F R E E FALL
2014
Jumping In Get in the water for a great workout and a good time
Also in this issue: Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota Water’s Edge: Leading the way with Green House Deichman Construction: Building Customized Townhomes See the Sculptures on the ArtWalk
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Mankato.
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Contents
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12
MATURE LIFEST YLE • FALL 2014 • VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3
FEATURES 6 Jumping In Julie Karp, a longtime water aerobics student, started teaching classes this spring.
14
8 More than a Museum The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota will appeal to people of all ages when it opens in 2015.
12 Art Walk The sculptures on display this year come to Mankato from all over the country and abroad.
18
14 Where the Living is Easy Custom-built townhomes come with the comfort of home and the perks of association living.
18 National Parks from A to Z Take an alphabetical tour through our National Parks system.
21 Water’s Edge: Decidedly Different Water’s Edge provides a high level of assisted living care – but in a decidedly different environment.
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DEPARTMENTS 22 Community Calender Mature Lifestyles Fall 2014 3
PUBLISHER’S NOTES
Welcome to the Fall edition of Mature Lifestyle…
W
elcome to the fall edition of Mature Lifestyle! This issue is packed with stories to enjoy with your families over the fall season. From swimming at the YMCA to building a home – or looking for a place to call home – to traveling and what to do in the fall, you will find it all within these pages. Our cover features Julie Karp’s water exercise class at the Y. As I helped with the photo shoot, Julie’s personality just bubbled (no pun intended) over onto all the participants in the class. The photographer and I were laughingly encouraging all of them to splash more, but it quickly became quite obvious that not everyone was excited about getting their hair wet. One lady in particular caught my eye, so I decided to talk to her. Her name was Dorothy, and she was one of the first swim instructors at the YMCA. Dorothy and her classmates smiled and joked with each other. They share a strong bond, and it was quite obvious that they loved to do what they were doing – exercising in the water. Continue on to “More than a Museum,” which features The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota. It feels a little like we are coming full circle with this story, now that the museum is in the final stages of building its permanent home. In the 2009 winter issue of Mature, we wrote a story about a retiring ECFE teacher who was part of the museum’s board of directors. From the beginning, this organization has been striving to fulfill the needs of the children and fundraising for a new facility. Finally that day is going to happen! I am looking forward to enjoying the 28-foot spiral tree and all the other hands-on exhibits at the new museum, including the “Grow it Gallery.” Growing up on a farm, I took the bean and corn fields for granted. They were always there year after year, looking the same. Now, children will be able to touch and feel plants and the farm animals. When I mention to my children how awful it was to get up at 6 a.m. on summer mornings to “walk beans,” they look at me like I’m crazy. They have no concept of taking a hoe, counting off eight rows of beans, chopping the weeds out of those 4 Fall 2014 Mature Lifestyles
rows and walking the whole darn field. And we walked them twice because Dad sold his beans to the seed company. I also walked beans for the neighbors. It’s just what we did, every day, every summer, to earn money for school clothes. Please take a minute and read the story about the custom townhomes that Mark Deichman is building. The style, design and craftsmanship of his homes are undeniable. Knock on a wall and you can hear the difference. Mark builds them well. And moving into a new home is always exciting – like my sister said, “It’s much easier to clean a new home than it is to clean an old one.” Add on the appeal of no shoveling, no mowing, no landscaping and townhome living may be just what you are looking for! There is a market need in Mankato, as they are perfect for empty nesters who are ready to downsize and for young professionals just moving to the area as well. If you or someone you love needs to downsize even further, consider the state-of-the-art new “green house” built and managed by Water’s Edge. When you walk in their door, you will see residents cooking in a wide-open kitchen with staff, who serve as caretakers, social directors and friends to the residents. At the end of May, we moved my parents into an assisted living facility. The difference in my mother is remarkable...she looks rested and happy. She no longer worries about what to make for meals, cleaning the house, medications or grocery shopping. My father was a little cool to the idea but after a few months of getting used to “how it all works,” he has adjusted well. They were smart and followed the doctor’s recommendation to go into assisted living – and it’s a blessing they can experience this together. Plus, they found a new love for bingo! Be sure to check out the calendar of events and the travel ideas in our “National Parks from A to Z” feature...there are plenty of ideas in there that I’m adding to my “bucket list.” Enjoy the fall colors and enjoy this issue of Mature! Kelly Hulke, Publisher
Mature Lifestyle is a Quarterly Publication of the Home Magazine, Mankato, MN. A Property of Community First Holdings, Inc.
