Generations 2017

Generations t w o t h o u s a n d s e v e n t e e n • detroit lakes, mn

DAVE HERZOG

on turning a hobby into a career

VOLUNTEERING

How it keeps the mind keen

FIND THE BUS TOUR that’s right for you

GENERATIONS | PAGE 1

Upcoming Trips

Are YOU in?

Door County with Washington Island: September 19 – 22, 2017 Called the “Cape Cod of the Midwest”, come explore this beautiful region Fall Splendor in Vermont, New Hampshire & Massachusetts September: 28 – October 10, 2017 Revel in the charm and beauty of a scenic Southern New England road trip Fall in Omaha: October 10 – 13, 2017 The diverse history of this spectacular city awaits Nashville Memphis Getaway: November 25 – December 1, 2017 Tap your toes and sing along to Blues, Rock N Roll and Country

2018 Holy Land Heritage: January 29 – February 7, 2018 Experience all the history, majesty, miracles, and prophecy that awaits us in the land of the Bible Washington D.C./Pennsylvania Dutch: April 19 – 28, 2018 Discover our American heritage both past and present Cruising the Adriatic and Dalmatian Coasts: May 3 – 12, 2018 Enjoy the history, culture, food, and architecture of old-world Europe

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Generations

Published 8-27-17 by Detroit Lakes Newspapers 511 Washington Avenue • Detroit Lakes, MN 56501 218-847-3151 • Fax 218-847-0000 • www.dl-online.com Melissa Swenson, publisher Meagan Pittelko, magazine editor Paula Quam, editor Luanna Lake, magazine designer Sara Leitheiser, creative manager

4

Viola Anderson, circulation manager

DL’s Dave Herzog has turned a musical hobby into a year-round occupation.

12 Local seniors, like Marion Jacobson (pictured), keep their minds keen through volunteer work.

4 Local man creates island vibes through music.

8 How to reduce your carbon footprint while traveling.

9 How to avoid growing bored in retirement.

10 Benefits of growing older.

12 Age actively through volunteering.

O’Connor have spent a combined 45 16 Berenz, years giving back to the community.

Traveling by bus is 90 times safer than car travel, so which tour is right for you?

16

8

“Outstanding Senior Citizens” recipients Barbara “Bunny” O’Connor and John “Jack” Berenz boast nearly 50 years of volunteer work.

GENERATIONS | PAGE 3

It’s Island Time!

DL’s Dave Herzog turns musical hobby into a year-round occupation STORY: VICKI GERDES | PHOTOS: MEAGAN PITTELKO

I

t’s been about 20 years since Detroit Lakes resident Dave Herzog bought his first set of steel drums and began “banging away” on them.

“My wife Barb and I were on our honeymoon, and they had a steel drum band on the cruise ship,” he said. “I just fell in love with the sound. It takes you back to the islands… it’s pretty relaxing.”

He and friend John Orcutt formed the band Island Time back in 1997, and began playing regular summer gigs at popular local hotspots like Long Bridge and Zorbaz, as well as county fairs, summer

PAGE 4 | GENERATIONS

festivals and a variety of other public and private functions.

In addition, the band began playing regular gigs when both Herzog and Orcutt would head down to Key West for the winter, including weekly gigs at the Schooner Wharf Bar, Havana Jack’s and “about a half dozen” other venues.

“I started to play as a hobby, but it turned into a lot more,” Herzog added, noting that aside from a small seasonal woodworking

Dave Herzog plays his steel drum on the City Beach. Herzog began playing in Island Time in 1997. (Photo by Meagan Pittelko)

business--“I work on yachts in Key West during the winter,” he said--the band has basically become his main source of income.

Though the steel drums were a skill he learned relatively late in life, Herzog was no stranger to playing in bands.

“I’ve always loved music,” he said. “My mom was a piano teacher, and we had a very musical family.”

When Orcutt passed away from injuries sustained in a 2005 car accident, Herzog went through a series of other bandmates before longtime friend Chuck Fox signed on with Island Time about seven years ago.

“Chuck plays the guitar, and learned to play the steel drums also,” said Herzog. “He comes along with me to Key West in the winter, too.

We do a lot of wedding receptions there. Key West is the No. 2 spot for destination weddings in the U.S., just behind Las Vegas.”

A drummer during his high

school and college years, Herzog played in a few different bands.

He ended up getting a degree in technical education and pursued a career as a building contractor after graduating. He continued in that career up until about 17 years ago.

“In 2000, my wife and I sold our house on Pelican Lake and decided we were going to live on our sailboat for a while,” he said.

Eventually, Barb found a job as a marina manager in Key West, where she still works.

“She flies into Fargo two or three times a summer for a visit,” he added.

