Inspire(d) Fall 2011

An experiment in positive news from the Driftless Region.

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No. 27

Fall 2011

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magazine

Like Inspire(d) Media on Facebook! XOXO

Life After the System Put on Your Arty Pants Food & Fitness in Schools!

Iowa City Boxed (IN) Let’s Goooo Tailgating!

Carbon Neutral Inspire(d) + DigIN!

ity, C a w o to I heatre p i r t Win aEnglert T WN and EG BROWow! GR tickets!!!

2011–12

Center Stage Series Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa

A Celebratory Sesquicentennial Series— you’ll want to be part of every show!

The Passing Zone presents GRAVITY ATTACKS! Saturday, September 17, 7:30 p.m.

Sponsored in part by Gundersen Lutheran—Decorah Clinic

Garrison Keillor The Aura of Flora in Decorah

Tuesday, September 27, 7:30 p.m.

Sponsored in part by Decorah Bank and Trust Company

The Rose Ensemble Il Poverello: Exploring the Life and Deeds of St. Francis of Assisi Thursday, October 6, 7:30 p.m.

Paul Taylor Dance Company

Thursday, November 3, 7:30 p.m.

Sponsored in part by the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation This presentation is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from Iowa Arts Council, General Mills Foundation, and Land O’Lakes Foundation.

Caroline Worra ’91, operatic soprano Thursday, November 17, 7:30 p.m.

Center Stage Series tickets: http://centerstage.luther.edu, 563-387-1357, boxoffice@luther.edu.

Special thanks to event sponsors, as well as media supporters KVIK, KDEC, and Inspire(d) Media, for lifting up the arts.

FALL 2011 contents

FOOD AND FITNESS IN SCHOOLS

12 14

WHY DO THE LEAVES TURN COLORS IN THE FALL?

20

BOXED (IN): IOWA CITY

22 31

AN INTERVIEW WITH COLBIE CAILLAT

DANCER/LUTHER ALUM ROBERT KLEINENDORST Q&A CARBON NEUTRAL INSPIRE(D) DECORAH ARTIST RACHELLE REIS BRANUM FOSTERING A POSITIVE FUTURE CHEF ON THE BLOCK: VICTORIES’ MATT HENNING A LETTER FROM SANTA MISSISSIPPI MIRTH: TAILGATING PROBITUARY: THE MOORES ON THE COVER: Aryn always gets a little weak in the knees when the school supplies hit the shelves. So of course, she was super excited when she planned and shot this cover. Plus – you see what it says in that “ripped” corner? That’s right: we’re giving away Greg Brown tickets. See how to enter on page 24!

34 40 52 58 61 62 66

...and more!

theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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From the Editor

A

s I’m writing, the President is just leaving our lovely little town. And in October, the King and Queen of Norway will make their way here. What IS it about this place?!? I am truly in awe, and am feeling particularly inspire(d) this morning. Sure, I’ve had to postpone the printing of this magazine TWICE. First because, well, it’s hard work to make a magazine. But the second time was because of Decorah’s amazing opportunity to host the president of our great county. For some reason, it all reminded me of my days as a Postville High School cheerleader. I remembered feeling proud of my home – even if we had to do our school plays in a gymnasium and that there were so few people in band I left the sidelines at halftime to march and play trumpet… still in my cheerleading uniform. It’s patriotism, and I want to remind people it is not a bad word. It’s not that different from school pride. It’s fun to believe in what you’re part of – and to actually be a part of it, finding solutions for a country you love. There’s no point in focusing on the past or looking to the future with anything but positivity. Together... voting, talking, volunteering... we will move forward. I am certain we are – all of us – unstoppable.

It’s exciting. When we started Inspire(d) – four years ago this October (!) – I had this same feeling: that people would come together and our region would be unstoppable. Benji and I are so grateful that you, dear readers, have given us this opportunity to realize our dreams. We hope to keep growing and going – and while we’re on that subject: We’ve entered the Dream Big, Grow Here grant contest! Go to dreambiggrowhere.com every day from September 3 to 23 to vote for us, pretty please!

