10 years, Music Therapy In Motion started over 50 music therapy programs in North Dakota and Minnesota. “On average our team travels a thousand miles and sees 1,500 people a week,” says Wangen. “It’s incredible to see how music therapy impacts people.”

Music Therapy In Motion works with many individuals, from birth to end of life. “My favorite part of doing music therapy is when a child speaks for the first time through music therapy,

or when an individual is able to overcome an anxiety or fear through music,” says Wangen. The best way to understand how music therapists work is to see what they do. Anna Mitchell, assistant director of Music Therapy In Motion, says, “Seeing is understanding. It paints a picture.” Since seeing is understanding, let’s take a peak into what individuals do in music therapy sessions at Music Therapy In Motion.

In music therapy sessions, Kyle Johnson used his right foot (the side affected in the ATV accident) to tap a bass drum pedal, similar to stepping on the gas pedal in the car. A musical task like this was used for the non-musical goal of helping him drive his car.

Paul Leier Jr. comes in for an adaptive guitar lesson where music therapist Ashley Holten helps him learn to play an instrument at a level

he can understand. The lessons build his sequencing and motor memory skills, as well as just being a fun activity for him. His dad, Paul Leier Sr., adds with a chuckle, “He practices every night. The concert starts between 9 and 10 P.M."

“He is hard on himself. Aren’t you, Paul?” Holten asks. Paul Leier Jr. responds with, “Well I have to be, because I want to be the best.”

Roma Landis comes to Music Therapy In Motion for a jam session with Anna Mitchell, her music therapist. Landis, 18, has a disorder known as Prader–Willi syndrome and started music therapy when she was five. “She has come a long way with it,” her mother, Jennifer Bredahl says. “It helps her socialize with people and lowers her anxiety. She can't learn the ABCs but she can sing them. It's been amazing.”

At the end of Landis’ session, Mitchell asks, “Roma why do you like music?” Landis answers, “Because it makes me happy.”

“Roma always says, ‘Best day ever!’” Landis’ mother says. “I just want to have the same attitude. She really teaches us a lot and to enjoy the simple things.”

That’s what Music Therapy In Motion wants to do. They want to enrich and impact people’s lives one beat at a time so individuals can live up to their fullest potential.

Facts:

Music Therapy In Motion may be covered by insurance, depending on your plan.

Music Therapy is provided for: individuals and groups, including schools, children’s hospitals and oncology.

Music Therapy may help individuals with autism, Down syndrome, neurological disorders, grief, memory issues and those on hospice.

ANGELA MURRAY GIBSON

NORTH DAKOTA’S First Movie Director

Story by Curt Eriksmoen

One of the first female motion picture directors in the U.S. was from Casselton, North Dakota. In 1916, "America's Sweetheart," Mary Pickford, selected Angela Gibson to be her assistant director for the movie “The Pride of the Clan.” Pickford selected Gibson because of her well known knowledge of Scottish costumes and folklore. After the release of the film, Gibson studied cinematography at Columbia University in New York City. With her education and apprenticeship completed, she did not move to Hollywood, but instead returned to Casselton and established Gibson Studios, the state's first movie studio.

Angela Murray Gibson was born June 29, 1878, in Fifeshire, Scotland, to Robert and Angela (Jenkins) Gibson. When Angela was five-years old, her family immigrated to the U.S., settling first in Boston, then in St. Paul, and ultimately, in Casselton. Because Robert was on the road for considerable periods of time as a travel agent, Angela, her mother, and older sister, Ruby, rented an apartment in Fargo while Angela attended classes at the North Dakota Agricultural College, now NDSU. She graduated in 1898 with a bachelor's degree in domestic science.

While Angela Gibson attended college, Ruby worked at the Herbst Clothing Store in Fargo, and the owner, Isaac Herbst, observed that Ruby had a gift for merchandizing. He agreed to help her establish her own store in Casselton, which was called the Bee Hive Store. Initially the store was a huge success, and with the profits, Ruby assisted Angela with her theatrical ambitions. In 1908, Ruby paid for Angela's trip back to Scotland to study the culture and dress of her homeland.

When Angela returned to the U.S., she put together a show consisting of reading, monologue, impersonation and music solos performed on a Scottish harp. In 1911, she took her show on the road, performing all over the U.S. and Canada. One of the people who took notice of Angela's shows was Mary Pickford, the most famous movie actress of the time. In 1916, Pickford was preparing to make the

movie “The Pride of the Clan,” based on a script by Elaine Carrington, who later gained fame as the creator of the soap opera. For the movie, Pickford arranged for Angela to work as an advisor and assistant director.