One of Herzog’s favorite gigs is the annual Boats & Bars fundraiser hosted by the Lakes Area Parrot Heads, where he has been performing since it started 12 years ago. This year’s event is set for Saturday, Aug. 26, at Zorbaz and the Bridge Marina (at Long Bridge) as well as the sandbar out on Detroit

Lake itself.

“We’re playing at the Parrot Heads’ Macaws for Paws this year too,” Herzog said, referring to the annual fundraiser for the Marshmallow Foundation animal shelter, which will be held on Friday, Aug. 25 at Zorbaz.

After that, the gigs in the lakes area begin to get a lot more scarce.

“Labor day is when everything starts winding down,” Herzog said.

“I’ll be staying here a little later than usual this year though, until midSeptember.”

Island Time will be playing at an NDSU tailgating party to start out the 2017-18 Bison football season, as well as “a few private parties” before Herzog makes trip back down to Key West for the winter.

“I’ll probably stay down there until about mid-May,” he added-just in time for the warm breezes of summer to return to the lakes area and, with them, the bright, cheery sounds of Herzog’s steel drums.

GENERATIONS | PAGE 5

MAKE VACATIONS AND TRAVEL a key component of retirement

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hen the time comes to bid farewell to conference calls, meetings and daily commutes, retirees have open schedules to fill with whichever activities they choose. Travel is one exciting way to pass the time.

Traveling can be a rewarding prospect for active seniors, particularly those who successfully preplanned for retirement and have the income to fund various excursions.

Many seniors, both in the United States and Canada, find that travel tops their to-do lists once they retire.

According to Senior Travel magazine,

PAGE 6 | GENERATIONS

new travel options are emerging for newly minted retirees looking for something a little different from the status quo.

The list of destinations retirees have at their disposal is limitless.

The following ideas are some of the more popular ways retirees choose to travel.

• Road trips rule. Taking to the highways and byways is an excellent way to see the country. Seniors can customize their routes depending on which places they want to visit. RV travel can be as comfortable or as rustic as travelers prefer. Many se-

niors spend months traveling in their campers, which offer many of the same amenities of home. Campsites and special RV hook-up sites offer the other necessities of traveling the open road.

• Genealogical tourism is popular. People hoping to trace their ancestry and visit their ancestral homelands are one of the fastest-growing travel segments. Visiting an old church in Europe where ancestors were married or buying food from a market in which a great aunt or uncle once worked leads retirees on many international adventures. Such trips

Season Highlights!

TAKIN’ IT TO THE LIMIT Tribute to the Eagles

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CLASSIC COUNTRY with Matt Vee

Thurs., Oct. 19 • 7:30pm

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provide travelers with a unique opportunity to understand their roots up close and personal while enjoying some international travel along the way.

• Exotic tours can be exciting destinations. History buffs or adventure-seeking couples may be particularly attracted to exotic travel destinations that are slightly off of the beaten path. Travel tours may take vacationers to destinations such as excavation sites or backpacking through the rainforest. With passport in hand, seniors can go just about anywhere their desires take them.

• Enjoy a relaxing seaside trip. A seaside vacation can be the perfect trip for seniors who want to put their feet up and sip some cocktails while watching the waves lap the shores. Many beach resorts offer all-inclusive packages for different age groups. Meals, excursions and hotel rooms can be bundled into one affordable, confusion-free price.

• Go cruising. Speaking of all-inclusive vacationing, cruising seems tailor-made for those ages 50 and older because it offers the convenience of accommodations, food, entertainment, and transportation all in one. The various activities offered on the ship mean travelers can find ways to spend their time how they see fit. Cruising couples can opt to spend all of their time on the ship enjoying carefully prepared meals and entertainment or disembark and explore the various ports of call along the way.

Now that they have more free time, retirees can gear up for travel adventures to remember.

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ALL IS CALM

Christmas Truce of 1914 Tues., Dec. 19 • 7pm

Adults: $22 • Students $11

THE WONDER BREAD YEARS

Thurs., Jan. 18 • 7:30pm

Adults: $25 • Students $12.50

RIVER SONGS & TALES Fri., April 6 • 7:30pm

Adults: $22 • Students $11

ARLO GUTHRIE

Fri., May 4 • 7:30pm

Adults: $48 • Students $24

To learn more about these shows & see the entire season line-up, visit us at DLCCC.org or stop in and pick up a brochure!

Tickets:

218-844-7469 • DLCCC.org 806 Summit Ave., Detroit Lakes

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GENERATIONS | PAGE 7

See the country in a bus how to spend your retirement traveling STORY: NATHAN BOWE

“I’d rather go by bus.”