Publisher Kelly Hulke Sales Manager Mary DeGrood Sales Executives Yvonne Sonnek Debby Carlson Deena Briggs Dorothy Meyer Editorial/Photography Sara Gilbert Frederick Joe Tougas Amanda Dyslin Gregg Andersen Graphic Designer Deb Granger Production Heather Zilka Business Manager Ron Bresnahan Advertising Information: Home Magazine 1400 Madison Ave., Suite 610 Mankato, MN 56001 (507) 387-7953 fax 387-4775 homemag@homemagonline.com
On the cover: YMCA swim class with Julie Karp
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Mature Lifestyles  Fall 2014 5 
JULIE KARP YMCA
6 Fall 2014 Mature Lifestyles
by Amanda Dyslin
Jumping In
T
he number one reason people don’t try water aerobics classes at the Mankato Family YMCA? The fear of having to show a little too much skin to their classmates. “It’s having to wear a swimsuit,” says Julie Karp, water aerobics instructor. “But all these women and men, we love the water enough that it just doesn’t matter.” Karp says people of all shapes and sizes take water classes, and nobody’s judging anybody. She would know, too; she has 20 years of experience with the classes at the Y. Karp has lived in Mankato for 33 years, and she’s been an active member of the Y for just as long. She’s taken pretty much every class that the facility has to offer, including one her favorites, the step classes. About 20 years ago she decided to give the water aerobics classes a try, and she got hooked. She’s loved learning how to maximize her workout in the pool from longtime instructors such as Lynette Freyberg. “She’s been my mentor,” Karp says. “Everything I do, I learned from her.” For the past two decades, Karp has been a participant in the water aerobics classes. But in March, the Y needed another instructor – and Karp seized the opportunity. “I knew the people. I knew what they wanted and needed, so I was very comfortable,” Karp says.
Easy on the Body Changing roles from student to teacher has been a smooth transition, she said. She began swimming laps in her early 20s and is now very comfortable in the pool. And because she learned so many activities that get a person’s heart rate up as a student, she had many tools to use when she started planning her own classes.
Classes include everything a person would experience in a “land” aerobics class, including a warm-up period, aerobic exercises, muscle toning, stretching and cool down. Karp uses various aerobic moves, from jumping jacks to jump rope movements to hopscotch. Equipment – such as buoyant foam noodles, flippers and even steps that can be used in the pool – keeps the workouts interesting. “I’m always trying to incorporate new steps and new exercises to mix it up in every class,” she says. The water adds natural resistance to movements, while also lessening the impact on joints. That’s part of why water aerobics is a popular activity for seniors. “It’s easy on your body,” Karp says. “What you can do in the water you can’t necessarily do on land. It’s just a freer movement.” At the same time, a water aerobics class can be an incredible workout depending on what you put into it, she said. It’s easy to get your heart rate up and keep it up if you’re pushing yourself. Being in a large group of people motivates participants to work hard, Karp said. That’s part of why she’s continued to take group classes for so many years. “They’re great support groups, and they become your friends,” she says. Karp teaches at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as well as a temporary Thursday evening class. She averages about 22 people of varying ages in each class, but she’s had more than 35 participants at once. “We have four 90-year-olds in our class, and they have been doing it a long time. They come every day,” Karp says.
Clean and Refreshed Other benefits: there’s always a lifeguard on duty; the level of rigor corresponds to
each person’s level of ability; and “you always leave clean and refreshed.” So Karp sincerely hopes that something as silly as a swimsuit won’t keep people away. “Don’t be intimidated by a swimsuit. We’re all in the same… I don’t want to say boat, but we’re all in the same pool,” she says. “Whatever the reasons you haven’t tried it, give it a try now. You would be surprised what a good workout it is.”
Water Aerobic classes are free for Y members. Non-members can purchase a punch card for 20 classes for $80. Punch Cards are good for three months from date of purchase. Visit http://mankatoymca. org for information on classes. Mature Lifestyles Fall 2014 7
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
More than
by Amanda Dyslin
W
hen the doors of the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota finally open in a few months, it’s hard to say what might draw the youngsters’ attention first. The museum’s open design features most of the exhibit, learning and play areas on the main floor, which means that there will be multiple sights and sounds to absorb almost immediately. But if one feature were to stand out in the midst of such wonderment, it would likely be the Mankato Clinic Tree of Forts Climber – a giant tree structure with a 28-foot steel spiral staircase at its core, encircling a massive trunk. “It’s a one of a kind creation,” says Peter Olson, executive director of the museum. Even now, in the construction phase of the museum, the Swiss Family Robinsonesque structure is so tall that a section of the ceiling had to be removed and a dome built overtop. When completed, children will be able to scale the tree, climb on rope ladders and cargo nets, shoot through
8 Fall 2014 Mature Lifestyles
tunnels and down slides, and navigate around six hanging forts. “We knew we wanted some exhibit where children could just burn off steam,” Olson says. With the opening date set for some time in early 2015, Olson continues to raise fund for the building, located in the old city bus garage on Sibley Parkway. About $4 million of the needed $5 million has been raised so far.
For all ages The Children’s Museum has existed in the community in various forms for years, including several temporary spaces that included the Madison East Mall and a building at Cherry and South Second streets in Mankato. Laura Stevens, development director, said it was fun to see people of all ages bringing children to interact with the exhibits. “We have a lot of grandparents who bring their grandchildren,” Stevens says.