The movie was about the daughter of the last chieftain of a Scottish clan who needed to take a leadership role after her father died. To help give the movie authenticity, Angela offered advice on costumes, Scottish dances and dialogue.

The center of the movie industry at the time was not Hollywood, but rather it was located in Fort Lee, New Jersey. The director of Pickford's movie was Maurice Tourneur, who had relocated from France to the U.S. a couple of years earlier. Tourneur demanded a good, authentic movie, and since that is what Angela helped to provide, the two got along very well. Among directors, only the pictures of D. W. Griffith and Thomas H. Ince were more popular in this era than the films of Maurice Tourneur. Angela meticulously observed the director's work on the film and learned valuable information on how to make a good movie. She also gained acting experience by playing a small role in the film.

Having worked on a major motion picture with a highly acclaimed director, Angela was hooked on becoming a movie director. To learn more about the profession, she attended Columbia University, where she worked under the tutelage of Carl Gregory, the principal cameraman for a couple of motion picture companies and the chief cinematography instructor for the U.S. Army's Signal Corps School of Photography during World War I.

When her classes were over, Angela worked for several months with other movie companies studying directing and camera work. In 1919, she purchased a movie camera and returned to Casselton, where she established Gibson Studios. Ruby was put in charge of running the business aspects of Gibson Studios, and Angela, with assistance from her mother, planned on doing most of the work on the set. First,

Angela setting the scene before filming

With the start of the Great Depression, An gela was no longer financially able to continue making movies, and the film studio was transformed into a dance and elocution studio where she was the instructor. During World War II, Angela reportedly came up with the idea of “ready-mix” pie crust. She approached General Mills with her idea, and they were impressed. Negotiations broke down, and the company ended up going with a Betty Crocker brand of “ready-mix” baked goods.

In the later 1940s, Angela contracted tuber culosis and spent much of her remaining years in sanatoriums. She died on October 22, 1953. During the next two decades, many of her films disappeared or had greatly deteriorated. In 1976, the Centennial Commission discov ered what remained of her films, and they con tracted with Snyder Films in Fargo to salvage and restore what they could. In 1997, the film “The Angela Murray Gibson Experience” was produced, which took an affectionate look at North Dakota's pioneer movie director. This film allowed new generations to see excerpts of films made by a most remarkable lady.

SPARKS FLY SPARKS FLY

INSIDE SNOWFIRE STUDIO with ARTIST KARMAN RHEAULT

Words by Alicia Underlee Nelson | Photography by Kensie Wallner Photography

Sparks fly when Karman Rheault gets creative at Snowfire Studio — literally. The air inside her cozy 100-year-old granary studio is heavy with the smells of creation, the tang of metal, and the hot, sweet scent of flame. Rheault sends a shower of sparks across her work table, then grabs a welding torch and protective helmet, an eye-catching spot of color in a largely unadorned and utilitarian space. “A helmet can make a welder, I think,” she says, with an easy grin. Then she pulls down the face shield and gets lost in her work.

Rheault has been a working artist for over 20 years. But the quality of her work, the joy she finds in working with metal, and her supreme confidence in her process reveal an artist hitting her stride.

She started her career working in ceramics. But when caring for a growing family made keeping her clay in top working condition a challenge (she and husband Mark have three now teenage daughters: Syler, Caiden and Zenna), she picked up a paintbrush. Her work, with its palpable sense of movement and ethereal figures and forms, is instantly recognizable.

But then a friend introduced her to welding and she fell in love. “I was just mesmerized,” she says. “I’ve always loved fire. I’ve always loved 3-D. By the end of the week, I’d bought all the tools and jumped in.”

Rheault threw herself into metalwork. She created complex lawn sculptures, undulating wall sculptures, whimsical creatures with kitchen utensils for limbs, and three dimensional nature scenes. She used the heat from her tools to create colorful accents on the metal, complex purples and greens and blues, and rusted the surface of her creations to create a rich patina.

Commissions came her way, including 3-D logos for local businesses, a dragon mascot for her alma mater Minnesota State University Moorhead, custom trophies for the NDSU Research Park Innovation Awards and a particularly memorable fireplace, which she shipped to North Carolina piece by piece. But at this stage in her career, Rheault feels herself moving away from commissioned work and toward her own vision.

“I used to be a total ‘yes’ girl and took every project that came my way because that’s how you make a living,” she says. “But it came to a point when it felt like work. My art is who I am. I really prefer to just have an idea and dive in and just have it flow that way. I’m not an artist who plans every detail out.”