-- Prince Charles

A

nd why not? Can the Prince of Wales, Earl of Chester, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles and Prince and Great Steward of Scotland be wrong?

Traveling by bus is 90 times safer than car travel. You don’t have the hassles of parking. You can read, work, visit or sleep while you travel, and it’s a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.

‘Round these parts, bus tours can be as short as a one-day casino outing or as long as three weeks in Florida in the wintertime.

Got the itch to gamble? White Earth Transit offers one-day bus trips from Detroit Lakes to the Shooting PAGE 8 | GENERATIONS

Star Casino in Mahnomen on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays, according to transit director Ken Bakken.

The bus picks up at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway depot in downtown Detroit Lakes and returns to the depot that same day. You must call one day in advance to have your name placed on the manifest, Bakken said. Call on Friday for a Monday trip. The tribal transit schedule can be found online under Public Works at whiteearth. com or call 218-983-3283 for more information.

Valley Bus, based out of Fargo offers many different tour types, including trips to casinos and foilage tours. You can travel to the eastern United States and Canada to see the fall colors; head to Branson, Missouri, for a weeklong Christmas

entertainment package; or escape the cold for Florida for three weeks.

You can even take a cruise to Cuba this year. For more information, visit their website: www.valleybusllc.com

Judy’s Leisure Tours, based out of Fargo, offers music and theatre trips, gaming/casino trips, sports packages, nature and history tours as well as a Tulip Festival in Michigan and Lilac Festival in Door County.

All of their tours pick-up in Fargo, and some tours also have pick-up in Detroit Lakes. Their goal is to make your trip enjoyable, carefree and memorable. For more information, check out their website at: www. judysleisuretoursinc.com or call them at: (800) 598-0851

Going by bus allows you to see the sights that you’ve always wanted to see with little to no stress of planning the trip.

HOW TO AVOID GROWING BORED IN RETIREMENT

From the moment young men and women first walk into the office for their first day as a working professional until the day they officially retire, the notion of planning for retirement is never far from their minds.

B

ut when the day to hang up the briefcase and donate all those business suits arrives, some retirees wonder what to do next.

Some retirees know exactly how they will spend their days when they no longer have to work, while others who decide to play it by ear may find themselves battling boredom.

For those among the latter group, it’s important to understand that many retirees find themselves bored once they no longer have to focus on a career. Jobs keep men and women busy and provide a sense of purpose in their lives, so it’s understandable that retirees feel bored once those jobs are no longer a part of their lives. But just because you no longer have an office to go to every day does not mean life cannot be as fulfilling or even more fulfilling than it was when you were still working. You just need to find something to avoid succumbing to retirement boredom.

• Work part-time. Though it might seem odd to start working right after you retire, a part-time job can provide the type of structure you have grown accustomed to without all of the responsibility that comes with a full-time career. Part-time jobs can range from consultancy work

that makes use of your professional experience to something entirely different like landscape maintenance at a nearby golf course that gets you out of the house and enjoying the warmer seasons. Whichever you choose, make sure it’s something you find fun and interesting.

• Embrace a new hobby. Working professionals often say they wish they had time to pursue a hobby. Now that you are retired, you have all the time in the world to do just that. Whether it’s perfecting your golf game, writing that novel, learning to cook like a gourmet chef or whatever else you might have always wanted to do, retirement is a great time to do it.

• Get in shape. If retirement

boredom has started to negatively affect your mood, one great way to conquer your boredom and improve your mood at the same time is to start exercising.

Exercise is a natural mood enhancer. When the body exercises, it releases chemicals knowns as endorphins, which trigger positive feelings in the body. In addition, regular exercise has been shown to reduce stress, boost self-esteem and improve sleep. Working out at a gym also is a great way to meet fellow retirees in your community, and the energy you have after exercising may give you the boost you need to pursue other hobbies.

• Volunteer. If a part-time job is not up your alley, then consider volunteering in your community. Volunteers are always in demand, and volunteering with a local charity can provide a sense of purpose and provide opportunities to meet like-minded fellow retirees, all while helping to quell your boredom.

Retirees who love to travel can combine their passion for volunteering with their love of travel by signing up to work with an international relief organization that travels abroad to help the less fortunate.

Upon retiring, many retirees initially find themselves coping with boredom. But there are many ways to avoid the restlessness of retirement.

GENERATIONS | PAGE 9

BENEFITS OF GROWING OLDER M any people are quick to think of growing older in a negative light. Although there certainly are some side effects of aging that one may wish to avoid, people may find that the benefits of growing older outweigh the negatives.