“A ton of grandparents call now to see if we’re open.” The museum closed its temporary location a few months ago to put all of its efforts into completing the permanent space, which Stevens and Olson said will be even more of a draw to family members of all ages. While the 17,000-square-foot museum’s primary target will be for birth to age 10, the space is so large with so many possibilities that there will be activities offered for adolescents through adults, Olson said. “We’re having real artwork displayed,” Olson offers as an example. “There will be more content about the culture and heritage of southern Minnesota that people of all ages will enjoy.” A community room also will be available for birthday parties, meetings and events. About 12,000 square feet will be dedicated to exhibits inside the structure, as well as 12,000 square feet of outdoor learning environments. Agriculture will be
Photos: Children’s Museum
a Museum featured in the Grow It Gallery, which is an indoor exhibit dedicated to connecting children to where their food comes from. Outside there will be a farmyard with vegetables and crops that visitors will help to grow. There will also be regular programming in the Ridley Live Animal Area featuring such animals as rabbits, piglets and perhaps even a cow or two that visit from an area farm. While most animals will be coming to visit, there will be chickens that call the museum home. “There will be animals you would really have on a farm in southern Minnesota,” Olson says. Most of the indoor features will be on the main level. But a mezzanine is being built for the Whiz Bang area, which will focus on STEaM (science, technology, engineering, the arts and math) activities. The upstairs loft will be used for such activities, and the main floor will feature the STEaM garage.
The Infant-Toddler Play Porch will focus on the 36-month and younger age group, with activities for emergent walking skills and “close time” for loved ones and children to spend time together. The Capstone Story Porch will be modeled after the porches of the Betsy-Tacy houses in Mankato. “We really want it to tie into our southern Minnesota area,” Stevens said. Another popular exhibit will be the Kasota Stone quarry area, which will include large chunks of Kasota stone, an enormous saw blade on the wall, a conveyor belt, and an interactive crane that will allow kids to move foam blocks around, just like in a quarry.
Deadline looms With so few months left before the museum’s opening date, Olson and Stevens said fundraising is a top priority. Every dollar being raised is going to specific exhibits that need to be funded.
(continued on next page)
The space is so large with so many possibilities that there will be activities offered for adolescents through adults, including: • Open Design • Mankato Clinic Tree of Forts Climber • Original Artwork • Southern Minnesota Culture & Heritage • Community Room • Outdoor Learning Environments • Grow It Gallery • Farmyard • Ridley Live Animal Area • Whiz Bang STEaM Area • Infant-Toddler Play Porch • Kasota Stone Quarry Mature Lifestyles Fall 2014 9
Children’s Museum
Flood causes setback for museum
(continued from previous page)
“We’re pretty much at deadline,” Olson says. Every penny counts, he said. Everything from small donations to large sponsorships are needed and welcomed. Volunteers also are needed. The museum is in need of local artisans, including highly skilled carpenters, certified metal workers and even skilled seamstresses for various projects as the building comes together. Keith Stover of Mankato, retired South Central College president, is one of the museum’s “on call” volunteers who has been helping with various construction projects. He began working with the museum through the Rotary and has continued in his retirement to help any way he can. “We have twin grandsons from Springfield, Missouri, who come quite regularly,” Stover says. “So we had them at the Children’s Museum on several occasions.” Stover said he definitely will be taking his grandsons to the new space, which he said will be an incredible asset to the community. For details on the museum’s exhibits and information on how to donate or volunteer, visit http://www.cmsouthernmn.org, call 507-386-0279, or email info@cmsouthernmn.org. Family and grandparent memberships are currently for sale for $95 per year on the website and will be activated the day the museum opens.
An aerial shot of the museum shows the construction in progress. Photo: Gregg Andersen
A grandmother brought her grandchildren to the temporary Children’s Museum location, which museum staff said was quite common. The museum expects grandparents to be one of the future museum’s top demographics. Photo: Children’s Museum
The 28-foot spiral staircase that will make up part of the massive tree exhibit was so tall that it “burst through the roof,” said Laura Stevens, development director. Photo: Children’s Museum
10 Fall 2014 Mature Lifestyles
The Children’s Museum was one of the numerous victims of the June floods that caused damage across southern Minnesota, with about $92,000 in losses from all of the museum’s belongings that were being stored in a 22,000-squarefoot warehouse. The flood was due to backups in the storm-sewer system, making it unsafe to salvage items that will come in contact with so many little hands in the future. “Everything was under 6 feet of storm water,” says Peter Olson, executive director. That meant all of the exhibits that had been used at the temporary location for the museum are gone. Aside from one item, nothing could be repurposed in the new space, Olson said. Miraculously, a beautiful quilt – the Little Hands Farm Quilt, which is one of the museum’s oldest exhibits – had been stored in an air-tight container, and it was the only item to survive the flood. As a tribute to the museum’s roots and fortitude, Olson said the quilt will be displayed prominently in the new space. Everything else was destroyed, including art tables for the Whiz Bang exhibit; a giant Connect Four game; the Big Blue Imagination Blocks; furniture; a projector and screen; building materials and supplies; and all of the museum’s interactive exhibits, among other things. “Individuals and businesses have been coming forward with donations to help us replace things,” Olson says. Currently, monetary donations are most needed because there isn’t storage space for tangible items until the new museum opens.