I WASjust mesmerized. I’ve always loved fire. I’ve always loved 3-D. By the end of the week, I’d bought all the tools AND JUMPED IN.

I used to be a total ‘yes’ girl and took every project that came my way because that’s how you make a living. But it came to a point when it felt like work.

MY ART iw WHO I AM.

I really prefer to just have an idea and dive in and just have it flow that way. I’m not an artist who plans every detail out.

Rheault opens Snowfire Studio to the public during the Fargo Moorhead Visual Artists’ Studio Crawl every October and shows her work at Gallery 4, an artist owned co-op gallery in downtown Fargo where Rheault is the current president. She loves the experimental space, where she can exhibit without being bound by a theme and receive instant feedback from visitors. She also shows her work on her website, snowfirestudio.com.

Willowy in worn-in jeans and brown cowboy boots, Rheault ambles out of the granary and across the grounds of the farm where she lives and works. It’s a luxuriously quiet place, nestled against the banks of the Red River just a short drive north of Moorhead. A pair of horses keep quiet watch as friendly farm dogs, a gaggle of geese and one lone chicken wander underfoot.

Rheault opens the door to the gracious farmhouse where she lives with her family. Her split-bank tank top reveals a glimpse of a tattoo on the small of her back. It’s one of her designs, a small and graceful figure. Its lines are echoed in the metalwork displayed throughout the spacious, richly colorful rooms of Rheault’s home.

“Just in the past few years I’ve been trying to do more stuff for me,” she says, gesturing to the metalwork across the face of the fireplace, the scenes gracing the kitchen cabinets and the fluid wall sculptures. She laughs. “It really feels narcissistic as I’m pointing it out.”

The last year has been all about giving herself permission to do the work she wants to do. “I make time for lunch with friends or kayaking the river or whatever I want to do,” Rheault says. “I’m really trying to follow my heart on what I work on. Some days I don’t feel like work and I kayak on the river and other days I’m in there for 12 hours.”

“It’s been really fun to get back to the ethereal themes and figures that I was painting in for so many years,” she says. “So I think I’ll do that more. It feels really good.”

MSUM offers new DOCTOR of EDUCATION in Educational Leadership

classes begin fall 2017 with priority deadline february 24

Words by Kristi Monson, MSUM Marketing & Communications

Minnesota State UNIVERSITY MOORHEAD

will offer a new Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in educational leadership beginning Fall 2017. The doctor of education is designed for professionals interested in advancing their careers at both the P–12 and postsecondary levels. Applicants must have a minimum of three years of professional employment and accomplishments within education or a related field, such as consulting, corporate training, human resources or nonprofit leadership.

MSUM’s doctorate program in educational leadership is designed to:

w improve leadership skills to meet today’s challenges in education

w develop in-depth knowledge to be a creative change-agent committed to advocacy, action and equitable education

w conduct applied research to address workplace challenges

w apply interventions for improvement, and measure results

w enhance soft skills to promote innovative leadership practices

w grow professional learning networks to encourage collaboration

w transform educational institutions by putting theory into practice

The need for highly trained educational leaders is growing. In a survey of students and alumni of MSUM’s graduate programs in education, 80 percent expressed interest in an online doctor of education program.

“Interested individuals include current principals, superintendents, teachers, special education directors, community education directors, higher education administrators and business professionals,” says Boyd Bradbury, coordinator of MSUM’s doctor of education program. “Given the level of interest within the first few weeks of accepting applications, there is clear evidence that MSUM’s online doctor of education is a desired degree.”

Founded as a teacher’s college, MSUM enjoys a solid reputation for graduating wellprepared education candidates and is competitively positioned to offer this doctorate degree. While other doctorate programs are offered regionally and online, MSUM’s program is a practitioner-focused program.

Photography by Dave Arntson, MSUM Photographer

MSUM’s Doctor of Education Program Coordinator Boyd Bradbury →

↙ M SUM alumnus Ethan Ehlert is principal of Lodoen Kindergarten Center in West Fargo. He earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in educational leadership.

“MSUM’s doctor of education will build skills and foundational knowledge to successfully address organizational, leadership and educational issues and apply these skills through real-world experiences,” Bradbury says. “It will equip graduates for high-level leadership positions.”

Bradbury said there is no other entirely online doctor of education program offered by a public university in Minnesota or North Dakota. “There are for-profit institutions offering online doctor of education degrees, but students pay considerably more to obtain those degrees,” he says. “With the exception of two summer residencies, MSUM’s entire doctor of education is offered online.”

