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Making dreams come true. It’s just one of the reasons why we’re the #1 mortgage lender in ND.
43 locations in 22 communities across North Dakota and central Minnesota
Scheduling a wellness visit is a simple, easy way to take care of yourself. Whether it’s face–to–face or virtually, we’re committed to providing the right care for you. We’ll listen, assess how you’re doing and get you back on track. Take some time to come and see us—because it’s always good to check in.
Schedule online with your family provider at EssentiaHealth.org/Schedule
Meredith Keeler, OD Anne Keating, MD
Steve Thom, MD Nicole Collins, OD
Michelle Atchison, MD
are the voice of Area Woman Magazine. They bring to life the Fargo-Moorhead area and the incredible stories of the women we feature.
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The cover story was photographed by Morgan Schleif and written by Alicia Underlee Nelson, page 50.
Alicia is the creator of prairiestylefile.com, a website that explores the arts, culture, shopping, events and fashion of FargoMoorhead and the upper Midwest. She frequently travels across the region in search of what's beautiful and what's next.
Morgan is the owner of M. Schleif Photography, a queer woman-owned business in Fargo. She specializes in capturing vibrant imagery for events, small business branding and lifestyle. Morgan is a Minneapolis native who made Fargo-Moorhead home in 2012 while getting her degree in graphic design and public relations at Concordia College. Over the past eight years she has worked with a variety of clients, most notably Folkways, Kilbourne Group, WAAM Industries and Unglued.
To find more of her work, connect with her on Facebook or Instagram @mschleifphotography, or view her full portfolio at mschleifphotography.com.
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Area Woman is a proud member of the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce. It is published bimonthly by Area Woman Publishing, LLC and printed in the U.S.A. ©2022 Area Woman Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from AW. Area Woman is a trademark registered at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Area Woman Publishing assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs and does not necessarily agree with content or advertising presented.
Livin' the dream as a mom of four and wife to a smarty pants teacher. She can't live without self-deprecating humor and coffee! Fortunately, her day job is her dream job on the radio. BOB 95 with Chris, John and Cori in the morning.
Wasifa is a dentistry graduate, full-time blogger and makeup artist. She blogs and makes videos about beauty, makeup, fashion and lifestyle on her blog sifascorner.com.
These are the talented contributors showcased in this issue.Learn more about these and our other contributors at areawomanmagazine.com
Jssica is a mother of five kids and resides with her family on her husband’s family farm in central Minnesota. Jessica grew up in the Fargo area before relocating to Minnesota. She is a licensed independent social worker with 15 years of human service experience, specializing in child welfare. Jessica runs her own human service consulting and training company. Most recently Jessica added author to her tagline. She co-authored a book that became an international best seller on release date, “Success Codes: Secrets to Success You Weren’t Taught in School.”
AMANDA SILVERMAN KOSIOR
Amanda writes funny (or “funny” depending on your take) stories about herself and shares happy stories about other North Dakotans at northdakotanice.com.
Ashley is a local health, fitness and life coach with a passion for inspiring and motivating others to live their best life. She started her own business, BUFF Inc., teaches group fitness classes at the YMCA in Fargo, is a health and fitness writer, has appeared on local TV as a fitness expert, and shares her life and expertise candidly on Facebook and Instagram. To work with Ashley for nutrition, fitness and life coaching, contact her online at eatlivebebuff.com.
ANGEL
Driven by her goal of leaving you happier than before you met, Angel's main goal in life is laughter. She owns her dream, AKA, where she is a multifaceted consultant and coach. Her expertise ranges from sales and marketing to writing, educating and fitness. Her man-bun wearing husband and two precious kids keep her grounded, fulfilled and grateful. Stop by for a daily dose of yoga, motherhood and all things life-inspired on her blog angelskeenangles.com and instagram @angelskeenangles.
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he climbed into her chair and asked for her coloring crayons, so I took my glasses o and walked over to get them for her. It was 5 p.m., so my day should’ve been tied up, but there were a few more things I wanted to nish. As I made my way back to my desk, “Oh yeah, dinner,” popped into my head, so I grabbed the meat from the fridge and started the pan to cook the ground beef for tacos. It sizzled and slowly cooked while I made my way back and forth between my laptop and stirred the meat.
“Can I have a drink, mom?” she asked patiently as she colored her paper. On my next trip back to my laptop I swi ly grabbed a cup, lled it with water and placed it in front of her. I scurriedly stirred the pan in order to respond to an important Teams message that had just come in.
I was doing many things, but was I really? My brain wasn’t where my feet were. And, it has seemed all too common that we are all experiencing that with our “new normal.”
We love the ability to work remote, but where have the boundaries gone? The following tricks have helped me put my mind back where my feet are.
I can e ectively check out when I put physical boundaries in place. To mentally be available and present with my family I close my laptop, turn my second monitor o and turn my desk lamps o . This signals to me my day is done and the rest can wait until tomorrow. You deserve this and so does your family.
WORDS : ANGEL EVENSON PHOTOGRAPHY : ASHLEY OBERHOLTZER PHOTOGRAPHY
Remember those legally enforced breaks you used to receive in the o ce? Honey, you still need them. Maybe those 15-minute breaks mean you are putting a load of laundry in, tossing some food in the crockpot for supper or maybe it’s scrolling Instagram or grabbing that shower you never got this morning. (I’m partial to a 15 minute Peloton workout.) Whatever your 15-minute break looks like, take them! There are very few things that can’t wait 15 minutes.
If the door was closed, you wouldn’t barge into your boss’s o ce without knocking rst. The same rule can apply to your family. If they knock, and you don’t answer, you’re busy and will be out as soon as possible. In case of an emergency, all rules go out the window. However, setting this boundary will help them understand when they can and cannot interrupt.
Our new age means we are always on and available, if we allow it. Getting pulled into email responses late in the evening became common for me, but it never allowed my brain to rest. A real alarm clock — yeah, the old school kind — has allowed me to set boundaries that nally help me feel rested again. I plug my phone in the kitchen at night and don’t look at it until a er I get my kids fed in the morning.
The same expectations and boundaries that you once had won’t work anymore. Relax. That’s ok. I love this new age because I remember when it was inappropriate for a leader to have her baby wrapped onto her during a conference call … and now it’s admired. Evolve with the environment and give yourself a break. You’re still crushing it.
Barnesville Elementary was one of six Minnesota schools honored with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Award. Three educators with Minnesota State University Moorhead ties accepted the award in Washington, D.C.
Every day students at Barnesville (Minnesota) Elementary School are greeted by distinctive ags that mark the school as one of the best in the nation.
This fall, Barnesville Elementary received a National Blue Ribbon Schools Award for Academic Excellence. The national program honors schools based on their academic excellence or progress in closing achievement gaps.
Barnesville Elementary earned the honor by building community.
“Our entire sta is on the same page,” says Lisa Gilbertson, a fourth-grade teacher. “Everyone feels connected to the students here. Students feel a sense of belonging. Really, this was an award for the entire school.”
Barnesville Elementary has 500 students. It has a teaching sta of 35, plus paraprofessionals and support sta . Among that group, nearly two dozen have connections to MSUM.
Chris Messer earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education and her master’s in curriculum and instruction from MSUM. She says the university’s programs prepared her well for the classroom.
“A lot of the professors I had were former teachers and current teachers,” she says. “They could connect what we were studying to what we’d see in real life.”
In addition, Messer works with student teachers who come from MSUM.
“They’re immersed into the schools at an earlier point in their education, which means they know they want to be a teacher by the time they’re ready to student teach,” she says. “Not everyone knows what being a teacher entails, but these students do.”
Todd Hendrickson is principal at Barnesville Elementary. He earned a graduate degree in educational leadership through Tri-College University, taking some of his classes on the MSUM campus.
In December 2020, he received an email announcing the school’s nomination for the Blue Ribbon Award. The district superintendent encouraged him and the school staff to go through the process of applying.
“It’s a huge honor,” Hendrickson says.
Barnesville was selected for the honor because of what its teachers and sta do every day — connecting with kids so they become the best learners possible, Messer says.
But the school was also prepared for distance learning long before it became a household word across the country. In 2012, the school became a 1:1 iPad school, meaning every student received their own tablet. Educators believed that technology was an important way to prepare students for an ever-changing world.
It took time for teachers to become comfortable enough to incorporate iPads into the daily work, but these experiences made the district’s transition to distance learning in the spring of 2020 more successful, Hendrickson says.
“Our teachers were prepared and our parents were also familiar with the technology,” he says. “It helped us move forward quickly.”
Last November, Hendrickson, Gilbertson and Messer traveled to Washington, D.C., to accept the Blue Ribbon award. Back in Barnesville, the rest of the school watched a livestream of the event. Of the six schools that represented Minnesota, the rural school was the only one outside the metro Twin Cities area.
“To know your school is one of the top ones in the U.S. is one of those ‘wow’ things. It’s one of those educator highlight moments,” Gilbertson says.
Aer a long winter, spring never felt so good. For the mamas who are itching to catch some spring vibes in the house, here are some crowd pleasers.
My young ones are fascinated by science. When I showed them how easy it was to change a ower's color, they thought they were scientists. The carnation was the ideal subject in a simple experiment that can give a pop of fun to our decor. Here is how you can get those little minds to wonder with color-changing owers.
Use any clear receptacle to hold your oral stems as they soak in water and food coloring. I liked how propagating vases worked for this cra . We used 6-8 drops of food coloring per vase. It took a few days to see the carnations slowly change colors.
The key to getting the stem to pull the dye in and permeate the pedals was a fresh diagonal cut on the bottom of the stem. Our trial and error showed that if you split the stem with a knife you can get two di erent colors on
either side of one ower. However, the trickiest part of this method is keeping the stems upright. We ultimately decided to put each stem in just one color.
A er one day we noticed that the edge of the petals started to change and form a pretty ring of color. Some grabbed the color well, while others only took on a few spots of color. What makes this experiment fun is that it’s the process not the perfection!
Another easy spring cra is making a rice sock bunny. This one I did for free using supplies I had on hand, winging the directions. I know you will be able to do it too.