Seniors are a rapidly growing segment of the population. In the United States, the Administration on Aging states that the older population persons 65 years or older - numbered 46.2 million in 2014 (the latest year for which data is available). Statistics Canada reports that, in July 2015, estimates indicated that there were more persons aged 65 years and older in Canada than children aged 0 to 14 years for the first time in the country’s history. Nearly one in six Canadians (16.1%) was at least 65 years old.

With so many people living longer, it’s time to celebrate the perks of getting older rather than the draw-

backs. Here are some great benefits to growing old.

• Higher self-esteem: The insecurities of youth give way as one ages, and older people have less negativity and higher self-esteem. A University of Basel study of people ranging in ages from 18 to 89 found that regardless of demographic and social status, the older one gets the higher self-esteem climbs. Qualities like self-control and altruism can contribute to happiness.

• Financial perks: Seniors are entitled to discounts on meals, museum entry fees, movies, and other entertainment if they’re willing to disclose their ages. Discounts are available through an array of venues if one speaks up. Seniors also can enjoy travel perks, with slashed prices on resorts, plane tickets and more. The U.S. National Park Service offers citizens age 62 and older lifetime passes to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites for just $10 in

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person ($20 online or via mail).

• Reasoning and problem-solving skills: Brain scans reveal that older adults are more likely to use both hemispheres of their brans simultaneously - something called bilateralization. This can sharpen reasoning skills. For example, in a University of Illinois study, older air traffic controllers excelled at their cognitively taxing jobs, despite some losses in short-term memory and visual spatial processing. Older controllers proved to be experts at navigating, juggling multiple aircrafts simultaneously and avoiding collisions.

• Less stress: As people grow older, they are able to differentiate their needs from wants and focus on more important goals. This can alleviate worry over things that are beyond one’s control.

Seniors may realize how little the opinions of others truly mean in the larger picture, thereby feeling less stress about what others think of them.

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EXERCISE TIPS

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xercise is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. Daily exercise can improve mood, promote an active lifestyle and reduce a personÕs risk for a host of ailments, including diabetes and heart disease.

Despite the importance of exercise, many people live sedentary lifestyles into their golden years. Seniors who want to embrace a healthier way of life and get more physically active should first consult with their physicians before beginning an exercise regimen. Certain medications may limit just how far seniors can push themselves, while preexisting conditions may make specific types of exercise off limits.

After discussing their limitations with their physicians and developing a safe exercise routine, seniors can heed the following tips to avoid injury but still get healthy.

• Pick a partner. Whether itÕs a spouse or a friend who is physically active or wants to be, try exercising with a partner, at least initially.

Doing so can provide the motivation you need and partners can serve as safety nets should you need assistance completing an exercise or suffer an injury and require medical attention.

Personal trainers can serve as your partner, and many gyms offer discounts to seniors on personal training services.

• Start slowly. Seniors who have not been physically active for some time should

take a gradual approach to exercise. Instead of heading right for the treadmill, exercise bike or elliptical machine, start walking every day. When it rains, find a treadmill you can walk on.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommends seniors begin by determining how many steps they can take in a day and then gradually working toward 10,000 to 15,000 steps per day. Utilize step counting apps on your smartphone to track your progress. Apply the same slow approach to strength training exercises, lifting only very light weights at first before gradually increasing weight as your body acclimates to the exercises.

• Stretch. Bodies that have been inactive for lengthy periods of time are inflexible, and lack of flexibility increases your risk for injury.

The AAOS recommends that seniors warm up their bodies before stretching with five to 10 minutes of low-intensity activity such as walking.

Then stretch gently, remembering to relax and breathe during each stretch.

• Switch things up. When strength training, do not work the same muscle group two days in a row. Muscles need time to recover. If you prefer circuit strength training where you exercise various muscle groups in one day, do not strength train on back-to-back days, leaving at least one day in between strength training sessions so muscles have ample time to recover.

GENERATIONS | PAGE 11

Actively aging Local seniors keep their minds keen through volunteer work PHOTOS & STORY: MEAGHAN PITTELKO

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or some senior citizens, volunteering is a simple pastime used to fill space in lieu of a nine-to-five job. For others, though, it’s practically a second career.

Marion Jacobson, who turns 90 years old this November, laughs heartily--and often--speaks openly and could fill an entire resume with PAGE 12 | GENERATIONS

the volunteer work she’s done.

She’s been volunteering for over three decades, after all.

“My husband and I started getting involved back in 1984,” she said. “I’ll do it for as long as I can. I just love it.”

Jacobson has volunteered in nearly any context imaginable, from working the AARP booth at the local

county fair to planning the first ever Pumpkin Fest with the Lake Park Garden Club. She even leads an exercise class for seniors at the Lake Park City Center.

“We work out--we warm up and cool down--but, oh, we giggle,” she said. “It’s my giggle group.”