Graduates of MSUM’s doctor of education program will be effective educational leaders who can respond quickly and decisively to a changing, culturally diverse and technologyrich society. Students will advance through the program quickly:

w Eight consecutive semesters (three-year completion)

w Eight-week courses

w Interactive online cohort model

w Two face-to-face summer residencies

w Clinical assignments to demonstrate capacity to put theory into action

w Action research focused on developing indepth knowledge to be an innovative leader

Faculty teaching in the doctor of education program are experienced professors with terminal degrees and administrative experience in P–12 as well as higher education. Additionally, all doctor of education courses will be submitted for certification through Quality Matters, a faculty-centered, peer-review process designed to certify the quality of online courses.

MSUM’s doctor of education degree has been approved by the Minnesota State system and anticipates Higher Learning Commission approval by spring 2017. Priority application deadline is February 24, 2017, with classes starting fall semester.

LEARN MORE about MSUM’S DOCTOR of EDUCATION DEGREE

mnstate.edu/doctorate/educational-leadership

Program Coordinator Boyd Bradbury, Ph.D., bradbury@mnstate.edu or 218-477-2471

Nicole Sommers → finding her passions

dancing through LIFE

From the first time NICOLE HEDLUND SOMMERS

of Sabin, Minnesota, stepped into a Jazzercise class, she knew it would be a life-long passion. It has proven to be not only her passion, but also a place of stress-relief after long work days, a foundation for connections and friendships, and after 20 plus years, now her main profession.

It was during her college days a friend convinced Sommers to attend a Jazzercise class. The dance moves and the music appealed greatly to her and she began attending the classes regularly and quickly moved into becoming an instructor.

WORDS BY KIM MALAKOWSKY PHOTOGRAPHY BY DENNIS KRULL, 5FOOT20 DESIGN LOUNGE

ANOTHER life

As a second-year student at NDSU, Sommers found herself struggling with the rigors of college. Unsure of what she wanted in her future, she made the decision to take time off from school and enter the work field.

A serendipitous job opening at Leeby’s store in downtown Fargo awakened another passion in this young Williston, North Dakota, native. It was a time when Leeby’s, a locally owned grocery store was transitioning ownership to two California chefs. Sommers discovered the art of baking. Soon after she began her new job, the chefs, recognizing her talents, encouraged her to consider culinary school.

Sommers applied for and was accepted into Disney World’s three-year culinary program, and made the move to Florida where she specialized in pastries. Though her days were crammed, her passion for dance remained and she continued as a Jazzercise instructor inspiring others to join the fun.

A handsome young man, Steve, who would later become her husband, also attended the Disney Culinary Program. After completion, together they sought jobs in Orlando, fine-tuning their culinary skills at a highly regarded restaurant. When a food-writer from Zagat visited one day, Sommers asked the question, “Where is the best place in the U.S. to be in the culinary industry?” The reply was Boulder, Colorado. →

Photo courtesy of John Borge Studios

MOVING ON

With jobs lined up and bags packed, the two headed to Boulder. After discovering the restaurant of her choice didn’t stack up to her expectations, Sommers opened her own pastry shop.

The next 10 years were filled with learning the ropes of owning a business, including marketing, production, handling employees and finances. At the high point Sommers owned two shops and employed 15 people. But, in 2010 the economy suffered and pastries were a luxury many could not afford. The days were stressful and Sommers continued to teach Jazzercise. She practiced what she preached: “Forget about your stress, forget about your day at work, just come here to have fun.”

Disguised BLESSINGS

After closing the pastry shop in 2010, the couple moved around until deciding it was time to start a family. At that point they knew they wanted to be closer to their own families and in 2013 returned to the Midwest, settling in Sabin, Minnesota, where they now live with two lively boys. Identical twins, Curtis and Matthew, now two-years-old are the center of Sommer’s life.

Also central to her life was her neverending passion for Jazzercise. Realizing when they moved back there were no longer any Jazzercise classes in the area, Sommers decided to start her own Jazzercise business.

Today you’ll find Sommers expertly balancing life as a wife, mom and Jazzercise instructor. Her face lights up as she talks about her students, many of whom remember Jazzercise from the 80s and welcomed its return to the area. “As an instructor I love looking out and seeing people smile,” says Sommers. “I like seeing their successes.”