Needed: socks, rice, elastic band, sharpie, ribbon Stretch the sock over the lip of a small cup in order to pour the rice in the bottom part of the sock. Each sock holds a di erent amount of rice, so there’s no speci c amount to use. You just want to make two small round parts. The bottom is a little bigger than the top as it is the body of the bunny, and the top is the head. Use elastic bands (or string) to tie o each of the two body sections. We then cut the le over material into ears and used a sharpie to create eyes and nose. Finally, we tied a ribbon around the neck. A very simple, nosew cra that you’ll nd the supplies for in your pantry and sock drawer. Extra points if you use socks that you can’t nd the match to.
Enjoy, and hopefully you can add a few bright new spots to your spring centerpiece, and the kids will be proud to point out their contribution too.
The most beautiful piece of this question, is that you are radically self-aware that you are someone who procrastinates.
Here’s a really important truth, you may be a person who procrastinates, but that does not mean it is mandatory to label yourself a procrastinator. I too procrastinate at times. For me the power lies in not “becoming” the procrastination. Who you are is as important as what you do. It is really important to not intertwine your being with your behavior, when the outcome is not to your liking!
Procrastination can become habitual and almost seem natural over time, meaning day a er day and year a er year you nd yourself procrastinating. To change any behavior, you have to rst (as you have done in this question) acknowledge the behavior. Then you have to choose to change it and come up with an alternative behavior to take its place. You will need to practice ercely to embody the better alternative behavior.
The power of re ection is needed when becoming aware of your own procrastination. You will discover there are themes to your procrastination! Does procrastination become automatic with tasks
(i.e., house chores, routine appointments, etc.) or maybe it’s automatic in relational ways (i.e., avoiding or delaying di cult conversations) or maybe another theme is found during re ection. This awareness piece is a profound rst step because when you clearly see the area of need for a new behavior, you are more likely to pick a new behavioral response that might work well.
Let’s think about if procrastination shows up for us in daily automatic tasks. One consideration could be that it is happening because you are tired, so a new behavioral response might be to go to bed earlier or add more sleep to your day. But, if procrastination shows up in another area such as relationships, like avoiding or procrastinating on having a di cult conversation, the behavioral change needed will be much more cognitive, like adding more time for intentional gratitude into your routine. Or it could be a combination of both physical and thinking behaviors that need to change to reduce your procrastination.
I used to procrastinate with laundry, terribly. This for me was a daunting task with seven people in my house. I would avoid it so long that we would literally have baskets full of mismatched socks. Until I read a book, “My Prayer Chair” by Carla McDougal, that suggested adding gratitude and prayer to meaningless moments such as laundry. So begrudgingly I tried it. Every piece of laundry I added to the washer or dryer, I would say what I was grateful for about that person whose laundry item I was holding! This was a radical shi in perspective for me and changed my procrastinating, in this area, even if just slightly. This showed the power of understanding where procrastinating showed up, so that I could uniquely remedy it in each space it was. I have by no means perfected this, but I am deeply invested in this topic, and by being a part of wondering women’s conversations, we can learn from each other.
I sincerely appreciate this wondering!
You can participate in “Dear Wondering Women” by emailing in your questions. We can join in honest, real and love-filled conversation around our shared wonderings. Write to me with your “wondering whys.” Let’s collectively as women share this wonder-filled journey of life together!
You can email questions to me at wonderingwhywithjess@outlook.com. Can’t wait to connect! Your “wondering” may be featured in an upcoming issue! [ aw ]
Indoor plants and cultivated gardens have a long history, going back to ancient times. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are one of the rst recorded cultivated gardens created for not only sustenance, but for beauty and enjoyment. Built by King Nebuchadnezzar II to please his wife Amyitis in roughly 600 B.C., they are considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Indoor plants and cultivations were reserved primarily for the wealthy who possessed the coin and heating capacity to create a survivable environment. The 17th century development of the greenhouse saw a growing interest in indoor planting. Houseplants rst went mainstream during the Victorian era of the late 1800s through the early 1900s. Here’s a look at the vintage vines from the past century.
As all things of this era, the most popular houseplants were lush and extravagant. Victorian homes were graced with large, leafy ferns like the maidenhair and Boston ferns. Ivies, and speci cally English ivy, were also very popular. Victorians were obsessed with oriography and created the “language of owers,” a symbolic de nition for each ower. Beautifully illustrated books were produced which are now very collectible. Be careful, there are a lot of reproductions that are equally beautiful but not antique. The pottery of the era re ects this obsession with orals, as well as the Art Nouveau movement. Potters like Roseville, McCoy and Weller were supplying homes all over the country with stunning planters and vases, for their inhabitants to display their indoor green thumb.
In the ‘20s and ‘30s, interest turned to more exotic hothouse blooming plants with a strong architectural shape. Cala lilies were extremely popular and showed up in architecture and design regularly. It was now possible to keep both them and orchids alive inside through the modern conveniences of electricity, heat and humidity control in homes. Roseville and McCoy continued to be leaders in home pottery, joined by names like Haeger and Gladding McBean.
Post WWII, design started turning linear and sleek, and with it came plants that are themselves natural feats of design. One of the most iconic plants of the era was the monstera plant. Its huge, split leaves showed up in fabrics, wallpaper and ceramics.
“Mother-In-Laws Tongue,” aka snake plant, which is, of course, spikey, was also popular. Indoor palm and cus trees were ubiquitous corner dwellers. Imports started to erode the American pottery market, and the ‘50s and ‘60s saw the closure of many. Haeger held strong, joined by smaller potters like Gonder and Catalina. Midcentury was the peak of pottery production in California.
Succulents rule and have for several years.
“Succulents have become one of the most popular house plants. They are easy going and there is a vast variety of shapes and sizes. They have become a staple in décor, gi giving and the horticultural business,” says Jamie Miller, NDSU Horticulture and Forestry Club (HFC) President. Jamie joins her fellow HFC members at the Fargo Antiques and Repurposed Market for plant sales and sees what’s rst to sell – the succulents. They’ll be back at the FARM sometime in May. Watch the FARM website or Facebook page for more details.
Looking for some vintage pottery to nish your vintage vine décor? Many of the vendors stock antique to modern and repurposed pottery for use indoors or out. Stop by and get your spring gardening started!
Bezel-set black diamond eternity band with accented milgrain detail in yellow gold is a perfect stacking ring or on its own. 18K yellow gold, total diamond weight: 0.70 carats, .24 diamonds, width: 2.6 mm, $1,250.
GUNDERSON'S
5601 28th Ave S, Fargo : 701-532-3020 gundersons.com
Chunky, colorful jewelry is a great accessory to any spring or summer outfit. Shop our selection of fun necklaces, bracelets and earrings at FUSION BOUTIQUE Inside SCHEELS Home & Hardware
3202 13th Ave S, Fargo : 701-232-8903
Spring into warmer fashion with fun finds at Jade + Jasper Boutique! We have new clothing, accessories and gift items arriving weekly. JADE + JASPER BOUTIQUE
The Lights on Sheyenne : 3150 Sheyenne St, West Fargo : shopjadeandjasper.com
Written by a diverse team of Midwesterners, this little book is an exploration of the Mediterranean diet - its associated history, agriculture, biology, philosophy, botany, ingredients and lifestyle - and how this diet can be adapted and celebrated in the American Heartland.
Available locally at Zandbroz, Ferguson Books and Creative Kitchen.
foodofthenorth.com/midwest-mediterranean
835 23rd Ave E, West Fargo (located south of Costco) 701-532-1134 : facebook.com/taluland
Dakota Tallow is a local, female-owned business offering facial creams, hand creams, eczema cream and body butter, all scented with organic, therapeutic-grade essential oils, oil-cleansing exfoliators and lip balms. New products coming out soon! We have a great selection at SCHEELS HOME & HARDWARE
3202 13th Ave S, Fargo : 701-232-8903
is all about color and texture.As warmth and light return to the prairie, Talula brings you a curated selection of unique additions to your wardrobe.Artisaninspiredsignature pieces combine with staples and become staples themselves.Here is just a sampling of the elevated essentials available only at Talula.
Classic, reliable and versatile. Casual to formal, black and white can be the foundation to a great look when pops of color and accessories become part of the mix.
done in bold colors and surprising patterns make it easy to build a “less is more” closet, where choosing your look for the day is a pleasure, not a chore.
Talula seeks out distinctive looks from all over the world that aren’t found anywhere else. They are rich in details that build o classic looks like a denim jacket. Add unique, singular pieces to your look that pair with a variety of basics you probably already own.
Personalizing a look is easy with classic yet uncommon jewelry and scarves. Oversized takes on the box link chain and toggle closure are surprising yet understated options.
Neutral does not mean just black and white. Shades of camel and pink can take you from spring through fall as core pieces and play nicely o the traditional neutrals.
Specialty prints, orals and solids all make an appearance in the relaxed atmosphere at Talula.
Talula is located directly south of Costco at 835 23rd Ave E, West Fargo.
Tuesday — Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. [ aw ]
When Area Woman asked me to visit with the women who run the Centre For Hair and Wellness, I accepted immediately. A cancer diagnosis in August 2021 rendered me completely bald by October. Now that I’ve beat cancer and am trying to get back to “normal,” the absence of normal every time I look in the mirror is a drag on my con dence and self-esteem. I really want to look like my old self again. This is exactly the goal of the team at Centre for Hair and Wellness, located inside the Urban Edge Salon in South Fargo.
Medical-related hair loss is generally known as alopecia. It can be caused by many things, including auto immune diseases, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, trichotillomania, hormone imbalances and heredity. As we age, hair can naturally thin in both men and women.
Violet Deilke started her own salon almost four decades ago and has been specializing in hair replacement since 1990. That year, she began attending annual education programs to learn the latest in hair replacement. Her journey has taken her through her mother’s cancer treatment in 1996 and her own treatment for breast cancer eight years later. Casey Anderson, the owner of Urban Edge Salon, has recently assumed ownership of the Centre. Deilke remains on sta to create a smooth transition.
Consultations by appointment with Anderson or Deilke are free of charge. They both recommend getting started before hair loss begins, if possible. This gives the team the best opportunity to match the client’s natural hair. They encourage a client to bring a picture. “We want to help people experiencing hair loss match their original color and style as closely as possible,” says Deilke. “Then a heavy burden has been li ed for them and their con dence returns.”