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Priva t e Ca re Suit e Com p a nion Ca re Suit e Mature Lifestyles Fall 2014 11
ART WALK
City of Sculptures F or the past four years, CityArt
4. Sentinel
Debra Zelenak $5,000 Sponsor: Tailwind Group
tures in both Mankato and North
15. The Rhino
6. Picking Tulips
16. Indomitable Spirit
7. Mr. Eggwards
17. Mother’s Cherished Moment
Gregory Johnson $9,500 Sponsor: I+S Group
Cynthia Markle $8,000 Sponsor: Wells Fargo
Kimber Fiebiger $18,000 Sponsors: Red Door Creative & MinnStar Bank
Mankato. The 32 sculptures on display this year come to Mankato from all over the country, and abroad. A new round of sculptures will be in place next spring, so be sure to take a tour before it’s too late, or too cold! For more information about the sculptures, the tour or the program in general, visit cityartmankato.com.
Reven Marie Swanson $9,000 Sponsors: Minnesota Valley Federal Credit Union & Neubau Holdings, Inc.
5. Radiance
Mankato has hosted a city-
wide outdoor exhibit of sculp-
14. Matriarchal Mooncreature
8. Rising Up
Matt Miller $6,500 Sponsor: Mayo Clinic Health System
9. Gang Activities
Judd Nelson $7,500 Sponsor: Atwood Property Management & Voyageur Web
10. Granny’s Garden
Lee Leuning & Sherri Treeby $48,000 Sponsor: Downs Food Group
Dale Lewis $3,000 Sponsor: Schwickert’s
Jerry McKellar $50,000 Sponsors: James R. Weir Insurance Agency & Southern Minnesota Orthodontics P.A.
Ben Hammond $25,000 Sponsors: Mankato Clinic & Orthopaedic & Fracture Clinic, P.A.
18. Cabinetree
Lee W. Badger $7,600 Sponsor: Brennan Companies
19. Rough Rider
Al Kuhl $10,000 Sponsor: Gislason & Hunter, LLP
20. Green Sea Turtles Eric Thorsen $11,000 Sponsors: Stinson Leonard Street & United Prairie Bank
1. Conversation of the Long Married
11. Best Friend
21. Solar Harmony
2. Fat Tire #5
12. Yosemite
22. Jumping Through Hoops
Steven W. Maeck $15,000 Sponsors: Coldwell Banker Commercial Fisher Group & Hilton Garden Inn
Lance Carleton $12,000 Sponsor: Short Elliot Hendrickson, Inc.
3. G-0048
Greg Mueller $8,000 Sponsor: Minnesota State University, Mankato College of Arts and Humanities
12 Fall 2014 Mature Lifestyles
Richards Poey $12,000 Sponsors: Kato Insurance Agency & Enventis
Tim James $1,600 Sponsors: Abdo, Eick & Meyers, LLP & Profinium Bank
13. Tango
David Skora $7,000 Sponsors: CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP & Voyager Bank
Chris Kilbane $5,000 Sponsor: Snell Motors
Jacque Frazee $5,800 Sponsor: Bolton & Menk, Inc.
23. Crescendo
Sam Spiczka $11,000 Sponsor: Chankaska Creek Ranch and Winery
24. Embrace
Serge Mozhnevsky $10,000 Sponsor: Bremer Bank
25. Polar Bear and Cubs Dollores B. Shelledy $76,800 Sponsor: US Bank
26. Sonrise Bill Noland $14,000 Sponsor: Stifel
27. Congregation David Hyduke $7,500 Sponsor: Carlson Craft
28. Ghost Cat
Fred Dobbs $15,000 Sponsors: Frandsen Bank & Trust & Lindsay Windows
29. Holy Rabble
Mary Johnson $2,500 Sponsors: North Mankato Port Authority & Valley News Company
30. Rock Ants Roll Al Belleveau $3,500 Sponsors: Angie’s Kettle Corn & Business on Belgrade
31. Cupid & Psyche
Cody Joseph Swanson $14,500 Sponsor: Mankato Independent Originals
32. Hawk
David Richmond $2,000 Sponsor: The Marigold
Sponsorship Levels:
Bold names denote Platinum Level $2,000 Sponsors. Unbold names denote Bronze Level $1,000 Sponsors.
Mature Lifestyles Fall 2014 13
MARK DEICHMAN
Where the Living is Easy by Sara Frederick
A
few years ago, when Mark Deichman and his family were between houses, they lived in a townhome. Those few years gave Deichman, a Mankato-based custom home builder, a better understanding of why townhomes are so appealing to some people. “We would come home from our cabin and have nothing to do,” he remembers. “Our lawn was always mowed, our driveway was always shoveled and the landscape was always maintained. All I had to do was go outside and play catch with the kids.” Deichman, who has owned and operated Deichman Construction since 1990, admits that he enjoys taking care of his own lawn. He doesn’t mind shoveling, and he likes to look after the landscaping – which is why he now lives in a single-family home. But he understands why townhomes have become increasingly in demand in Mankato. “It’s easy living,” he says. Deichman has been offering townhome solutions to clients for the past several years. But they aren’t the run-of-the-mill, production-oriented townhomes that are built as economically as possible. Instead, Deichman and other area custom home builders put the same unique stamp on townhomes as they do on single-family homes. “We’ve brought our custom building philosophy to the townhome market,” he says. “We can address the need for easy living but also appeal to a buyer who appreciates a custom home.” Aside from the walls shared with other homes and the pre-designed exterior, everything is customizable. There are no canned floorplan options and no limit on the choices for colors, trims or other elements. 14 Fall 2014 Mature Lifestyles
“We can position the walls any way you want them,” Deichman says. “You can have a dining room and three bedrooms on the main floor. You can have a home theatre in the basement. You can have whatever you want, as long as you are willing to work within the confinements of the exterior.” There tend to be two types of buyers for such homes: empty nesters who are ready to downsize, and young professionals moving to the area for jobs who want to take their time deciding what and where to buy. “The empty nesters want a home that they can call home, but they also want to be able to leave for a month or two without worry,” Deichman explains. “They are often moving out of a nice home in which they had raised their family, and now they are looking to enjoy the easy life of association living.” Although those clients tend to buy their property, the second group is looking to
rent for a year or two before they buy. That’s a different clientele for most custom builders, but Deichman sees it as a market need – one he had been hearing about for several years. “For 10 years, I’ve heard clients saying they wish there was something they could rent in the area,” he says. “I listened to what they were telling us, and decided to go in this direction.” Deichman sees the rental option as particularly attractive to young professionals moving to the area. “When someone accepts a job and moves here, they find that there is really very limited rental opportunity,” he says. “We wanted to be able to provide a product that would fit within that market, a product that would allow people to come to Mankato and try it out before buying or building a home in our community.” Whether they are renting or buying, most people want the same amenities in their
An exterior shot of one of the custom townhomes built by Deichman Construction.