She describes how Jazzercise in many ways has remained the same and in others has evolved to include yoga, Pilates, resistance training and kickboxing moves. “We always have current, top 100 hits in class,” says Sommers, “and now offer eight different formats to add variety in your workout and keep your body guessing.”

Classes are held at the PRACS building in Fargo where there is plenty of space, where laughter rings out, old friendships are rekindled and new ones made.

It’s a comfortable place where all are welcome and beginners will never feel intimidated. Sommers adjusts the classes to accommodate all levels, layering moves as students become adept.

And what about the pastry chef? Referring to their family’s culinary specialties Sommers says, “He makes great meals and I make the dessert. We still do. My two professions pair very well together. I don’t feel as guilty eating everything that I make and I do love to eat them.”

Forget about your stress, forget about your day at work , just come here to have fun

JOIN the FUN!

FOR MORE INFORMATION

jazzercise.com

facebook.com/jazzercisefargo jazzercisefargo@yahoo.com

720-849-2432

Many payment options are available including monthly memberships, 10 and 20 class passes, as well as drop in.

WhenMourning Dawns is our six-week series that looks at the seasons of the year to guide our conversations about the seasons of your grief. Preregistration is required and space is limited. Please call or email us if you have questions or interest in this series.

SPRING DATES FOR OUR NEXT SERIES: APRIL 10 – MAY 15, from 6:00 – 7:15 PM each Monday.

for more info: boulgerfuneralhome.com

This

LOCAL INVENTORY of affordable Healthcare Equipment & Supplies

An exciting new initiative, GIRLFORCE, is a program that provides free Jazzercise classes throughout 2017 to young women, ages 16-21. Created as a way to show girls how great fitness feels and to support them in developing healthy life-long habits, Jazzercise Fargo is excited to give back to the community and offer a welcoming place for young women to enjoy dance fitness.

please

VISIT TODAY for your perfect fit! 5012 53rd Street S, Suite C | Fargo 701-212-1921 HEROFargo.org

save the date

education, experience prepare NDSU GRADUATE to TEACH the next generation of nurses

Words by Heath Hotzler | Photography by Glasser Images

Allison Peltier was 16 when she lost her brother, Dylan, to suicide. He was 14.

His death was impossible to comprehend at the time. It still is 13 years later. Eventually, though, sadness and disbelief turned into resolve — resolve to lead a life focused on helping people.

Peltier put her energy into a nursing career, earning her degree in 2009. From the start, she had ambitions to be a leader, a compassionate advocate and a policy-maker who created positive change for patients.

In December, she started a new phase of her career, inspired by her instructors in North Dakota State University’s doctor of nursing practice program. She became a teacher, an assistant professor of practice for NDSU Nursing at Sanford Health in Bismarck, North Dakota.

“I had an interest in teaching, but it was really confirmed through my experience in the NDSU doctor of nursing practice program,” she says. “I had wonderful mentors and professionals who had a big impact on my life and how I view patients. It made me want to have that impact on others.”

Peltier worked for several years before continuing her education. Her first job was charge nurse in Sanford’s inpatient eating disorder unit in Fargo. Then she transferred to the surgical inpatient unit at Sanford Medical Center. Her next position was at an urgent care facility in Bemidji, where she moved with her husband after he earned his doctor of pharmacy degree at NDSU in 2011.

She was driven to accelerate her professional growth and applied to graduate programs. “Education and lifelong learning have always been important to me,” Peltier says. “I wanted to commit myself to getting my doctor of nursing practice degree, commit to being a leader in evidence-based practice, and commit to improving health care quality and communication for our patients.”

↖ NDSU GRADUATE, ALLISON PELTIER

↓ ALLISON PELTIER teaches nursing students in her Bismarck classroom.

NDSU was her number one choice. “The program is well established and is known for its high level of excellence in education,” she says. She cancelled her other interviews when she learned she was accepted into NDSU’s program.

During her course of study, she noticed significant growth in her critical-thinking and communication skills. She won NDSU’s Three Minute Thesis Competition, which asks students to clearly and succinctly communicate complex research to a general audience. Peltier presented contributing factors to cervical cancer disparities among American Indian women — research that had direct application following graduation when she worked as a nurse practitioner at Red Lake Indian Health Services in Red Lake, Minnesota.

Her education also showed a new career angle: teaching future nurses. She was inspired by how her NDSU professors educated, supported, challenged and encouraged each student.

In her new role as assistant professor of practice, she teaches a health promotion class for undergraduates and a health assessment class for graduate students. She also coordinates doctor of nursing practice students’ clinical practice experiences and mentors the next generation of nurses, many of whom will stay in North Dakota following graduation.