WORDS : TAMIE ZACCHEA PHOTOGRAPHY : MIKE SMITH
The Centre for Hair has a large inventory of hairpieces in stock, made of both synthetic and human hair. Clients are welcome to try on hairpieces during the consultation to nd the one that suits them best. The client can o en leave the salon with their hairpiece that day, depending on the level of customization that’s needed. All hairpieces can be altered for a perfect t, style and cut. Natural human hair can also be colored. Hairpieces and wigs that have to be ordered usually arrive within a week. Custom orders take longer.
Clients are provided with instructions on maintenance for their hairpiece, including washing and styling. “We want our clients to be fully satisfied with their hairpiece. When you look good, you feel good. This business is about returning confidence to our clients,” says Anderson.
Anderson and Deilke rely on Priscilla Schiefert, hair replacement assistant, for the nal nished product. Schiefert helps style the hairpieces and keeps the process organized. She is behind all the wonderfully styled pieces that leave with their guests and provides instruction and assistance to clients with the upkeep of their new hairpiece.
Anderson opened Urban Edge ten years ago where she houses a wide variety of stylists and massage therapists, in addition to the Centre for Hair and Wellness. She’s always on the lookout for new talent to join the salon.
For someone who has experienced hair loss as I have, the caring and professionalism of these two women is both reassuring and heart-warming. My only regret is that I waited so long to seek their help in getting back to “normal.”
Urban Edge Salon and the Centre for Hair and Wellness is located at 2600 52nd Ave. S., Fargo. To schedule an appointment and for professionals interested in locating their services, Anderson can be reached by email at urbanedgesIn@gmail.com.
centreforhairandwellness.com | 218-236-6000 or 701-637-2790 Facebook: @centerforhairandwellness
Priscilla Schiefert styles a wig for a client.
More than 40% of the total population of this country su ers from a chronic illness. According to the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, a disease lasting three months or longer can be a chronic illness. About half of all adults have a chronic condition, and approximately 8% of children ages 5 to 17 were reported by their parents to have limited activities due to at least one chronic disease or disability.
These statistics are alarming and intriguing at the same time. But what if you are one of these numbers? What happens when you are the one with a chronic illness?
You cannot nd a handbook for life with chronic illness. Life will be di erent and challenging, and you have to constantly adjust your schedule and lifestyle according to your health needs.
I am not a health coach. I am merely a person living with chronic illness for more than a decade. I have hit rock bottom, lost friends, found new ones, changed careers … it has never been an easy road, and it will not be. However, during the ups and downs of living with a chronic illness, I have realized something simple — everything around us will change when we are chronically ill, but learning to love ourselves with the chronic illness can keep us moving forward.
The process is tricky, and I will not say, "If I can do it, you can too." It takes time, patience and you need to relearn how you can healthily express your feelings. This is how you can get started:
The way you used to do things probably will not work anymore. Hair-straightener was my everyday friend before the illness. Gradually, it became an impossible chore to perform every single day. So, I began looking for ways to bring out my natural hair texture. I started taking proper care and learned to love this less-thanperfect, oh-so-frizzy, curly hair.
Some days your energy will be better, some days it will be worse, and here comes the famous Spoon Theory. This is a personal story by Christine Miserandino, who lives with lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease. Spoon Theory is famous among many people dealing with chronic illness. It describes the idea of limited energy using spoons as the unit of energy. For example, someone with a chronic disease can wake up with ten spoons, whereas a person without a chronic illness may have thrice the amount. For people with chronic illness the energy depends on many factors, including stress levels, sleeping, pain and work intensity.
So, do you spend all your energy on one big task and spend the rest of the day in pain lying in bed? Or do you balance out with 2-3 small tasks throughout the day? You have to discover the sweet spot and nd the balance between unnecessary tasks and essential ones.
I am a strong believer in "When one door closes, another one opens." I was a dentist with a thriving career when the illness took over my body. I will not
lie; I went through dark, cold depression. During this period, I started blogging my story. It gave me a new purpose, created a new career path, and 11 years later, I am still writing and creating content.
You will need someone you can talk to. Someone who can guide you because they are going through the same situation. Some days you will not even want any advice, you just need to vent or maybe cry a little, and you need someone to listen and genuinely empathize. Your tribe will do that. Find an online or local support community. A chronic physical illness leaves its mark on our mental health. Don't bottle up your frustration. You do not have to go through this alone, my friend.
I found my tribe through my blog and social media. It is not only I who is helping them; they are helping me too. They give me support and love when I go through a bad episode.
The more you live with a chronic illness, the more you miss out on regular events, like going to your kid's play, browsing the mall with friends, or simply having an outdoor date with your partner without inching in pain. This creates a huge toll. Hatred towards the situation and yourself comes naturally.
Most of the time, we o en think, "Why me?" If you are spiritual, you may nd solace in a higher purpose. But, to many people, it forms a pang of guilt and resentment. You need to understand that you cannot blame yourself or others for the circumstances. You just accept it and forgive yourself.
We have different paces and stages in our lives. Whether you are just starting your journey with a chronic illness or have already spent a long time with it, it's always complicated. But how you look at things and how you feel about yourself will determine how you can handle the process. Love and acceptance will make this bitter pill easier to swallow.
If you want to connect and talk about your chronic illness , you can always reach out to me through my blog sifascorner.com or my social media handle @sifascorner. Stay healthy, stay beautiful!
Full scope family medicine with
approach
I strive to make decisions with my patients, to be empathetic, compassionate and straight forward. Your care should be a collaboration between you and your doctor.
BUFF has a deeper meaning than you might think upon first hearing the word. BUFF stands for: believers uniting fitness and food. What started as a protein bite company has evolved into The BUFF Life Community which brings together those who want to live a healthy lifestyle. Community is powerful because life is meant to be shared.
What started as a virtual group on Facebook (you can join anytime) has led to so much more. 2022 has taken this virtual community to monthly in-person events called “The BUFF Life Community Workout.” These events are essentially date nights for couples at local tness studios, followed by dinner and fellowship at a restaurant a er. The goal is to connect people, to bring couples together, to encourage trying something new, and, ultimately, doing life and growing together.
The community workouts are currently held monthly, where you’ll meet and be encouraged by other couples. You’ll workout together, get some grab-bag goodies from local businesses and then visit and connect a erwards. It’s incredible bringing people together to connect in this way, and this is just the beginning for The BUFF Life Community. May 2022 be the year you choose to grow BUFF with us!
Makes 6 servings (serving size ½ cup)
This will be your new favorite go-to granola recipe that you can use on top of everything! It’s better than store-bought granola and it’s easy to make. An added bonus, it’s good for you, using honey as a natural sweetener and just a few simple ingredients.
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups old fashioned oats
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup SunButter (or any nut/seed butter)
⅓ cup honey
¼ cup melted coconut oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking pan with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients to small bowl and stir into dry ingredients. Mix well. Once fully combined, press onto lined parchment paper, spreading into a flat layer. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until starting to turn golden brown. Let cool completely before breaking apart. Store in airtight container on the counter.
rst noticed that her shoulders were bothering her when she was driving. The pain came out of nowhere and she initially thought it was the result of gripping the wheel too tightly as a reaction to icy roads. But when weeks went by and the ice had thawed, her pain persisted.
She recalls that the pain made her feel frustrated as she not only had a di cult time participating in some of her favorite hobbies, like gardening, but she also couldn’t hold her infant grandchild for extended periods of time. As a new grandmother, Foss longed for the special bonding moments that came with holding the littlest member of her family.
This longing led her to seek care at Essentia Health.
Following an MRI at Essentia, Foss learned that both of her shoulders had deteriorated and would need to be replaced. Shoulder replacement is an ideal option to relieve arthritis-related pain and stiffness when other treatments fail. This procedure has been successful at reducing pain and restoring range of motion and mobility.
The condition of Foss’ shoulders was so poor that Essentia Health orthopedic surgeon Prasad Sawardeker had to proceed with reverse-shoulder replacements, an advanced alternative to the traditional shoulder replacement.
Dr. Sawardeker explains, “In a traditional shoulder-replacement surgery, the damaged humeral head, the ball, is replaced with a metal ball, and the glenoid cavity, socket, is replaced with a smooth plastic cup. A reverse-shoulder replacement is a design in which the positions of the ball and socket are switched. A metal ball is placed where the patient’s own natural socket was and a plastic socket is placed on the head of the humeral head.”
Sawardeker says the reverse-shoulder surgery is intended to be the best option for patients with rotator cu damage in addition to severe arthritis.
“In a healthy shoulder, rotator cu muscles provide motion, function and stability,” he says. “Conventional replacement surgery still relies on these muscles. Reverse-total shoulder replacement instead relies on the deltoid muscle to overcome the de cient rotator cu . This reverse design has more stability and does not need the rotator cu tendons to hold it in place.”
Surgery on Foss’ le shoulder was performed in 2019, with her right shoulder surgery occurring at the beginning of 2020. Looking back at her experience with Sawardeker, Foss says, “Dr. Sawardeker is a wonderful surgeon and the kindest person. When he did my surgeries, he took time out of his day to provide my husband with updates. He always found time to get me in to see him, even when he was full. He really does go the extra mile.”
Foss also had high praise for orthopedic physician assistant Ryan Kessel, who was able to stitch her up so well that her scars are barely noticeable.
“Ryan does a wonderful job,” Foss says. “He was always making me laugh and keeping the environment lighthearted.”
Foss was thrilled with her surgery and entire experience with her orthopedics team at Essentia.
“Both Dr. Sawardeker and Ryan are very professional and compassionate people,” Foss says. “They keep your fears at bay. They let you know you are going to come out better on the other side.”
And come out on the better side she did.
With her surgeries behind her, Foss has been focused on returning to her regular routine. That includes gardening and spending quality time with family. Now a grandmother of two young ones, she calls her newfound ability to hold and play with her grandchildren a “precious gi ” that was made entirely possible by the expert care she received from her orthopedics team at Essentia Health.
“I would not have been able to do this if I didn’t get my shoulders done. I am glad this was something they could fix and it’s not something I have to live with for the rest of my life. I’m happy hearted,” Foss says.