In 2004, she was recognized as one of Becker County’s Outstanding

(right) Volunteer Betty Wolff smiles as she packs boxes at the food pantry. (bottom left) Volunteers Betty Wolff (left) and Don Sayer (right) put food in boxes at the food pantry. (bottom right) Volunteer Kris Tovson stocks the shelves at the food pantry.

Seniors--and she went on to win the Outstanding Senior Citizens Award at the Minnesota State Fair.

“I just thought I should go to the fair, but I didn’t know about the award--the others didn’t tell me--and it was 90 degrees and the bus was late, so I came in and my sweat was rolling off my face,” she said. “But, if you ever get down to the senior citizen building at the state fair, my face is on the wall there.”

Jacobson also began volunteering with the MahubeOtwa Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) in 1997, according to RSVP records. The program, which spans across eight Minnesota

counties, has almost 400 volunteers recording hours in an average month, according to Becker County Senior Coordinator Karen Lenius.

“Volunteers can do tax preparation, work at food shelves, museums and libraries, or lead exercise groups,” she said.

“Sometimes, they teach programs at Tamarac Wildlife or read to kids in the schools. They can do lots of different things.”

Cynthia McDonough, RSVP/ Senior Coordinator, added that volunteers log an average of over 80,000 hours each year through the program.

“The volunteers just give of their

time,” she said, “and they give a lot of it.”

Lenius said that many volunteers credit the work they do for keeping their minds keen.

“We had a previous tax volunteer who said to me, ‘I think my brain would be mush by now if I didn’t have this program,’” she said. “He was in his 80s, and he was still volunteering at that time.”

Dave Birchem, a tax volunteer of about 20 years--and past Becker County Outstanding Senior--agreed.

“I’ve been doing it for quite a few years,” he said, “and I’ve started looking forward to it. You meet some real great people in all kinds GENERATIONS | PAGE 13

of different situations and, once you volunteer, it’s hard not to do it anymore..”

Although Birchem worked in tax preparation for many years, Lenius was quick to mention that volunteers aren’t required to have any special skills for most opportunities.

“There are so many places that need people to step up and contribute,” she said. “It just benefits the community, and we’re always looking for more volunteers. Some volunteer jobs--like the tax program-do require specific training, but there are also some that take no experience besides the heart for service.”

Current volunteer opportunities include driving for Becker County Transit, cooking for Meals on Wheels, reading to children at the Boys and Girls Club or in the elementary schools and acting as a companion for Hospice of the Red River Valley--in addition to many more.

“You have to find something you’re interested in and find

something that’s needed,” Jacobson said. “There are so many places where life could be better for the elderly and others and, even if you could only do something a couple hours a week, that’s okay.”

According to RSVP records, some volunteers have logged a couple hundred hours in their time in the program, while others have logged almost 20,000 hours. The choice to volunteer more or less, Lenius explained, is up to the individual and there are no set requirements.

“People volunteer as long as they can and they know when they’re not able to anymore,” she said. “But they’re part of a community solution, and they’re such an important part of that solution.”

With so much flexibility and such a diverse pool of opportunities to choose from, potential volunteers can almost certainly find the right fit for their interests and schedule--and a lot of volunteers are still needed.

“I would really like more people to get involved,” Jacobson said.

“Even if you just go to nursing

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homes or assisted living to visit, find something. There are so many places that need helping hands.”

The key, she added, is to get the new retirees involved--and Lenius and McDonough agreed.

“We need the next generation,” Lenius said. “We need those newly retired 60 year olds.”

Volunteers through the RSVP program must be 55 years old, but there is no maximum age limit or a limit on how many years an individual can volunteer. The oldest volunteer in the program logging hours right now, according to RSVP records, is 104 years old.

“He was born in 1913--think of everything he has seen. It’s incredible,” McDonough said.

“Coming to work today, I realized that there seem to be so many bad things going on in today’s world but, when I go to work, I get to see all of the good things that our volunteers are doing in our community and surrounding communities. These volunteers are so wonderful to work with and they’re just a good bunch of people.”

CHICKEN SOUP

Did you know?

Healthy kidneys perform a variety of functions in the human body, all of which combine to promote overall health.

According to the National Kidney Foundation, every 30 minutes the kidneys filter all the blood in a personÕs body, removing any waste and excess fluid. Healthy kidneys also regulate the bodyÕs fluid levels while releasing a hormone that regulates blood pressure. ThatÕs an especially important function, as high blood pressure often has no symptoms but has been linked to a host of ailments, including heart attack and stroke. Healthy kidneys also release the hormone that directs production of red blood cells, which the University of Rochester Medical Center notes are responsible for carrying fresh oxygen throughout the body. Such functions become more difficult to perform if the kidneys are not operating at optimal capacity, which they cannot do when a person has kidney disease. Healthy kidneys also help to keep blood minerals in balance, and that balance can help a person maintain normal blood pressure.