homes. Most of those, Deichman adds, are the same that customers of custom homes want as well: basic levels of automation, energy efficiency and whole-house audio. He does build all of his two-story townhomes with an elevator option, which appeals to buyers who had been leaning toward the patio-home format, which is all on one level. “We’ve built these beautiful two-story homes with two-story window walls that overlook the golf course,” he says. “If you don’t want to deal with steps but you love the home, then the elevator option works for them.” Customized, high-end townhomes may be a relatively new development in Mankato, but the concept has been around for quite a long time. “It’s nothing new,” Deichman says. “In the Twin Cities, they’ve been doing it for 20 years. It’s fairly new here, but I am starting to see more plans coming forward that are focused on higher-end townhome living.” Deichman plans to continue meeting the needs of his clients with townhomes the same way he meets the needs of those looking for single-family homes. “It’s about a custom-built home experience,” he says. “The difference is that it’s association maintained, and it’s designed for easy living. But it’s the same custom-home experience.” The interior spaces are all built to fit the client’s wishes, from spacious basement rec rooms with pool tables to open living areas and walls of windows.
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Key City Senior Breakfast Club Have you been to a Key City Breakfast yet? Come and join us... your first time is FREE! The club meets on the first Thursday of each month from 8:30 am – 9:30 am at Primrose Retirement Community. The club gives those 55+ the opportunity to meet new friends and visit old ones, socialize with Key City Officials, and enjoy a delicious home-cooked breakfast! To visit a Key City Senior Breakfast, please call (507) 388-9292.
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HEADLINE YOUR HEALTH HERE
6.49
Mayo Clinic Health System infectious disease specialist says use caution with standing flood water
T
he recent weather has produced intense rainfalls in our region. Subsequently, these rainfalls have resulted in many areas and basements playing host to standing flood water. Though most flood water eventually evaporates or is removed, these water accumulations can pose significant health risks. Jessica Sheehy “Standing flood water can be a breeding ground for mosquitos, which carry diseases such as West Nile Virus and encephalitis,” says Jessica Sheehy, infectious diseases physician assistant at Mayo Clinic Health System. “Flood water and standing pools may contain chemicals and sewage as well.” Sheehy recommends avoiding standing flood water whenever possible. She offers this advice:
• Don’t allow children to play in flood waters • Wash your hands if you’ve come into contact with
flood water or objects that have touched flood water
• Disinfect items that have touched flood water • Never expose an open wound to flood water – be sure to use a waterproof bandage at all times
• Don’t eat foods that may have come into contact with flood water, even if they are packaged
To learn more about protecting yourself against the dangers of flood water, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, cdc.gov.
Mature Lifestyles Fall 2014 17
TRAVEL
National Parks from A to Z
T
species, including the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee.
here’s a reason why each of the 59 National Parks was
F is for Florida, where you will also find
designated to be protected
Biscayne National Park on Biscayne Bay, and Dry Tortugas, an island environment at the westernmost end of the Florida Keys.
by the federal government. Some were recognized for their geological wonders, others for their tall
G is for Grand Canyon National Park in
trees or towering mountains. None,
Arizona, which was carved over millions of years by the Colorado River.
however, were designated for their alphabetical significance. But it turns out that 22 of 26 letters are represented in the National Park system, which inspired us to take an alphabetical tour of the parks. In
Acadia National Park (photo: Sixlocal. License: CC BY-SA 3.0)
most cases, we picked one park for
D is for Death Valley in California and
each letter; for the four letters not
Nevada – the hottest, driest place in the United States.
included, we took a creative approach to adding them in. And for some letters, we couldn’t help grouping a
E is for Everglades National Park in Florida, which is home to 36 protected
few parks together. Grand Canyon National Park (photo: John Kees, License: CC BY-SA 3.0)
A is for Acadia National Park in Maine,
H is for Hawaii, where you’ll find both Haleakala National Park and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
which is known for its beautiful Atlantic Ocean shoreline and coastal islands.