Don’t let pain or injuries keep you from doing the activities you love. Be seen right away by Essentia’s team of experienced orthopedic specialists who are dedicated to developing a treatment plan that’s right for you. Learn more at essentiahealth.org.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sawardeker, please call 701-364-8900. To see his full profile, visit essentiahealth.org and click on “Doctors & Providers.” [ aw ]
Nutrition in uences overall health and well-being, especially in the elderly. Many seniors are at risk of malnutrition which is associated with accelerated aging. Maintaining a healthy diet is known to be one of the main in uences for healthy aging.
Healthy eating habits and proper nutrition not only includes the process of food intake, but it also includes absorption, digestion and the excretion of food. The elderly tend to have more trouble with digestion and absorption of food, lower intake of nutrient-rich foods due to oral health, inability to chew, mouth dryness and decreased appetite, which increases their risk of malnutrition.
Inadequate nutrient intake can lead to de ciency-related diseases, with some including anemia, frailty, and blindness. Chronic diseases associated with aging include osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Studies show that in the elderly, there is a decrease in healthy eating habits for nutrient rich foods (i.e., vegetables, fruits) and an increase in carbohydrates due to oral health, or tooth loss. An excessive intake of carbohydrates can increase your risk for diabetes and other comorbidities.
The following is a list of vitamins and minerals needed in your diet and how to increase your intake:
Iron:
The elderly are at higher risk for iron-deficiency anemia. Iron can help keep general energy levels up and preserve gastrointestinal processes, the immune system, and the regulation of body temperature.
FOOD SOURCES: spinach, sweet potatoes, asparagus, tomatoes, beets, kale, cereals, pork, meat, poultry, fish, beans eggs
Magnesium:
Plays a role in the immune response, nerve and muscle function, blood pressure regulation
FOOD SOURCES: Almonds, spinach, whole grains, cashews, peanuts, fortified breakfast cereals, black beans, peanut butter, avocado, dark chocolate, brown rice, plain yogurt, banana, kidney beans, salmon, chicken, broccoli, apples, tofu
Zinc:
Plays a role in immune function, wound healing, growth and development
FOOD SOURCES: cashews, chickpeas, yogurt and milk products, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds, whole grains and ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (fortified with zinc), seafood, poultry, eggs, legumes (beans and peas), nuts, oysters, red meat
Calcium:
Important for bone health — elderly are at risk for osteoporosis, which increases the risk of falls
FOOD SOURCES: Greek yogurt (protein and calcium), cheese, cottage cheese, leafy vegetables (i.e., kale), almonds, oranges, salmon
Vitamin D:
Essential in older ages and facilitates absorption of calcium, also needed for bone health
FOOD SOURCES: fortified vitamin D milk or almond milk, mushrooms, salmon, tuna, beef liver, cheese, egg yolks
Dueto less sun exposure in the Northern Hemisphere, most people need to take vitamin D in a supplement form as few foods from your diet provide adequate vitamin D. Get your vitamin D levels checked and talk to your doctor
B Vitamins:
B vitamins are needed to prevent or reduce the severity of diseases
FOOD SOURCES: whole grains, meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, fortified cereals, spinach, oranges
Vitamin C:
Known for its immune defense mechanisms, wound healing properties
FOOD SOURCES: oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, cantaloupe, tomatoes, red and green peppers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, potato
Vitamin A:
Anti-aging effect on the skin and has also had a positive effect on cancer cells
FOOD SOURCES: liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, cantaloupe, mango, broccoli, bell peppers, apricots, winter squash
Vitamin E:
Immune supporting properties and has been associated with the reduced decline of cognitive abilities in Alzheimer’s disease and also the elderly
FOOD SOURCES: nuts, seeds, avocado, cereals, spinach, asparagus, broccoli, lettuce, onions, fortified cereals
Vitamin K:
An important role in blood clotting, calcium transport, and bone density
FOOD SOURCES: eggs, meat, tuna, kiwi, avocado, rhubarb, kale, broccoli, spinach, asparagus
Three more Three more important nutrients for the elderly:
Protein:
Important to prevent muscle loss.
FOOD SOURCES: chicken, fish, pork, turkey, eggs, egg whites, kidney/ chickpea beans, peanut butter (2 tablespoons), veggie burgers, tofu
Fiber:
Constipation is common in the elderly due to inadequate nutrient intake, dehydration or medications. Constipation is associated with decreased quality of life, OCD, anxiety, paranoid ideations, depression, psychosis
FIBER SOURCES: oatmeal, fruits (apples, berries, pears), vegetables, beans, whole grains
Water:
Hydration is important as being dehydrated has several health complications, such as constipation. Keep in mind that anything that is caffeinated acts as a diuretic and dehydrates you.
Making sure you eat healthy foods and maintain a complete diet is even more important as you get older. Developing healthy eating habits is a great way to make sure you look and feel your best while enjoying a better quality of life.
Senior Helpers Home Care of Eastern North Dakota
Tanya is a Fargo native and holds a Bachelor’s in Nursing from North Dakota State University and a Master’s in Business from the University of Phoenix. She has a passion for being a trusted advisor and helping the elderly in her community and their families navigate options to ensure a better quality of life.
Senior Helpers provides dependable and affordable in home care at a moment’s notice. Visit seniorhelpers.com/nd/fargo.
Almost all of the press for these ubiquitous single-celled creatures seems to focus on the bad actors. And to be fair, there are nefarious germs out there that can cause damage to our health and our bodies. So it’s understandable that modern society has waged a war against bacteria. We see it in the ads for wipes or cleaners pleading with us to sanitize every surface we might encounter. Or in the development of antibiotics, an arms race that began with the discovery of penicillin in 1928. For the most part the message has been clear: When it comes to bacteria, it’s us versus them.
As we continued to wage this war, however, we began to learn that our relationship to bacteria is not so simple. It turns out that our bodies are a permanent host for billions of bacteria. They can be found on the skin, but where most of our bacterial guests live is in our gastrointestinal tract, or gut. And, within the gut, the vast majority take up residence in the large intestine. What is fascinating is that these bacteria are not just mooching tenants along for the ride. Health scientists are learning more and more about the crucial role this collection of microorganisms plays in our health and well-being. It appears that humans and these "good bacteria” didn’t just nd each other by chance. We evolved together. Our fates have likely been intertwined for eons. We need each other to live and we were made for each other. Pretty romantic, huh? We provide food and shelter, and these good bacteria help us with vitamin and nutrient absorption, immune regulation, digestive health and more.
Having a robust population and a robust variety of good bacteria living in our intestine seems to be the key to getting the most health bene ts out of this relationship. Balance is crucial, but unfortunately for many people this balance seems to be fading. The intestines of many of us appear to have fewer bacteria overall, and less variety in the types of bacteria that are there. Not only are we potentially losing out on the critical health functions of the good bacteria, but not having a robust microbe army can actually provide bad bacteria the opportunity to muscle in and cause disease. This depletion of good bacteria in our bodies may have been caused by our well-intentioned ght against bacterial disease through the use of antibiotics. It also could be due to increased sanitation, a western diet, some other factor we don’t understand yet, or a combination of all these. Regardless of the cause, the result has been a correlation between having fewer good bacteria in our guts and an increase in digestive and immune disorders. And as we learn more about how interconnected our immune system and digestive system is with our overall health, we can see why appreciating and understanding our bacterial selves is more important than ever.
What can be done to reverse this trend and restore our army of good bacteria? A common strategy is to simply ingest some good bacteria through supplements called probiotics. Probiotics are simply shelf-stable strains of good bacteria, most o en freeze-dried and dosed in a capsule. Some foods such as certain yogurts, sauerkraut or kombucha naturally contain healthy strains of bacteria and can be considered probiotics. Despite the prevalence of probiotic supplements, scientists are still nailing down many of the details. Probiotic supplements usually di erentiate their products based on the speci c strain or species of bacteria that they are using as well as the number of live bacteria, (o en written as cfu or colony forming units) in each pill. Unfortunately, research is not yet clear about which strain or what dose is most e ective for restoring a good bacteria population. There are also logistical issues that can in uence a probiotic supplement’s usefulness. The supplement can only work if the bacteria in the pill are alive or viable from the time it is manufactured until the time it reaches someone’s medicine cabinet. And even if the bacteria are viable in the bottle, they have to stay that way all the way from the patient’s mouth to their nal destination in the large intestine. The maker of the probiotic needs to have considered how their manufacturing, shipping and formulation processes could a ect these factors.
These uncertainties about probiotics, however, should not discourage someone from considering a probiotic supplement for their health. When a person is ready to start a probiotic, they should work with their doctor or pharmacist to nd a high quality, reliable product. Then, a er adding a probiotic to their routine, they should continue to listen to their body to see if any adjustments need to be made to the regimen. It is also very important for anyone taking a probiotic supplement to strive for a healthy diet that is high in ber and low in re ned sugars. Our little friends are eating what we’re eating! The role our good bacteria play in our health is an emerging frontier and we will continue to learn more and better ways to keep this relationship strong for the bene t of our bodies and our lives.
Jason Cossette, PharmD, RPh
is a 2007 graduate of the NDSU College of Pharmacy. He has 15 years of experience in community pharmacy and five years specializing in compounding pharmacy. Cossette is a passionate patient care advocate who enjoys teaming with patients and providers to achieve the best possible health outcomes.
PHOTOGRAPHY : Karolina Grabowska on pexels.com
Every competent adult has the right and responsibility to make decisions relating to their own health care, including the decision to have health care provided, withheld or withdrawn. But what happens when an adult becomes incapacitated and cannot make decisions on their own? North Dakota law enables adults to retain control over their own health care during periods of incapacity through something known as “health care directives.”
Q:
What is a health care directive?
A:
A health care directive is a written document which contains health care instructions to be followed by health care providers or others assisting with your health care and may also include a power of attorney appointing a person to make health care decisions on your behalf when you lack capacity to make health care decisions. It is important to remember a health care directive is only effective if you are incapacitated. If you have capacity, you will make all decisions regarding your own health care.
Q:
What type of health care decisions can you designate to your agent?