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old season never seems to take a year off. Experts estimate that colds are so widespread that very few humans escape infection. Some people come down with colds more than once per year. That should not come as too great a surprise, as there are now thought to be more than 200 different strains of cold.

For the past 50 years, researchers studied two classes of viruses responsible for a total of roughly 100 different incarnations of the common cold. Two years ago, after development of molecular techniques to look at the viral genome, researchers found a third class of rhinoviruses, according to James Gern, MD, an asthma specialist at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. This discovery doubled the number of potential cold viruses.

While there’s no cure for the common cold, cold remedies have been around for centuries. Chicken soup remains one of the more popular cold remedies. Grandmothers have long espoused the virtues of chicken soup with regard to treating colds, but now research is backing up those claims.

Researchers have long examined the potential health benefits of chicken soup in an attempt to understand why it seems to be such an effective tonic at treating colds. A 1998 report found that broth may help improve the function of the tiny hairs in noses called cilia. The cilia

help prevent contagions from getting into the body. Hot fluids also can help increase the movement of nasal mucus, helping to relieve stuffiness and congestion.

Chicken soup also can help reduce inflammation, which often results as the immune system works to fight the cold virus. A study in the journal Chest found that chicken soup appears to inhibit neutrophil chemotaxis, which is the movement of certain immune cells to mucus membrane surfaces. As a result, mucus production is inhibited and cold symptoms are reduced.

Chicken soup is loaded with immune-boosting vegetables and other ingredients that provide phytonutrients.

The American Cancer Society defines phytonutrients, or phytochemicals, as plant compounds like carotenoids, lycopene, resveratrol, and phytosterols that are thought to have health-protecting qualities. Chicken soup may also contain onions and garlic, which are believed to have natural antibacterial or antiseptic properties.

An easily digestible comfort food, chicken soup also helps a person feel better because it effectively delivers vitamins and minerals.

While some profess that homemade chicken soup is the key to fighting a cold, many commercially-made soups fit the bill as well. The salt, steam, vegetables, chicken protein, and soothing broth combine to form a worthy adversary to the common cold.

GENERATIONS | PAGE 15

‘Outstanding’

for their volunteerism

Berenz, O’Connor have spent a combined 45 years giving back to the community PHOTOS & STORY: VICKI GERDES

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very year since 1973, the Becker County Fair has honored two county residents as the county’s outstanding seniors.

Though the title of the award is “Becker County Outstanding Senior Citizen,” the honor bestowed on one man and one woman (with a few PAGE 16 | GENERATIONS

exceptions) each year is not based so much on individual accomplishments as it is on the person’s volunteerism.

The annual awards recognize senior citizens who have made outstanding contributions to their community since reaching age 65.

Nominees must be at least 70 years

of age by June 1 of the year in which they are nominated.

This year’s winners, Detroit Lakes residents Barbara “Bunny” O’Connor and John “Jack” Berenz, have nearly 50 years of combined volunteer experience between them.

Berenz first started working

Detroit Lakes residents Jack Berenz (left) and Bunny O’Connor (right) were honored as Becker County’s Outstanding Senior Citizens at the Becker County Fair on July 27.

(Photo by Vicki Gerdes)

at the Food Pantry in 1997, shortly after retiring from a 33-year career with the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, Inc., while O’Connor began volunteering there a few years before Berenz, in 1992.

Since then, O’Connor has logged more than 11,000 hours of volunteer service, while Berenz has put in over 17,800 hours, according to Becker County Senior Coordinator Karen Lenius, who keeps track of the total hours as well as years of service for each of the county’s senior volunteers.

“I like volunteering,” said O’Connor, 81, a Twin Cities native who has been married to Irishman Harold “Hal” O’Connor for the past 61 years (Hal also received the Outstanding Senior Award back in 2005).

“I started volunteering at the Food Pantry when it was just a couple of rooms in the basement of the community center.”

O’Connor also worked as a volunteer for the local blood bank for close to 10 years, calling potential donors as well as giving blood herself.

“But I can’t do that anymore,” she said, noting that she last gave blood three years ago but can no longer do so because of a heart condition that recently necessitated open-heart surgery.

She also still volunteers at the Becker County Courthouse, where she has worked an election judge and helps to keep the county’s voter records up-to-date.

“I also delivered Meals on Wheels, back when they were in the basement of the hospital, and I’ve volunteered at the library, helping to shelve and catalog books,” O’Connor added.