The teenager

who was stunned by the loss of her little brother turned tragedy into grace. She has grown into an accomplished professional, motivated to continue learning and to make a difference.

“I hope I can be the positive role model for these undergraduate nursing and DNP students at NDSU,” she says. “My goal is to continue to educate nurses to positively impact the health of individuals, communities and families. And I want to express that as nurses, we have a commitment to service, practice and the highest quality care."

one year. two lives changed FOREVER.

Mentoring Program Leader Sarah Benson

works to impact kids through mentoring

Words by ANNA HAGEN, Marketing Director, YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties and KRISTIN MILLER , Marketing Coordinator, YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties

Photography by Jill Ockhardt Blaufuss

t was an extra hot summer in 2006.

In Iraq. The sun, sandy wind and 120 plus degree days just made your clothes stick to your body and your skin taste like salt. Sarah Benson, a 21-year-old free spirit who spent nearly two years on active duty in Iraq, would normally be found plopped down under a giant stack of papers at her desk in the human resources office, located at Camp Adder near the city of Nasiriyah in the southern part of the country. As a sergeant in the military, her life was full of order and early mornings and she was constantly surrounded by t-barriers, steel freight boxes and camouflage.

BENSON in Iraq washing a truck as part of preventative maintenance checks and services (PMCS), a requirement prior to and after every mission.

Benson had been on active duty for five months when her heart started to feel heavy. She was trying to make a difference in the world, but she started to think that her time and talents were being used in the wrong place. It was when she saw a group of children playing hopscotch and some made-up games in the sand on one of those hot summer days that made her long for home. She described it as a true epiphany, and remembered thinking that when she got home she wanted to devote herself to working with kids, especially those who could use a little extra help.

“I felt like there was something making my life not quite whole,” Benson says. “I get my energy from kids. Working with kids makes me feel like I have a true purpose and I wanted that back.”

Benson, a native of Sandstone, Minnesota, who now lives in Moorhead with her husband, Tyler, and threeyear-old daughter, Vivie, grew up with three siblings, two of whom also served in the army. A spirit of serving others was always present in her household while growing up, with her dad working as a longtime volunteer for the Salvation Army. Benson says it was that dedication from her dad that first inspired her to make giving back a priority in her life.

“He always had a big heart,” Benson says. “There were several times when we had someone who was down on their luck, maybe without a job or without a home, who we would have stay with us. I saw that as the way you should be with people. If you have something to give, you should give it.”

Benson returned home to the states in August of 2007 and continued to serve in the Army National Guard until 2011. During that time, she completed her bachelor’s degree in family counseling from the University of Minnesota Duluth and her master’s degree in school counseling from Minnesota State University Moorhead. After finishing school, she went on to start her career in school counseling for five years, but found a new calling when she began working at the YMCA of Cass and Clay Counties in 2015 as the organization’s Reach and Rise mentoring program director.

↗ BENSON in Iraq in a truck on her way from the office to her trailer to change for third country national, or TCN, duty — guarding Iraqi locals on a base to ensure there were no security threats.

The Reach and Rise mentoring program is a national YMCA program that was originally launched in 1992 at the YMCA of San Francisco and later expanded to Fargo in 2012. The therapeutic one-on-one mentoring program matches at-risk youth with caring and supportive adult mentors. Mentors are paired with mentees, which are youth ages 6–17 that lack role models and may be challenged by social issues like poverty, crime, substance abuse and single parent households. For a minimum of one year, mentors and mentees spend one to three hours per week together going on oneon-one outings like sledding, playing games at the YMCA or reminiscing about the school day over dinner. During this time, mentors focus on key emotional and developmental issues specific to each mentee. Sometimes the duos attend group events with other Reach and Rise pairs.

Unlike similar mentoring programs, Reach and Rise mentors provide more than just a buddy for their mentees. They are trained to address specific goals that will be impactful and have long-term outcomes behaviorally. There is an emphasis on individual growth, which looks different for each child. Mark Winkelman, one of the first mentors at the YMCA in Fargo, says “For me, the Reach and Rise program is an opportunity to make a difference in somebody’s life. We’re helping them work on some issues they may have and working with them to improve in those areas.”

The youth in Reach and Rise are referred to the program by school counselors and other mental health professionals who identify their need for a positive adult role model. Benson says that she sees kids completely transformed by their involvement in the program — ending their year in the program much happier, more confident and better able to succeed in school and in interpersonal relationships.