A:
You can instruct and/or designate all health care decisions that you would be able to make to your agent. These health care decisions include the selection of health care providers, whether to undergo various tests, procedures and surgeries, and also under what circumstances you wish to receive or withhold artificial nutrition and hydration. Your agent will follow your instructions, and if no instructions are provided, will make decisions based on their knowledge of your wishes and religious or moral beliefs and values.
Q:
What are the requirements for a health care directive?
A:
A health care directive must be in writing, dated, state your name, be signed by you, and have your signature verified through a notary public or qualified witnesses.
Q:Who can I appoint as my power of attorney/ agent in a health care directive?
A:
You should appoint someone you know and trust with your health care decisions. However, you cannot appoint your health care provider or long-term care services provider or any non-relative who works for your health care provider or long-term care services. You can appoint any other person, but most people choose a relative or a close trusted friend.
Yes, you can either appoint joint agents or alternate agents. If you designate an alternate agent, the alternate agent will only be able to make decisions if the original agent is not reasonably able to serve or is unwilling. If you appoint joint agents, you should make clear whether the joint agents may act independently of one another or if they both must agree to all health care decisions on your behalf.
Ian R. McLean
This article was prepared by Ian McLean, an attorney with the Serkland Law Firm in Fargo. McLean practices in the areas of general commercial litigation, personal injury, estate litigation, municipal law and education law. For more information, call 701-232-8957, email imclean@serklandlaw.com or visit serklandlaw.com.
This article should not be considered legal advice and should not be relied upon by any person with respect to his/her specific situation.
Igrew up watching “Little House on the Prairie” with Doc Baker, the beloved and friendly small-town doctor who took care of everyone in Walnut Grove. He knew everybody by name, made house calls, and was a part of the family. From early on, in kindergarten, I knew I wanted to be a doctor and thought I could be just like Doc Baker.
It is the medical specialty which provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and the family. Unlike other specialties that are limited to a speci c organ system or disease, family physicians are the only specialists quali ed to diagnose and treat most ailments and long-term illnesses for people of all ages. It is also the doorway by which many patients get more specialized care. Before we had specialists, we had general physicians who provided broad-scope care (e.g., Doc Baker). Generalists are the cornerstone upon which modern medical care is built, forming more specialized practices.
In the family practice process, the patientphysician relationship is initiated, developed and nurtured for both sexes, for all ages, across time and independent of problem type. Because of the specialty’s ability to treat across the lifespan, family medicine doctors are able to develop sustained partnerships with their patients. In doing this, it allows us to be staunch advocates for our patients, taking the time to consider additional factors in our patients’ lives that contribute to overall health: family, community, environment and relationships. As family doctors, what we contribute is impalpable and not quanti able, it cannot be matched by subspecialists or replaced with algorithms and protocols. We navigate the entirety of the health care system and incorporate knowledge from all the diverse specialties into our daily clinical repertoire, all for our patients. On the other hand, we are comfortable with what we don’t know and always ready and willing to consult with subspecialists or refer as needed.
Because I believe it is the heart and soul of medical care. It isn’t just taking care of the individual. It’s about relationships and caring for entire families across multiple generations. There is of course the science of medicine, but the art form is what sets family medicine apart. This art is composed of good bedside manner, infusing hope, building con dence, rendering comfort, educating, giving counsel and inspiring change while customizing treatment plans that are the best t to the patient.
I am fortunate to love what I do, and my patients can see it. In fact, many have become dear friends. It is a rare day seeing patients when I don’t get hugs and baby snuggles. These are cherished moments. Every family should have a doctor they can turn to for help in times of need. Whether a sick child or a dying grandparent, it is these relationships that make family medicine so rewarding.
Dr. Bauer-Olson was born and raised in Fargo. She attended MSUM and received a B.A. in Biology. Prior to medical school, she worked as CNA and unit clerk in oncology, NICU, and rehab. She credits this start in the medical field as creating a strong foundation of service and instilling the importance of collaboration with ancillary staff in her practice. “The day one of the oncologists helped me make a bed like it was just part of his job was pivotal for me. I have taken that with me throughout my schooling and career.”
She attended Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center graduating in 2004, with a family medicine residency at Iowa Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. She worked for a multispecialty clinic locally for 13 years before starting her independent practice. She practices full-scope family medicine, obstetrics/newborns to the elderly, and is able to provide well and acute care. As an osteopathic physician, she uses osteopathic manipulative therapy. She offers the community a unique primary care option providing a continuum of approaches from holistic to contemporary, tailored to each individual's needs. She strives to be an advocate for her patients in a safe, calming and comfortable environment.
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“My life’s passion is to help my patients lead healthier, fulfilled and more beautiful lives. This isn’t a job to me but a calling. I work hard to make decisions with my patients, to be empathetic, compassionate and straightforward. I get to know my patients and have personal relationships with them. You are never just a number.”
TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT with Dr. Bauer-Olson call 701-499-4847.
I feel like a di erent teacher. The Curriculum and Instruction program has taken my teaching career to the next level. It’s given me the con dence to step outside of my comfort zone.
– Sarah Fredricks, 6th-grade science teacher, Cheney Middle School, West Fargo
Studies have found that engaging in aerobic exercises (i.e., swimming, walking, running) for at least 30 minutes three times per week can improve mood, decrease stress, reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improve energy. Even knowing all this information, a lot of us still struggle with consistent exercise. It’s one of the first things to leave our routine when we are feeling stressed, anxious or depressed.
The lack of motivation and unhelpful self-talk that plagues us in our daily life also impacts us when we are exercising. Just as you would visit a counselor to gain coping skills to manage symptoms of stress, anxiety or depression, visiting with a sports counselor can help you address these concerns and gain coping skills in the context of exercise.
Sports counselors take a holistic approach to the relationship between tness and mental health. Regardless of tness or competition level, sports counselors undergo training to be licensed to work with athletes of all abilities on mental health symptoms as well as the speci c demands athletes face.
Sports counseling is a exible approach to working with athletes because performance outcomes are not the main focus. Counseling goals vary from person to person, depending on what you are wanting to achieve in your tness journey. You might have experienced an injury or have taken a break from fitness and are looking to get back
Exercise is good for you. You know this.
into it but are nervous about the injury or lack motivation to get back into a routine. A sports counselor can work with you to develop strategies to get back into fitness.
Additionally, maybe you notice some increased anxiety when you go to the gym, you feel nervous about what you’re wearing and the idea of getting on the treadmill or li ing weights in front of people sounds daunting. In session we work on various strategies to help decrease the anxiety you are experiencing in the moment as well as work on coping skills to manage the unhelpful thoughts you might be having about yourself. We are usually our own worst critic, and the addition of gym mirrors and leggings can sometimes make that inner critic much louder than our inner hype woman.
I recently got back into playing tennis a er taking a few years o a er competing in college, and at times my inner critic was not being kind. Regardless of my past success in tennis, I’m human and needed to work at adjusting my expectations about where my abilities are now. This might be something that resonates with you whether you used to participate in high school or college athletics and now need to adjust how tness ts in your life.
Utilizing evidenced-based approaches, sports counselors can work with you to create an individualized plan for your mental health and tness needs.
is a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC) at Becoming Balanced. Her goal as a counselor is to help women identify and achieve mental wellness in their daily life. In addition, she has a special interest in sports counseling with a sports counseling graduate certificate from the California University of Pennsylvania. She hopes to provide a space where athletes can grow in a holistic manner, focusing on mental wellbeing and psycho-emotional needs.
For more information, contact us at becomingbalancednd.com | 701-551-1840
For Eric Erickson, who lives with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the immune system, good news is welcome.
In February 2021, Erickson had mild pain in his back, which kept getting worse, eventually creeping to his arm.
“The pain was so severe that it would actually take my breath away,” Erickson says.
After rounds of testing, his primary care doctor noticed something on his lung and he was diagnosed with myeloma, which requires a bone marrow transplant.
“For multiple myeloma and lymphoma, we’re trying to use high dose chemotherapy to treat the disease, and we’re using the patient’s own stem cells to rescue their bone marrow back from the toxicity of that chemotherapy,” says Dr. Seth Maliske, an oncologist and bone marrow transplant specialist at Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo.
In the past, bone marrow transplant patients in North Dakota and western Minnesota had to travel to the Twin Cities or Rochester for treatment. The chemotherapy for this transplant basically eliminates the patient’s immune system, so they also have to stay isolated in that location.
But Erickson had a new option. He would be the very first patient to receive a bone marrow transplant at Sanford in Fargo.
“I did know that they were starting this program up here, but we all thought it was going to be way too late for me. When my doctor mentioned it, I told him, if it’s all possible to do it here, I want to do it here,” says Erickson, who lives in Frazee, Minnesota, about an hour drive from Fargo.
Erickson became Sanford Fargo’s rst bone marrow transplant patient in October, and 60 days later, he has no detectable disease in his system, though he will be treating his condition for the rest of his life. Maliske says treatment isn’t all about what is done inside the hospital though.
“I always describe to people who I visit with just how much accumulating toxicity there is for our patients. Upfront, people imagine the chemo toxicity, but nancial toxicity is a part of it, and time toxicity is a part of it. It’s a huge time burden to do what these patients do in treating their cancers, and to relocate to Minneapolis or Mayo for an extended period of time is a huge investment,” says Maliske. “Being able to do this closer to home relieves a huge part of the burden.”
Erickson and his wife, Melanie, agree.
“This was a major event,” says Melanie Erickson. “But it didn’t give us the same amount of stress it did other people that have to be away from home.”
“My wife, Melanie, when I was in the hospital, she would just be able to drive here, spend a day with me, then drive home, and it was nice,” says Eric Erickson. “I think it helps you heal better too, that you’re comfortable in your surroundings.”
After a trying year, the Ericksons are taking in every bit of good news they can. And looking forward to a calmer 2022.
WORDS : TARA BRANDNER
We just started trying to conceive. How can you help us?
This is a great time to reach out! When you connect with me, I can help you assess if there may be a potential issue and if you have signs or symptoms of diseases that may make conception difficult. Acne, irregular cycles and painful cycles, for example, may be symptoms of another issue. We also help you look for signs of ovulation and set up a custom plan.
We have been trying for a while (6-12 months). What should we do?