Though she has loved working for the Food Pantry over the years and still sits on its board of directors, O’Connor said that she has begun stepping back from some of her volunteer work for health reasons as well as to spend more time with husband Hal and their four grown children.

While the O’Connors have been residents of Detroit Lakes since 1979, only one of their children, youngest son Matt, actually graduated from high school there.

That’s because Hal was a military man--a pilot who had a 22-year career with the U.S. Air Force, in fact--and the couple spent many years hopping from base to base, including stints in Texas, California, Florida and the Azore Islands, off the coast of Portugal.

“I really liked being a military wife,” she said.

So how did they end up in Detroit Lakes? O’Connor said that, after retiring from the military, Hal took a job with State Farm Insurance, and when there was an opening in Detroit Lakes, he took it.

“He wanted to get out of the (Twin) Cities,” she said. Now, it’s their home.

Berenz moved to Detroit Lakes with his wife, Beverly, more than 30 years ago, for similar reasons.

A native of Elcho, Wisconsin--a small town located near Michigan’s Upper Peninsula--Berenz graduated from St. Norbert College in West DePere, Wis., before enlisting with the U.S. Army for a three-year stint, from 1961-64.

“I spent all three years in Fort Lewis, Washington, near Tacoma,” he said. “I went in as a second lieutenant, and came out as a first lieutenant.”

Berenz met his first wife, Beverly, while he was still in the army, and they were married in 1963. Shortly after being discharged from the army, Berenz took a pharmaceutical sales job with Pfizer, and was assigned to a sales territory on the northwest side of Minneapolis.

“I just didn’t like the city, and my wife didn’t like it either,” Berenz said.

So when an opening came up for the company’s Detroit Lakes territory, he took it--and ended up staying with the company for 33 years.

“After I retired in March 1997, I was looking for something to do when the floods hit Grand Forks and Fargo,” he recalled. “The Salvation Army was setting up at Freeman Arena, and they needed help with loading and off-loading the trucks.”

When the flood waters began to recede and the need for emergency assistance decreased, the Salvation Army began packing up to move out of the arena but opted to leave the remaining food and emergency supplies in Detroit Lakes for distribution.

“They had two trucks full, and they needed someone to take charge of them,” Berenz said--and he ended up with the keys.

“A lot of that stuff ended up at the Food Pantry,” he said and, as it turned out, so did he.

Though he has also volunteered as a driver for Meals on Wheels and Essentia Health St. Mary’s--as well as with various functions for the Holy Rosary Knights of Columbus--Berenz said that he gave up GENERATIONS | PAGE 17

Did you know?

Baby Boomers make up the largest generation of Americans born in United States history. Boomers include anyone born between the years 1946 and 1964, as the number of births began to rise as World War II veterans returned home from battle.

The greatest number of Baby Boomers were born in 1957, when numbers peaked at 4,300,00. That equates to roughly 8 children born per minute throughout the year. By 2019, the last of the Baby Boomers, or those born in 1964, will be eligible for many senior benefits offered to people age 55 and up. Ten years later, most will be eligible for retirement.

most of those jobs when he took over as director of the Food Pantry in 2000, which was right around the time they moved from their original home in the community center basement to the nonprofit’s current headquarters on Rossman Avenue.

“It’s been a very nice home for us,” said Berenz.

On March 31 of this year, after 20 years with the Food Pantry and 17 as its director, Berenz turned over the keys to his successor, Brad Carlson.

“He’s going to do a good job,” said Berenz, adding that he still ends up spending a few hours every week helping out when they need him.

“We get food from Walmart three days a week and Central Market five days a week,” he said. “I come down here and help them get the stuff weighed and recorded so we know how much came in.”

Then he goes for coffee at the

Main Street and, depending on if they need an extra pair of hands, he might come back afterwards to help with getting the boxes ready for distribution every Tuesday and Thursday.

“A 20-year habit is kind of hard to break,” he admitted.

One of these days, though, he might actually get that fishing pole wet or head out on a hunting trip or two this fall.

He and his wife of 12 years, Rose (first wife Beverly passed away in 1996), also like to spend time with Jack’s two daughters and 4 grandchildren.

“I really liked what I was doing,” said Berenz of why he stayed with the Food Pantry for so long. “I saw that there were people in need, and I thought I could help. It also kept me active.

Plus, the volunteers here are really good, dependable people.

They helped make this job easy.

It’s been a good run, with a great bunch of people.”

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REBOUNDING FROM A LATE START TO RETIREMENT SAVINGS

Some people do not have the ability to begin saving for retirement early on.

O

thers may have brushed retirement savings aside for so long that they are now worried that it’s too late to begin socking away money for retirement.