She recalls one young mentee who had struggled with witnessing emotional violence in his home, causing him to have behavioral troubles in school and develop a deep uncertainty in himself. “He’s blossomed in the program,” Benson says about the child, adding that the relationship he developed with his mentor has allowed him to find the stable, reassuring adult presence he had been missing out on at home.

Benson takes joy in seeing her mentor/mentee matches grow together and hearing their stories of success. “We all become one big family,” she says, while adding, “I love seeing the progress our mentees take, and knowing that one small thing can be a huge step. I also find joy and fulfillment in really getting to know the kids on a deeper level,” Benson says about making the switch from school counseling to her current position at the YMCA. “You really get to know family dynamics and meet a lot of amazing people.”

↗ MENTORS ANNA HAGEN and JASON SATHER with mentees JAELYN SCHMEETS and KADYN RUTHERFORD enjoying a typical mentor/mentee outing.

moving forward,

Benson hopes to see the program continue to grow and thrive, adding more mentors and continuing to provide support for youth in our community. She is continuously training in new mentors, who complete a therapeutic training course, which enables them to help their mentees address a number of areas including self-confidence, behavioral issues, academic success and peer relationships.

“There are nine million kids out there that don’t have a trusted adult in their lives,” Benson says. “Anyone who’s passionate about lifting up youth should consider involvement in the program.”

Benson is also trying to connect with local organizations who may want to sponsor an event or gathering to bring mentors and mentees together for fun and relationship building out in the community.

“My personal motto is, ‘See a need — fill a need,’” Benson says, adding that the need is definitely present in our community. Reach and Rise currently has more than 50 youth waiting for their mentor match and Benson says the program is always recruiting new mentors. The program currently has nearly 30 active mentor/mentee matches. She is also launching a new group mentoring program, so mentors can now work with a partner and a group of kids rather than just one-on-one.

↕ BENSON leads a typical role-playing activity during mentor training, which serves to prepare mentors to communicate effectively during difficult conversations with their mentee.

“One of my biggest challenges is recruiting mentors,” she says, adding that she would particularly like to see an increase in the number of male mentors involved in the program, with the majority of mentees on her waiting list being boys.

Because of the success of the Reach and Rise program under her lead, Benson has been asked to speak at the National Mentoring Summit this February in Washington, D.C., a conference that is put on by The National Mentoring Partnership. She’ll be presenting to other mental health advocates about the importance of supporting mentors and families who have youth with development or mental illnesses. She is thrilled and honored to be a part of the conference and says the opportunity will her allow to connect and share ideas with mentoring program leaders from across the country.

Benson is continuously and excitedly sharing her passion for youth and the importance of being a guide for them. “Mentoring works,” Benson states plainly. “It works because it’s fueled by the most powerful energy source available to mankind— human connection.”

Benson also reminds others that mentoring is an important and effective tool for adults and professionals as well. “Find a mentor for yourself. Or better yet, a network of mentors in your profession that will be your advisers, your respite and your source of rejuvenation. A good professional mentor is easy to spot; he or she will be a person that allows you to feel your strength, worth and value,” she says, adding that for women becoming leaders, “A true leader is never comfortable with her progress, but rather is continually seeking new challenges and strengthening her team.”

More than anything, Benson wants to remind people that anyone has the capacity to change a life through mentoring — and that everyone has something to give. “We always say you can change a life just by being you,” she says. “It’s cheesy — but it’s true for the kids in our program.”

BENSON with her husband, Tyler, and their daughter, Vivie.

books we love

Words by MEGAN ELGIN

There’s nothing better than cozying up with a good book when the weather is less than perfect (and even sometimes when it is). Each issue, I will feature some of my favorite reads across a variety of genres. These books will transport you into the future, back to present day (extraterrestrials included) and from the pop culture of the 1980s to the bomb factories of World War II. As you journey with me, I hope you’ll find a story that speaks to your soul.

SLEEPING GIANTS

by Slyvian Neuvel

A young girl named Rose takes her new bike out for a ride and doesn’t come home. She is found at the bottom of a large hole … sitting in the palm of a giant metal hand.

Seventeen years later, humans have been unable to unlock any of the hand’s secrets. A team of scientists led by Rose continue their research in a secret underground facility hoping to make a breakthrough that will change everything.

This captivating debut novel is a wonderfully detailed and richly imagined story full of science, adventure, humor, romance and intrigue. The story unfolds through a series of interview transcripts conducted by a mysterious unnamed government agent with his own hidden agenda. Read it now and look for “Waking Gods,” the second book in the series coming out in April.