You don’t need to wait 6–12 months to reach out to me. If you feel like something is off reach out. I will work alongside your healthcare provider, order further tests, make an assessment, and create a plan for you.
We have been trying but we are hesitant to seek treatment. How can you help us?
I understand that treatment can be overwhelming to consider, especially the ones everyone jumps to. I first start with doing more tests and assessments, checking to see if something was missed initially. Then I will go over each treatment opportunity, step by step. I will make sure you are comfortable and in control of your plan. I may also give you additional treatment options than you hadn’t already considered.
We have been trying for over a year and treatments seem to be failing. Can you help?
Yes! I can help by coaching you through the process and by bringing in a larger team around you. Our team offers both traditional and holistic treatment options. We help you create a custom plan that serves you, including mental health, acupuncture, pelvic floor physical therapy, chiropractic work and so much more.
We have miscarried 2 or more times. What should we do next?
I can help, and I have helped many women in your situation. There may have been something missed by your healthcare provider. I will order further tests if needed, make assessments, and help you with your plan.
We can all have these emotions, especially after loss and a long period of trying to conceive. We will support you emotionally and help you even at this stage of pregnancy.
With telemedicine I can connect with you at your best available time. Enjoy the comfort of your own home and skip the cold doctor’s office. I am available to meet during the evenings, on weekends or even during your lunch hour. Visit tarabrandner.com and reach out!
I am passionate because I was diagnosed with unexplained infertility, and as a medical provider it really made my head spin! I experienced a miscarriage, and I knew there was more going on with my body that was being overlooked. We endured three failed intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures and it wasn't until I had failed three rounds of IUI that I opened up about our diagnosis and treatment. We decided it was time to take a break to heal and regroup. We then scheduled a consultation with a new doctor and began down the in vitro fertilization (IVF) path. During this, I experienced what is called a canceled transfer. I was not prepared for the emotions that play into a canceled transfer. We transferred two beautiful embryos on May 1, 2017. I would soon be devastated to find out that we miscarried one embryo yet filled with joy that I was finally pregnant. There is a grieving process that takes place with the loss of an embryo and so many emotions that follow with pregnancy after infertility. At 39 weeks, Hayden surprised us and was born via emergency c-section. He is a happy and healthy toddler who gives me the courage and strength to keep fighting for others in the wait.
I’m finally pregnant! But now I am anxious and fearful.
I am the right type of person for running as I own a pair of sneakers, belong to a class of bipedal organisms, and say things like, “I can’t do a chin-up because I prefer cardio.” Also, my natural state of movement is akin to a speed walking 1980s businesswoman — elbows up, emphatic stride, power skirt and sports socks — so it’s only a hop-step more to turn that into a light jog.
I have a habit of becoming a springtime runner because the calendar gives me an unproven surge of hope that I will soon look unbelievable in a bathing suit. By July I have given up on the beach-ish body and moved onto creating good workout habits. This is followed by a fall that’s both a season and a description for how easily I justify the lack of time for exercise as soon as schedules get busy. Then comes winter, and by mid-January I realize I’m winded from walking up the stairs to my o ce and strongly considering buying maternity pants “for the stretch.”
Running has always been a two-part activity for me. Part one is all about preparation: finding the exact right mix of beat-thumping songs, drinking a big glass of water, and then running about 200 steps before pausing in order to go to the bathroom.
Once I’ve done my part one business, part two can begin in earnest. Part two starts with nding an entirely di erent set of beat-thumping songs, making a half-hearted attempt at stretching (so that my muscles aren’t sti a er my part one “run”), and then actually running.
We used to live in the country. Out there I’d lace up my sneakers and Velcro on my cell phone armband and make a big show about going for a jog. Our old house was surrounded by one-mile sections of farmland, so a typical run for me would consist of jogging up and back one side of the section. That road only saw a handful of cars a day, so those runs were just me and the wind; which was good, because it really tested the strength of my husband’s love when I returned home all red-faced, jiggly and sweaty from the equivalent of a warm-up.
This is typically the time of year when I take up running.WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY : AMANDA SILVERMAN KOSIOR
We moved into town last July. One of the reasons I justified the move was so that I could get a membership to a gym (Orange Theory), the latest “hot mom” thing, and be t all year round, and not just when the weather was cooperating. You may be thinking, “But I live in the country and I have a gym membership.” As a long-time su erer from “every excuse in the book,” I struggled making regular use of the gym because of my inability to wake before 6:30 a.m. unless the roof was being ripped off the house or a baby was crying — meaning that I didn’t have an extra 40 minutes to spare in the morning to get to and from the gym (20-minute drive each way) and still get the kids to school and myself to work on time.
By September I still hadn’t gotten that gym membership, so I told my husband, Kyle, that I “needed indoor space so that I could clear away every possible excuse I could muster and nally work o the thousands of pounds of Hanukkah latkes I’ve been carrying around once and for all. Kyle says yes to everything and so he agreed, and it was some rubber ooring and the absolute cheapest treadmill available on the Internet later that I had a windowless bunker in the basement designated as “the exercise room.”
Now I run, using my crappy treadmill (seriously, Fred Flintstone had a higher-quality rig; the rst time Kyle saw me using it he asked, “Are treadmills supposed to shake like that?”) whenever the mood, and the need to shower, strikes me. Kyle also hung an old TV in the exercise room, so sometimes I work out when I want to watch an episode of “Velvet” without anyone bothering me. As of this moment, my rate of both exercise and self-congratulations are up 100%. My two-piece bathing suit purchases (and returns) are also up 100%. Baby steps.
TWITTER:
WEBSITE:
WORDS : ALICIA UNDERLEE NELSON
PHOTOGRAPHY : M. SCHLEIF PHOTOGRAPHY
KITCHEN : ROCKING HORSE FARM rockinghorsefarm.com
Megan Myrdal has dedicated her life to helping people eat healthier — and more joyfully — one decision at a time.
This interest started early. Myrdal is a West Fargo-based registered dietitian and local food advocate now. But she grew up in Park River, where she learned about food from her grandmother on the family farm just outside of town.
“My grandma is really who I credit for why I do what I do,” Myrdal says. “I’ve heard people say that parents teach us grit and grandparents teach us passion — and I’m totally the product of that.”
At a time when many farm women gratefully welcomed time-saving shortcuts, Myrdal’s grandmother, Rosemarie Myrdal, did things the old way. She soaked and slow cooked the beans grown on the farm. She tended a garden and pickled, canned and preserved the remainder of every harvest. She even ground her own wheat and baked bread from scratch.
“She was kind of countercultural and never took those easy xes,” Myrdal says. “She was always so deliberate and thoughtful about food.”
She also reminded her granddaughter that passion alone isn’t enough — Myrdal also had an obligation to share her knowledge in service to her community, just as she herself had done. In addition to her work on the farm and her duties as a wife, mother and grandmother, Rosemarie Myrdal also served as a North Dakota state representative and lieutenant governor under Ed Schafer.
“She said, ‘You can care about this stu , but you have to do something about it too,’” Myrdal recalls. “You have to do good in your community that brings people together in an inviting, non-threating way.”
In 2015, Myrdal, Je Knight and Gia Rassier co-founded Ugly Food of the North, a collaborative food community that aimed to combat food waste by showing people that tiny aesthetic aws don’t a ect how fruits and veggies taste. This project later rebranded as Food of the North, with Myrdal, Rassier, Annie Wood and Amanda Booher at the helm. It continues to connect food producers and consumers through speakers, eld trips and meetups.
This work led to the trio’s Little Free Garden project, which encourages ordinary people to plant small gardens in residential neighborhoods and public spaces so the whole community can share the produce. Myrdal was also part of the team that brought the Red River Farmers Market to Fargo. Even her day job at NDSU Foundation supporting the College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources means she’s in constant contact with the local food world.
“These things are such a community of people coming together,” Myrdal says. “I don’t think I do anything by myself. It’s about building this collective of voices.”
This community led to Myrdal’s next project. She co-authored a book titled “Midwest Mediterranean” in 2021. The premise is simple.
“We’re taking the foods of the Midwest, adding the culinary techniques of the Mediterranean (and a few key ingredients like olive oil, which has key nutrients), and putting it into a book that really explains why we should eat this way,” Myrdal explains. “The book culminates with 16 recipes from chefs and home cooks from the upper Midwest, as well as chefs and home cooks all over the Mediterranean. It’s a sharing of two communities and two foodways.”
Myrdal’s co-authors include Noreen Thomas, owner of Moorhead’s Doubting Thomas Farms; conservationist and olive oil importer Dr. Peter Schultz; as well as William Schultz, a mental health practitioner and private practice owner. Dr. Fadel Nammour and Dr. David Clardy share how a healthy diet can aid our digestive systems and improve heart health.
The women behind Food of the North: Gia Rassier (on the computer screen), Amanda Booher (left) , Megan Myrdal and Annie Wood (right) ↑ The authors of Midwest Mediterranean from left to right: Dr. David Clardy, Noreen Thomas, Dr. Peter Schultz, Dr. Fadel Nammour and Megan Myrdal.The rst step to eating better is to choose items that are as fresh and unprocessed as possible. Living in an agricultural region with deep culinary roots and access to clean lakes and rivers makes this easier.
“The Midwest o ers so many ingredients — potatoes, corn, beans, the freshwater sh we have in the waters here,” says Myrdal. “And also the tradition of pickling, preserving and canning.”
Myrdal recommends purchasing as much as you can close to home. Shopping at farmers markets, local co-ops or buying eggs, beef or vegetables direct from the producer bene ts farmers and ranchers, customers and the local economy.
“Buying local means you’re getting something that is at its peak of freshness,” Myrdal explains. “You have that opportunity to connect directly with a farmer where you can hear how they’re producing food, why it matters. And your dollars ripple through the local community. So instead of sending it out to other places, it stays here and continues to generate income for others in the community. I think local tastes better too.”
New projects like the Red River Harvest Cooperative make it even easier for busy people to buy local eggs, milk, meat, honey and vegetables from local producers all year long. Customers simply order what they want online pick it all in up in Moorhead on Wednesday evenings.
One of Myrdal’s rst widely shared recipes was for a bean salad. It sparked quite a response.