While it’s best to start saving for retirement as early as possible, the good news is that it’s never too late to start planning for retirement. If your 40th birthday has long passed and you’re finally thinking ahead to retirement, consider these catch-up strategies.

• Research tax-advantageous retirement savings plans. A financial planner can point you in the right direction, or consult with your employ-

er about employee programs. Deposit money into a 401(k) or 403(b) plan or another retirement vehicle. Jump on any opportunities when your employer matches invested funds.

Investigate an IRA and find out if there are any government incentives.

Depending on your age, you may be able to deposit more money into such accounts than other investors.

• Cut back on expenses. Cutting back on unnecessary expenses is a great way to save more money for retirement. Figure out where you can save some money you can then allocate to retirement savings. Maybe you can reduce insurance coverage

on an older car or raise your deductible? Downsize cable packages or skip that costly cup of coffee on the way to work. Perhaps it’s time to look for a smaller, less expensive home or a compact car instead of an SUV. Any money saved now will benefit you when the time comes time to bid farewell to the workforce.

• Delay your retirement. Many people who retire find themselves bored and looking for ways to fill their time, and as a result more and more people are delaying their retirement, which also gives them more time to save for that day when they do call it quits. If you want to work less, discuss

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GENERATIONS | PAGE 19

and negotiate a phased retirement with your bosses that allows you to stick with your employer but gradually work fewer hours until you retire completely. You may be able to work part-time for several years and retire when you’re most comfortable.

• Consider more aggressive funds.

Even if you are 50 you still have a few decades before retirement, which leaves lots of time to grow your retirement savings. But you may want to consider more aggressive funds that can help you catch up more quickly than less

aggressive investments. Just know that aggressive funds may also leave you susceptible to substantial losses.

• Don’t amass debt. If you’re saving for retirement but only paying minimum balances on your credit cards, then you’re not really saving. Pay down credit card debt before you begin to set aside money for retirement.

Delaying retirement planning may mean you have to work a little harder to build up a solid reserve. But by following some financial tips and persevering, you can still enjoy retirement with security.

HOW TO EAT AFTER 50

As people age, their dietary needs begin to change.

F

oods that were once staples of your diet as a youth may be restricted once you hit a certain age, while other foods you may have always avoided may now be necessary to fuel and support a healthy body.

Eating healthy foods and exercising may not be enough to sustain health, as hormonal changes and other health effects as a person reaches age 50 can have a profound impact on his or her nutritional requirements. The following are a few things men and women over 50 may want to consider as they look to eat a healthy diet for years to come.

Vitamin D

Both men and women age 50 and up have a reduced ability to produce vitamin D through exposure to the sun. Extra vitamin D will be needed from foods and supplements.

Everyone over the age of 50 should take a daily vitamin D supplement of 400 IU (10 µg), according to Canada’s Food Guide. Without adequate vitamin D, bone strength and health can deteriorate because vitamin D promotes calcium absorption. Vitamin D also has other roles, including helping neuromuscular and immune function and reducing inflammation.

PAGE 20 | GENERATIONS

Friendly fats

People over age 50 should increase their intake of unsaturated fats and reduce consumption of saturated fats. Nutrient-rich unsaturated fats can guard against heart conditions, protect against stroke, keep skin supple, and even help men and women maintain good neurological health. Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in nuts, olives, seeds, and fatty fishes.

Increase protein

According to Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as they age, men and women need more protein in their diets to maintain their muscle mass. The amount of protein needed at a younger age no longer may be adequate. Look for lean sources of protein from fish and poultry. Beans are also a low-fat source of protein that can help fulfill daily protein requirements.

More fiber

Eating more fiber can help with digestive and intestinal problems, such as constipation. Constipation can occur when fiber intake is not enough, coupled with a more sedentary lifestyle. The best way to get

fiber is through diet. Leave the skins on fruit and vegetables and choose whole fruits over juices. Whole-grain breads and cereals also are good sources of fiber. Dry beans and lentils can add a fiber boost. Always increase fiber slowly to determine your tolerance.

Fewer calories

The National Institute on Aging says women over the age of 50 need between 1,600 and 2,000 calories, depending on how physically active they are. Men need between 2,000 and 2,400 calories per day. With each passing year there is a decrease in the energy required to maintain body weight, so caloric intake should be adjusted accordingly.

More water

As a person ages, his or her body may not signal it is thirsty as well as it once did, so it’s possible that you may not recognize when you are thirsty or dehydrated. The Mayo Clinic recommends around nine to 10 cups of beverages per day to remain hydrated.

Eating healthy and changing one’s diet is important as a person ages, as dietary needs at age 50 may be quite different from what they were at age 30.

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