B is for Big Bend National Park in Texas;
I is for Isle Royale National Park in Michi-
it was named for the big bend in the Rio Grande along the U.S.-Mexico border.
C is for Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio, which
gan, a quiet wilderness on the largest island in Lake Superior.
is home to several historic homes, bridges and other buildings. It also has a trail that follows the Ohio and Erie Canal.
fornia, a beautiful desert that was named for the Joshua trees that flourish there.
J is for Joshua Tree National Park in CaliEverglades National Park (photo: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
18 Fall 2014 Mature Lifestyles
K is for three national parks in Alaska: Kobuk Valley, Kenai Fjords and Katmai. Kobuk is known for its sand dune, Kenai Fjords for its glaciers and Katmai for the bear that capture spawning salmon there.
L is for Lake Clark National Park, also in
225-million-year-old petrified wood, and many other fossils as well.
Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef and Zion.
Q is for the Quinault Rainforest, which
V is for Voyageurs, right here in Min-
is actually part of Olympic National Park. Much of the forest receives an average of 12 feet of rain each year.
nesota, which includes four lakes on or near the Canadian border and is a beautiful place to canoe, kayak and camp.
Alaska, has four active volcanoes.
W is for Wind Cave in South Dakota, an
M is for Mammoth Cave in Kentucky,
amazing system of caves that was named for the sound that prompted its discovery.
which includes more than 400 miles of explored passages. It is the world’s longest cave system.
X marks the spot of the next National Park. The newest park in the system is Pinnacles National Park, which was upgraded from a National Monument to a National Park in 2013.
Rocky Mountain National Park
R is for Rocky Mountain National Mammoth Cave National Park (photo: Beatrice Murch, License: CC BY-SA 3.0)
N is for North Cascades National Park in Washington, where mountain climbers climb the glaciated peaks.
O is for Olympic National Park in Washington, home to the towering Mount Olympus.
Park in Colorado, which includes just a small portion of the beautiful Rocky Mountain range.
S is for Saguaro National Park in Arizona, where the main attraction is cacti – including the namesake Giant Saguaro. T is for Theodore Roosevelt in North Dakota is home to President Roosevelt’s cabin, as well as bison, bighorn sheep and other wildlife. U is for Utah, which is home to five national parks (third most in the country, after California and Alaska): Arches,
Yosemite National Park Photo: chensiyuan. License: CC-BY-SA 3.0
Y is for Yosemite National Park in California – home to the tallest waterfall on the continent, and some of the tallest trees, too.
Z is for Zion National Park in Utah, where you’ll see sandstone canyons, beautiful mesas and rock towers.
Olympic National Park (photo: stg_gr1, License: CC BY-SA 3.0)
P is for Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona, where you can see
Bryce Canyon National Park (Photo: Jean-Christophe Benoist, License: CC BY-SA 3.0)
Mature Lifestyles Fall 2014 19
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WELCOME HOME ELDERS! Water’s Edge offers innovative elder care with the comfort and stability of a real home. Our professional staff provides secure 24-hour care and a high staff-toelder ratio, limiting each home to 12 elders. Individual suites offer privacy and dignity. We’re filling up fast! Contact us today to reserve your suite. WatersEdgeMN.net 507-388-5582 800 Agency Trail, Mankato 20 Fall 2014 Mature Lifestyles
WATER’S EDGE
A New Kind of Assisted Living
by Joe Tougas
W
ater’s Edge might make you furniture the resident wants brought in from all the way. You move to Water’s Edge, it’s forget everything you wanted home. Two rooms on each floor are equipped rare you’re going to have to move again.” to forget about traditional with hoist tracts on the ceiling that lead from Costs are similar to regular nursing nursing homes. the bed area to the bathroom, allowing those homes, as are payment options. The average From private suites to soft lighting to an residents who need mechanical transferring a cost of a traditional nursing home stay in expansive all-hours kitchen and dining area, little more discretion than usual. outstate Minnesota, according to the DepartWater’s Edge feels more like an East coast Outside the rooms is an open hearth area, ment of Human Services, is $206 a day for a bed-and-breakfast than a traditional nursing a big kitchen with a long stretch of stone private room. The rate at Water’s Edge for a home. Yet this recently opened facility on countertop, cherry wood dining tables and private suite is $209 per day. Each level has Agency Trail in Mankato – the first of its chairs, a spa and a smaller den for visiting in one two-person suite designed for married kind in Minnesota – provides traditional small groups. couples, siblings or friends (vs. a randomly nursing home services, all the way to the And while nurses are on duty 24 hours assigned roommate) for $209 a person. end, in a decidedly different fashion. a day for medication and other needs, the There’s a one-time $1,000 