“People were like, ‘This is so good, this doesn’t feel like we’re eating healthy,’” she remembers. “Someone made the reference that this was a salad that doesn’t make them feel sad.”
Big avors, lots of variety and leaving the table feeling full are the keys to avoiding sad salads. Myrdal has practical tips for getting more protein and vegetables onto our plates, no matter our budget.
“Try to get your dark, leafy green vegetables at least three times a week — and preferably once a day,” she suggests. “I’m a big proponent of grain and bean salads. It’s so versatile and it’s so economical. It’s the perfect way to eat for those that are healthminded, sustainability-minded, and it’s not out of reach for someone on a food budget.”
So experiment with adding new types of beans and grains to your pantry. You’ll have plenty of time to gure out new recipes.
“That’s the beautiful thing about grains and beans,” Myrdal explains. “If you can buy them in bulk, they last in your pantry for two years.”
Then stock up on fresh vegetables. In warm weather months, this is easy — just grab whatever’s in season. But cold weather demands a di erent approach.
“In the winter months I roast vegetables every week — potatoes, broccoli, Brussels sprouts,” Myrdal says. “I roast them all in big batches on Sunday. I’ll eat them warm on Sunday night for dinner, I’ll throw them into cold salads, I’ll heat them up and serve them with a protein.”
The olive oil Megan drizzles over her roasted vegetables is also the cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet. This humble product has many health bene ts.
“The fat source really plays such a key role in the cuisine,” Myrdal explains. “Olive oil has such a profound impact on cardiovascular health. And there’s amazing research about the Mediterranean diet being part of a treatment for people who have depression, anxiety and other brain health conditions.”
So skip cream, mayonnaise and cheese-based sauces in favor of homemade salad dressing made with olive oil. Using olive oil instead of butter helps too. Megan recommends her co-author Dr. Peter Shultz’s Mistras Estates Extra-Virgin Olive Oil, both because it tastes great and because she’s traveled to Greece to meet the farmer who produces it. But any olive oil will do.
Megan Myrdal creates easy, organic ways for people to connect and share their passion for fresh, healthy food. Food of the North’s First Friday events are a great example. These free, fun monthly meetups showcase a wide range of topics, including indigenous foodways, tips from local butchers and the best regional wine and chocolate pairings.
“I really believe that people who are passionate about food and where food is grown are the most amazing people you can meet,” she says. “That’s what really motivates me — creating spaces for other people to connect with each other.”
Whole Grains & Rice: oats (groats and rolled), wheat berries, quinoa, couscous, farro, wild rice
Beans & Lentils: All types. My essentials are garbanzo (chickpeas), kidney, black, cannellini, and red and green lentils. I mostly use canned beans for convenience but keep dried for some recipes.
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil:
EVOO is the base for almost everything I cook. I buy Mistras Estates through Peter Schultz, importer.
Condiments:
vinegars (balsamic, red wine, rice and apple cider), mustard (I love mustard! I seriously have eight types in my fridge), hot sauce (not exactly Mediterranean, but I love heat), lemon juice (I’d love to buy more fresh lemons, but I find that I let them go to waste so I stick with jarred lemon juice.)
Nuts & Seeds:
I eat nuts daily — for snacks, tossed in a salad, or to add a little crunch to a dish. I keep almonds, walnuts, peanuts, cashews and sunflower seeds on hand. I store them in the freezer to keep them fresh.
Canned tomatoes & tomato paste:
I always have these on hand for a quick pasta sauce or soup. I usually can or freeze my garden tomatoes.
Other canned goods: tuna and salmon (excellent for quick, healthy lunches), olives.
Salt & Pepper: Of course. I use Kosher salt.
Dried Herbs & Spices:
I keep a lot of herbs and spices on hand. Maybe too many. It’s hard to say my “essentials” because it really changes with the seasons or my taste at the moment. I keep a lot of classic Mediterranean herbs and spices in my pantry like basil, cumin, garlic, oregano, parsley, rosemary and thyme. I also love cooking with Indian and Mexican flavors, so I keep a variety of dried chili peppers, turmeric and curry powder on hand.
BY: MEGAN MYRDAL, MS, RD
Yield: 12, 1 cup portions
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
FOR SALAD:
3cups cooked whole wheat couscous (prepared according to package instructions)
1 can (15 ounces) dark red kidney beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can (15 ounces) cannellini beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can (15 ounces) garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)
2 cups kale (washed, stemmed, and finely shredded)
1 cup cucumbers (washed, peeled, and sliced into ½ moons)
1 cup cherry tomatoes (washed, sliced in half)
½ cup red onion (thinly sliced)
¼ cup each of parsley, mint and basil (washed and chopped)
½ cup kalamata olives
1 cup feta cheese
FOR BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE DRESSING:
⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoon dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup Mistras Estates EVOO
salt and pepper to taste
Combine all salad ingredients in a large bowl. In a small bowl, combine vinegar, mustard and garlic. Add the oil in a steady stream, whisking constantly. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix dressing into salad and enjoy.
AARP North Dakota is empowering people 50- plus to choose how they live as they age. We’re proud to ght fraud and high prescription drug prices, create more livable communities and host virtual events that connect and uplift us all. Learn more at aarp.org/ND
/aarpnd @aarpnd
May 31 - June 2 | Musical (PG) | Hansen Theatre
Guys
June 7-9 | Musical (PG) | Hansen Theatre
Ladies Musical
June 14-16 | Musical (PG) | Hansen Theatre
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY : DEB KAUL ILLUSTRATION : pch.vector on freepik.com
Adiagnosis of dementia or other forms of memory loss can be devastating. It typically leads to feelings of fear, guilt, anger, anxiety, depression, hopelessness, and despair for both the people living with the memory loss and their care partners. Additionally, these couples o en feel ill-equipped, overwhelmed, and deserted by their friends, family, medical providers and communities of faith. Well-intentioned community members o en feel frightened and ill-equipped to deal with dementia, so they tragically pull away.
Memory Café of the Red River Valley (MCRRV) is leading the community in changing the way we think about memory loss. While we don’t have a cure for dementia we do advocate for a more positive and life-giving approach to the disease. Instead of succumbing to the stigma of dementia, we believe it is possible to live well with memory loss for a long time if people are provided quality education, a place to belong without fear or judgment, sustained new friendships, and enriching opportunities to engage with the community through music, art, movement and community service.
If you’re living with early to mid-stage memory loss, or you’re the care partner of someone who is, you’re invited to attend a variety of free events and activities sponsored by Memory Café. Three large-group meetings per month are held at Bethel Church and the Hjemkomst Center, with an average attendance of approximately 40 people. These meetings focus on brainbuilding activities, education, physical activity, community service projects, intergenerational activities, art and music. Two additional gatherings are held every week at our Linger, Laugh and Learn (LLL) Center in downtown Fargo. These casual
gatherings o er fun opportunities for individuals with unique interests to socialize, learn, create art, play games and laugh together. Our well-attended monthly caregiver support group called the “Caregiver Café” is also held at the LLL Center.
“Memory Café of the Red River Valley creates an opportunity for people to belong. It is one of the most rich and competent memory cafes in the country.”
JAYNE CLAIRMONT, nationally recognized dementia expert and care consultant
Memory Café would like to invite the public to two upcoming community events. On May 18, we will celebrate our h birthday. The community celebration will be held from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. at Bethel Church, 2702 30th Ave. S., Fargo. Cake and refreshments will be served, a pottery art project sponsored by Katherine Kilbourne Center for Creativity will be offered, and music will be provided by one of Fargo- Moorhead's most beloved singer/songwriters, Sarah Morrau. Please bring your friends and join us!
The second community event is our annual Rede ning Memory Loss Caregiver Conference, “I Already Told You … Don’t You Remember?” This conference and silent auction will be held on June 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Fargo. The conference will provide resources and points of connection for care partners, professionals and community members in Fargo-Moorhead and the surrounding area. Erin Bonitto, a nationally known dementia educator, dementia communications coach, and founder of Gemini Consulting in Cold Springs, Minnesota will be the keynote speaker. Bonitto inspires and equips families and team members in community living environments to become the best dementia communicators possible. A recent diagnosis of dementia in her own family has added a depth of knowledge to Bonitto's coaching that only those who have a loved one with dementia can understand. Bonitto truly understands what it is to simultaneously grieve a person's losses while celebrating and building upon their remaining strengths.
The conference will also discuss the important di erences between Age-Associated Memory Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease; the “language” of dementia; communication strategies known to decrease or prevent challenging behavioral symptoms; and methods for creating moments of pleasure, purpose and peace for both the care partner and the person living with dementia. The conference will conclude with a panel discussion composed of community members directly impacted by dementia and community experts and Q&A.
This conference and silent auction includes refreshments and lunch. Registration is $30 for community members and $60 for professionals, and includes refreshments and lunch. The conference has been approved for four CEU hours by the North Dakota Board of Social Workers. Register by May 20 at eventbrite.com (search “rede ning memory loss”) or send registration form and check to Memory Café, Box 883, Fargo, ND 58107. Call 701-404-6712 for more information.
FOR MORE ABOUT MEMORY CAF É visit memorycaferrv.org.
A GIRLS TRIP is one of the best kind of vacations. Women who take girls trips with their sisters, cousins, best friends, daughters or mothers have learned to put themselves high on their priority list and recognize the advantages of girls-only vacations. You get the chance to just be you again. So, reconnect for some Moondance Events weekend time!
In 2021 Moondance bid farewell to their two long-standing summer music festivals, Moondance Jammin Country Fest and Moondance Jam, with owner Kathy Bieloh taking the stage at both events to thank fans for their part in the festivals’ historic runs and to let them know that Moondance wasn't going away, it was just changing.
Kathy Bieloh, your Moondance host
Moondance revamped their summer schedule of events for 2022 under the umbrella of Moondance Events. Both country and rock music weekends have been shortened to a Friday and Saturday event with six national bands playing on the mainstage and a pre-party on Thursday for those who want to do three-day camping. Moondance Events Country Music Weekend will be held June 17-18 and features headliners Ashley McBryde on Friday and Jamey Johnson Saturday night.