← BOHEMIAN GOSPEL

by Dana Chamblee Carpenter

Set in war-torn and superstitionridden thirteenth-century Bohemia, "Bohemian Gospel" is the story of a girl named Mouse who is born with unnatural senses. From the very beginning, Mouse proves herself to be a strong, unusual heroine as she uses her gifts to save the life of the young King Ottakar — who convinces her to become his personal healer. What follows is a quest of self-discovery, mystery and adventure that will test her every strength.

Mouse is the greatest heroine I have encountered in a long time. She defies the typical female superhero stereotypes and uses her power of intellect, reasoning and persuasion to fight epic battles against the evil that haunts her. “Bohemian Gospel” is the kind of unique tale that will live with you long after the last page is finished. The revelation behind the book’s title, referencing the medieval manuscript, the Codex Gigas, will inspire you to learn more about the actual Codex Gigas (yes, it’s real and the history behind it is fascinating!).

↓ SLACKS & CALLUSES: Our Summer in a Bomber Factory

by Constance Bowman Reid, Illustrated by Clara Marie Allen, Introduction by Sandra M. Gilbert

In 1943 the war effort inspires two spirited young teaches to do their part during summer vacation and they begin working at a bomber plant in San Diego on a B-24 production. Written as they were living it, this is an insightful look at the experiences these women had in a male-dominated field from the change in the attitudes of those around them, to finding common ground with coworkers from different classes and learning to use tools they had never seen before.

“Slacks and Calluses” is a vibrant account that reminds us of an overlooked part of the war effort that forever changed the roles of women in America. Filled with fascinating facts and observations, this is a story everyone should read and remember.

READY PLAYER ONE

by Ernest Cline

It’s the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS, a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be. OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles inside the vast worlds of the OASIS and has bequeathed his entire fortune to whoever can unlock the riddles based in the pop culture he loved — that of the late twentieth century.

As you may have guessed, Watts is the one to stumble upon the first clue Halliday left behind and now the whole world is watching — along with certain powerful players who are willing to commit very real murder to gain this prize. What follows is a fantastical adventure of 1980s pop culture and Atari-style video games — with a few real life lessons of friendship, love and facing up to the challenges life throws at us.

“Ready Player One” is a must-read for everyone that grew up among the pop culture of the video games era. If you find yourself imagining the vivid OASIS battles and wishing to see them on the silver screen, you are in luck because the film directed by Steven Spielberg is currently scheduled to be released in early 2018.

← ODD and the FROST GIANTS

by Neil Gaiman, Illustrated by Chris Riddell

Living in a village in ancient Norway, twelve-year-old Odd is an unlucky boy who has lost his father, had his leg shattered when a tree falls on it, and is just trying to find a quiet spot away from the grumpy villagers.

In the forest, Odd encounters a bear, a fox and an eagle who are really the Norse gods Odin, Thor and Loki. Together, they go on a journey to end the long winter caused by the Frost Giants who have invaded Asgard. It’s going to take someone very special to outwit the Frost Giants and restore peace.

“Odd and the Frost Giants” is a delightful adventure for both kids and adults alike. Recommended for ages 8–12, read this with your children and marvel over the stunning illustrations. Go with Odd on his wild and magical journey, and learn a little about Norse Mythology along the way.

Little Jungle Childcare Center

When families enroll in the Little Jungle Childcare Center, children will receive the best care the industry has to offer. All that is needed is to “expect more.”

If you enjoy reading, discovering great new books, and discussing them with others I highly recommend Litsy, a new bookish social media app. Free for iOS and Android, Litsy has been described by Book Riot as “a social media app for readers that is kind of like if Instagram and Goodreads had a beautiful, perfect baby.”

You can share your favorite quotes, review the books you’ve read, and post other pictures and moments with blurbs. There are stacks to organize your reading list and users post all sorts of photo challenges, reading challenges, recommendations, quotes, book clubs and topics. I’ve found more great new books to read here than anywhere else, and made lots of new bookish friends from all over the world.

FOR MORE INFO

or to download the Litsy app for your device go to Litsy.com If you join, be sure to follow me: @meganann

Mother Goose preschool curriculum

built into the program for no extra charge.

Gardening program

6

- 5

yrs

& After school program

Ed Clapp – Centennial Independence – Kennedy Oak Grove Elementary

all things woman

Mike Sherman 701-306-5119

Debbie Trombley 701-729-1910

Marietta Hartze-Andresen 701-200-3010

Jon-Michael Sherman 701-306-1288

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