move-in fee. What’s going on here represents a shift in medical component of the operation doesn’t Sue Zenk, 62, moved to Water’s Edge philosophy. Opened in August, Water’s Edge dominate the feeling of the place. Each suite from an area traditional nursing home where is modeled both structurally and operationhas its own locked medicine cabinet, which she had lived since February due to fibromyally on the Green House system, which was nurses access to administer medication. algia and Parkinson’s. established 10 years ago as a “culture shift” “We’re not pushing med carts around,” “I love it,” she said on her third day as a in caring for those who would otherwise be Olson says. “It’s really a home feel versus resident. “I socialize more than I used to. I in a traditional nursing home. The Green that institutional feel.” used to just sit in my room…I like that I can House system is about modifying services to Water’s Edge is licensed as an assisted have anything I want to eat. I can eat anytime suit each individual in the house. living facility only because the State of I want. I can get up whenever I want and “We’re really providing for them the way Minnesota has a moratorium on new nursing everybody’s so friendly and nice.” the elder wants it to be,” says Brooke Olson, home construction as a way to curb state Lifelong Mankato resident Margaret director of operations for Water’s Edge. Core health care spending. Dahms, 89, moved in after living in the to the Green House idea is that the elder “People see ‘assisted living,’ and think senior apartments at Gus Johnson Plaza needn’t change their preferences around to oh, gosh, mom and dad are beyond that, they in Mankato. suit an institution’s schedule. wouldn’t be able to live there,” Olson says. “I tell you, I’m not a good night sleeper. “If you sleep in till 11 a.m. every day, “But actually we can provide end-of-life care, But I can go to bed at 6 o’clock at night and get up and have coffee, read the go right to sleep. I’ll sleep till paper, eat lunch around 2 or 3 and 2 or 3. The rest of the night I’m eat evening meals at 7, that same open.” While staff is on hand to schedule is what is carried into a cook, she’s fine waiting until a few Green House,” Olson says. Staff who others get up and she joins them are trained in the Green House way for breakfast around 7 a.m. of doing things serve as caretakThe kitchen, Olsen notes, is ers, social directors and friends to open 24/7. If somebody such as the elders. They do the cooking in a Dahms wakes up and wants some wide-open kitchen area that fosters toast and coffee, staff is on hand conversation and participation. They to make what they’d like. eat with the elders at the large dining “And when we’re cooking room table. and baking, just like at home Eleven private suites are along the smells are radiating throughout perimeters of each floor. These suites the house,” Olson says. “It’s have walk-in showers with heated The resident rooms at Water’s Edge feel more like home and really enriching.” floors and are ready for whatever allow residents to bring whatever furniture they want. Mature Lifestyles Fall 2014 21
HEADLINE WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE Works by Hope Thier Through 9/17; noon-4 p.m. daily 523 S. 2nd St., Mankato (507) 387-1008 Prairie lakes Regional Arts Council Regional Artist’s Show Through 9/21; 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. daily Art Center of Saint Peter (507) 351-6521 South Main Street Market Fest 9/11; 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. South Main Street, Le Sueur (651) 329-0482 ArtTalks! 9/11; 5:30 p.m. Emy Frentz Arts Guild 523 S. 2nd St.. Mankato (507) 387-1008 Winedown for the Weekend at Morgan Creek 9/12; 6:30 p.m. Morgan Creek Vineyards & Winery (507) 947-3547 Mankato Walk to End Alzheimers 9/13; 9 a.m. Sibley Park Pavilion, Mankato (507) 289-3950 Young Historians 9/13; 10 a.m. Blue Earth County Historical Society, Mankato (507) 345-5566 River Hills Women’s Weekend Show 9/13-14; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. River Hills Mall (507) 387-7469 Haydn Go Seek – The Lark By Mankato Symphony Orchestra 9/13; 11 a.m. Mankato YMCA (507) 625-8880
22 Fall 2014 Mature Lifestyles
Where To Go & What To Do This Fall! Down in the Valley Brewfest 9/13; 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Riverfront Park (507) 389-3000 Black & White Gala 9/13; 6 p.m. Centennial Student Union Minnesota State Mankato campus (507) 387-1008 German Heritage Program 9/14; 1 p.m. New Ulm Public Library (507) 359-8332 Kids @ the Co-op 9/16; 5 p.m.-7 p.m. St. Peter Food Co-op bechaack@gmail.com “A Piece of My Heart” 9/17-20; 7:30 p.m. Andreas Theatre, Earley Center for Performing Arts at Minnesota State Mankato 507-389-6661 South Main Street Market Fest 9/18; 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. South Main Street, Le Sueur (651) 329-0482 Comedy Sportz Twin Cities 9/18-19; 7 p.m. & 9 p.m. Mankato Event Center (507) 514-0629 Winedown for the Weekend at Morgan Creek 9/19; 6:30 p.m. Morgan Creek Vineyards & Winery (507) 947-3547 Henderson Heritage Days 9/20; 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. Henderson (952) 200-5684
fall