Rock Music Weekend is happening
July 22-23 with Daughtry and Collective
Soul co-headlining Friday night and Bret Michaels closing out the event on Saturday night. The Rock Weekend Pre-Party on July 21 will showcase Tommy DeCarlo, the singer of Boston, and Revisiting Creedence on the main stage. The Country Weekend Pre-Party on June 16 will also be on the main stage.
The newest event at Moondance in 2022 is The Fabulous Armadillos “What’s Going On? Songs from the Vietnam War Era” show on Wednesday, June 29. The evening will kick o with a happy hour and sh fry from 5-7 p.m. with area favorite Rick Adams taking the stage at 7 p.m. followed by the diverse and talented Fabulous Armadillos at 8:30 p.m. The night will be capped o with a reworks show.
A er a two-year hiatus, Moondance Events is bringing back the popular Deuces Wild Dueling Pianos show to the MDJ Saloon on Friday, August 12. Dave and Ted defy all expectations of a dueling piano show and lead the way to an unforgettable experience. Opening for Deuces Wild is Moondance favorite Timmy Haus. This show has sold out previously at Moondance.
The 9th Annual Moondance Harvest Moon Cra Beer & Wine Tasting Festival is set for September 17 in the MDJ Saloon. Festival-goers can taste and enjoy 150 plus cra beers and wine, then vote for their favorite. This annual event also features live music, contests, great food, cra s, camping and more. Live music acts will be announced later this spring.
JUNE 17-18
Country Music Weekend
Pre-Party June 16
Friday: Ashley McBryde
Saturday: Jamey Johnson
JUNE 29
"What's Going On?" Songs from the Vietnam War Era
Fish Fry 5-7 PM • Rick Adams 7 PM
The Fabulous Armadillos 8:30 PM
JULY 22-23
Rock Music Weekend
Pre-Party July 21
Friday: Daughtry • Collective Soul
Saturday: Bret Michaels
AUG 12
Deuces Wild Dueling Pianos at MDJ Saloon
Happy Hour with Timmy Haus
Harvest Moon
SEPT 17
Beer & Wine Tasting Festival at MDJ Saloon
Live Entertainment
These are just a few of our furry angels awaiting their forever homes. NACHO
SUNDANCE
DARLA
LO
Homeward Animal Shelter is a local and community-funded, nonpro t 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.
April 7
THE RAGING RED with Meteorologist John Wheeler
The Red River Valley flood of 1997 was one for the history books. How did it happen? What caused the record-breaking flood? Kids in Grades 2 and up are invited to find out at the Main Library. We’ll watch “The Raging Red,” a film about the flood, and then learn about the weather that led to the disaster, with WDAY Meteorologist John Wheeler. No registration is required, and all materials will be provided. Free.
6:30 PM
Fargo Public Library
102 North 3rd St., Fargo fargolibrary.org
STORM WARNING: AN AUTHOR VISIT WITH ELIZABETH RAUM
In 1997, the Red River Valley experienced a devastating flood that caused enormous damage to towns throughout the region. In her middle grade novel, “Storm Warning,” children’s book author Elizabeth Raum tells the story of 12-year-old North Olson who battles the flood and the elements to save his sister and greatgrandmother. All ages are invited to this program, though it is most appropriate for kids in grades 3 and up. No registration is required, and all materials will be provided. Free.
6:30 PM
Fargo Public Library
102 North 3rd St., Fargo fargolibrary.org
Life 97.9 is thrilled to announce that MercyMe is coming to Fargo! On April 22nd, MercyMe will be performing for their Inhale (Exhale) tour at the Fargodome. The concert will feature Rend Collective with special guest Andrew Ripp. It is sure to be a memorable event!
7:00 PM FARGODOME 1800 N University Dr, Fargo life979.com or 701-356-0979
April 23
NOTE : All events are subject to change. Con rm dates and times before attending.
BLOOM: AN EVENT FOR NEW AND EXPECTING MOMS
BLOOM is an event for 100 new and expecting moms in the FM area. Moms at all stages of motherhood are invited to this event where we will feature two expert panels on all things mom and baby, shopping, yummy treats and coffee, and connection! Everyone will get a custom swag bag full of goodies, a diaper bag, and some fun photo ops throughout the event. Tickets are $30. Contact Michaela for more information at michaela@fargomom.com.
8:00 AM — Noon
Sanctuary Events Center
670 4th Ave N, Fargo fargomom.com
April 23
FARGO MASONIC VENDOR & CRAFT SHOW
Come see our local vendors and crafters and shop their booths at the Fargo Masonic Building. Lunch will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Fargo Masonic Center
1405 3rd St N, Fargo 701-235-7875
April 23
RED RIVER SPRING MARKET
Join us for a spring farmers market at Willow Park! This outdoor event will feature pantry items, household goods, baked goods, art, hot food, beverages and more. Shop with your favorite Red River Market vendors while enjoying live music and family activities. Live performances throughout the event including the Cropdusters at 11:30 a.m.
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Willow Park Elementary School
4901 15th Ave S, Fargo redriver.market/spring
Since 1973, we have been shining a spotlight on exceptional women. They are leaders, mentors, visionaries, angels and heroes. Help us highlight women who shape the FargoMoorhead community through their passion, service and significant achievements at this widely-celebrated event attended by 700 plus people. We’re excited to announce that we plan to be back in person for this year’s event on April 25, 2022, at the Delta by Marriott in Fargo.* YWCA Cass Clay is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all. We strive to break the cycles of poverty and violence for women and their families.
* Event delivery and safety protocols are subject to change based on CDC and local health guidelines regarding the COVID pandemic. Tickets are $80. A portion of each ticket is tax-deductible with proceeds from this event supporting the mission and programs of YWCA Cass Clay. For questions regarding Women of the Year tickets of sponsorship opportunities please contact Erin Hagen at woty@ ywcacassclay.org or 701-232-2250.
5:30 – 9:00 PM
Delta Hotels by Marriott Fargo 1635 42nd St S, Fargo ywcacassclay.org
25
Share your love of houseplants with others. Participants are asked to bring in houseplants to trade or share, which could be divided houseplants, small started plants, or propagated slips. Don’t have anything to bring? That’s okay! Everyone will go home with something new. Free.
6:30 PM
Fargo Public Library
102 North 3rd St., Fargo fargolibrary.org
Learn about all the birds that can be found along the Red River with Audubon Dakota presenter Megan Carter. The presentation will be followed by a walk to the Red River (one block) for observation. Bring binoculars if you have them. No registration is required. Free.
10:00 AM
Fargo Public Library
102 North 3rd St., Fargo fargolibrary.org
“MR. BURNS, A POST ELECTRIC PLAY,”
by Anne WashburnWhat will endure when the cataclysm arrives — when the grid fails, society crumbles and we’re faced with the task of rebuilding? Can art remake a civilization? Mr. Burns propels us forward and imagines a future where Bart Simpson and the pop culture references of one era evolve into the mythology of another.
Tucker Lucas (The Majority, Santaland Diaries), production director says, "'Mr. Burns’ is a show about a community living in a postapocalyptic world where there is no more electricity and so to entertain each other the community members stage old episodes of The Simpsons as plays.” Tickets on sale starting April 18 at theatreb.org or 701-729-8880.
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30 PM Sunday Matinees on May 15 and 22 at 2:00 PM
ASL on Saturday, May 14
Audio Description on Sunday, May 15
Theatre B 215 10th St N, Moorhead
First Fridays is a platform to engage and discuss important food topics in the Fargo-Moorhead community. This monthly event is co-hosted by Food of the North and Cass Clay Food Partners. We hope to create a place for conversations and connections between community members and leaders for networking, idea sharing and to facilitate collaboration amongst all people interested in growing and improving the local food community. A different topic is chosen each month. The event is free and open to all who wish to join in-person or virtually.
8:00 – 9:00 AM
701 Eateries
701 N University Dr, Fargo foodofthenorth.com/firstfridays
You are invited to join singer/song writer Sarah Morrau along with other local artists and celebrities to celebrate Memory Café of the Red River Valley’s fifth birthday! Enjoy an afternoon filled with lovely music, arts, crafts, cake and refreshments. This is a free event for the community. Everyone is welcome.
1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Bethel Church
2702 30th Ave S, Fargo memorycaferrv.org
Chances are good that someone in your life will be affected by dementia — a neighbor, a friend, or even a loved one. Or, perhaps you are a professional serving people living with dementia. Knowing what you should do can be confusing, as you sort through the unending stream of information from doctors, authors and experts. This conference will help you re-focus on what the person with dementia or other memory loss needs you to know. A variety of topics will be covered throughout the day, concluding with a panel of experts who will be sharing experiences, strategies and insights. Please note: This conference is approved for four ND LSW CEUs with each professional registration. All registrations include conference materials, lunch, snacks and refreshments; Community resource vendors and a silent auction will also be available. Register at eventbrite.com (search “redefining memory loss”), or visit memorycaferrv.org.
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Holiday Inn
3803 13th Ave S, Fargo
June 8
A TASTE OF MIDWEST MEDITERRANEAN
Come for dinner and get a taste of Midwest Mediterranean at Bear Creek Winery featuring Chef Joe Swegarden. For tickets and more information visit bearcreeknd.com.
6:00 – 9:00 PM
Bear Creek Winery
8800 25th St S, Fargo
"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 nd me: when you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord."
JEREMIAH 29: 11-14
APRIL 5 and MAY 3 6:00 – 7:15 PM
"Living with Grief" is our monthly drop-in meeting on the first Tuesday of the month held at Boulger Funeral Home. A topic on loss and grief begins our conversation for the evening. for more info: boulgerfuneralhome.com
701-237-6441
griefsupport@boulgerfuneralhome.com
These meetings are led by our Grief Support Coordinators Sonja Kjar and Ann Jacobson.areawomanmagazine.com
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
JOHN 11:25-26
JUNE 13-JUNE 18
Sanford Health is proud to bring you Roger Maris All-Star Week. We are committed to delivering a safe, fun-filled week that would make baseball legend and hometown hero Roger Maris proud.
Join us in honoring his legacy with:
• Celebrity golf tournaments
• Island Park community event
• Youth sports clinics
• Youth baseball tournament
• RedHawks baseball commemorative game