38th Annual Car Show & Swap Meet 9/21; 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Nicollet County Fairgrounds, St. Peter (612) 269-2521 South Main Street Market Fest 9/25; 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. South Main Street, Le Sueur (651) 329-0482 Winedown for the Weekend at Morgan Creek 9/26; 6:30 p.m. Morgan Creek Vineyards & Winery (507) 947-3547 Great ArfWalk Festival 9/27; 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Land of Memories Park (507) 625-6373 Minneopa Prairie Restoration 9/27; 12 p.m. Minneopa State Park (507) 387-8281 Oktoberfest Bier on Belgrade 9/27; 2 p.m.-8 p.m. 200 Block of Belgrade Ave. North Mankato spinnersbar@gmail.com Boy in Blue Civil War Cemetery Walk/Benefit Dinner 9/27; 3 p.m. Glenwood Cemetery & American Legion Club Post 11 (507) 625-8056 Zonta Club of Mankato Fashion Show 9/30; 5 p.m. Verizon Wireless Civic Center k.rosenberg2003@gmail.com Stargazing and Astronomy 10/1; 7 p.m. North Mankato Taylor Library (507) 625-6169 South Main Street Market Fest 10/2; 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. South Main Street, Le Sueur (651) 329-0482
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast 10-2-4; 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 4-5, 2 p.m. Ted Paul Theatre, Earley Center for Performing Arts at Minnesota State Mankato (507) 389-6661 Range Street Fall Kickoff 10/3; 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Between Spinners Bar and NaKato Bar & Grill, North Mankato (507) 625-9751 Winedown for the Weekend at Morgan Creek 10/3; 6:30 p.m. Morgan Creek Vineyards & Winery (507) 947-3547 Cambria Crush: The Annual Great Grape Stomp! 10/4; 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Morgan Creek Vineyards (507) 947-3547 Mankato River Ramble 10/5; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Land of Memories Park (507) 720-2039 Copland and Beethoven – Masterworks New and Old 10/5; 3 p.m. Mankato West High School (507) 625-8880 2014 Nobel Conference Concert 10/7; 8 p.m. Christ Chapel, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter marketing@gustavus.edu Global Connections Conference 10/9; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. South Central College North Mankato (507) 389-7407 ArtTalks! 10/9, 5:30 p.m. Emy Frentz Arts Guild 523 S. 2nd St., Mankato (507) 387-1008
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast 10-9-11; 7:30 p.m.; Oct. 11-12, 2 p.m. Ted Paul Theatre, Earley Center for Performing Arts at Minnesota State Mankato (507) 389-6661 Winedown for the Weekend at Morgan Creek 10/10; 6:30 p.m. Morgan Creek Vineyards & Winery (507) 947-3547 Maker Fair Fall Festival 2014 10/11; 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Blue Earth County Fairgrounds Garden City contact@makerfair.org “To Kill a Mockingbird” 10/16-18; 7:30 p.m.; 10/19, 2 p.m. Andreas Theatre, Earley Center for the Performing Arts, Minnesota State Mankato (507) 389-6661 Winedown for the Weekend at Morgan Creek 10/17; 6:30 p.m. Morgan Creek Vineyards & Winery (507) 947-3547 Mankato Marathon Sport & Health Expo 10/18; 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. Myers Field House, Minnesota State Mankato (507) 385-6660 Mankato Marathon Toddler Trot/ Diaper Dash 10/18; 1 p.m. Myers Field House, Minnesota State Mankato (507) 385-6660 Mankato Marathon KidsK 10/18; 2:30 p.m. Minnesota State Mankato (507) 385-6660 Mankato Marathon 5K 10/18; 4 p.m. Minnesota State Mankato (507) 385-6660
Mankato Marathon Races (Full, Half, 10K) 10/19; 7:30 (10K) and 8 a.m. Minnesota State Mankato (507) 385-6660 “To Kill a Mockingbird” 10/23-25; 7:30 p.m.; 10/25-26, 2 p.m. Andreas Theatre, Earley Center for the Performing Arts, Minnesota State Mankato (507) 389-6661 “The War of the Worlds – A Live Radio Play” 10/24-25; 7:30 p.m.; 10/26; 2 p.m. Lincoln Community Center, Mankato noelle_lawton@hotmail.com Winedown for the Weekend at Morgan Creek 10/24; 6:30 p.m. Morgan Creek Vineyards & Winery (507) 947-3547 Winedown for the Weekend at Morgan Creek 10/31; 6:30 p.m. Morgan Creek Vineyards & Winery (507) 947-3547 “The War of the Worlds – A Live Radio Play” 10/31-11/1; 7:30 p.m.; 11/2; 2 p.m. Lincoln Community Center, Mankato noelle_lawton@hotmail.com 2014 Gustavus Honor Band Festival 11/2-3 Christ Chapel Gustavus Adolphus College marketing@gustavus.edu “Our Town” 11/6-8, 13-15; 7:30 p.m.; 11/15-16, 2 p.m. Ted Paul Theatre, Earley Center for Performing Arts, Minnesota State Mankato (507) 389-6661 ArtTalks! 11/13; 5:30 p.m. Emy Frentz Arts Guild 523 S. 2nd St., Mankato (507) 387-1008
Find more events, and more information, at greatermankatoevents.com. Mature Lifestyles Fall 2014 23
HI, I’M JOE TAYLOR. Overton, Texas. What keeps me coming back to the Trail? It’s just absolutely sensational. I have people tell me what they’ve spent playing one round at Pebble Beach and a night at the hotel, or going to Pinehurst for a couple rounds. We do the entire week, travel, hotel, green fees, good meals and everything for the price of one day at these places. And it’s absolutely a sensational place to come. TO PLAN YOUR VISIT to Alabama’s Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, visit rtjresorts.com or call 1.800.949.4444 today. facebook.com/rtjgolf twitter.com/rtjgolf