We could win $5,000 to keep building Inspire(d)!

In this Fall issue, we’ve listened to our readers – you want Q&A, we’ll give you Q&A! We’ve got interviews with Colbie Caillat, Luther alum Rob Klienendorst of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, local artist Rachelle Reis Branum, and the region’s newest restaurant’s chef, Matt Henning of Victories!

We also have some great features – Kristine Kopperud Jepsen writes an eye-opening piece about a new endeavor in town: Project Care. Brainchild of Kirsten Heine, Project Care offers assistance to foster kids in the region who are graduating and, thus, “aging out”. Inspire(d) newcomer Flannery Cerbin tells us more about the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative, and Benji and I explore how to make Inspire(d) carbon neutral!

We’ve pledged to reduce our carbon footprint over 2012, and we’ll keep you in the loop on how it goes. In the meantime, learn about how even your toilet paper choice has an impact on the environment!

Finally, Boxed (IN) goes to my alma mater: University of Iowa and Iowa City! We had so much fun researching this story, and guess what?!? We’re giving away a package that includes Englert Theatre tickets to Greg Brown, a stay at the lovely Brown Street Inn, and amazing tapas and cocktails at Inspire(d)’s favorite IC restaurant, Devotay! See page 24 for details on how to enter! And in the spirit of Iowa City, fall, and food, Jim McCaffrey entertains us with tales of tailgating!

There’s lots more. SO MUCH GOES ON in the fall! Take some time to align your calendars, and then get out there and have some fun!

Looking forward,

Aryn Henning Nichols CORRECTIONS:

Inspire magazine

Co-founders: Aryn Henning Nichols / editor & designer Benji Nichols / writer & advertising sales (& husband, support team, dinner-maker)

We couldn’t do it without: Kristine Kopperud Jepsen/ contributor Lauren Kraus/ contributor Flannery Cerbin/ contributor Jim McCaffrey/ Mississippi Mirth

Inspire(d) Magazine is published quarterly by Inspire(d) Media, LLC, 412 Oak Street, Decorah, Iowa, 52101. This issue is dated Fall 2011, issue 27, volume 4, Copyright 2011 by Inspire(d) Magazine.

support inspire(d) Although Inspire(d) is free on the newsstands, you can have it sent to your door for only $25/year. Email aryn@theinspiredmedia.com for a membership or visit theinspiremedia.com for more info.

Write inspire(d) Want to make a comment about something you read in the magazine?

Email aryn@theinspiredmedia.com.

Interested in advertising?

Contact Benji at benji@theinspiredmedia.com or call 563-387-6290.

In the Summer 2011 issue, we made a few mistakes. Please accept our apologies.

1. In the story “Leap. The Net Will Appear.”, credit for two photos inadvertently got left off. The photo of the Spencer-Berg family that spreads across pages 22 and 23 and the one of Kaj Specer-Berg in the upper right hand corner were both by Jeanine Scheffert.

Jeanine, we are so sorry for this oversight! Thank you for your talents.

2. In the Spring Grove “Tall – No…Giant Tales” Giants of the Earth story, the sentence regarding male’s y chromosomes should not have read infinity. Learn more about this and so much more at springgrovemnheritagecenter.org.

Visit our website: theinspiredmedia.com “Like” Inspire(d) Media on Facebook!

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H a rv e s t F e s t i va l

Looking for more details about events on the calendars?

This free event includes soup cook-off, tours, music, cider pressing & more

1. September 1: Vesterheim Opening Reception for the exhibition “Sigvald Asbjørnsen, Sculptor.” 5-7 p.m. Free Thursday! Exhibition on view until Sept. 3, 2012. vesterheim.org.

Saturday, October 8, 1-4pm

Seed-To-Seed Sunday, October 9, 10am-2pm Learn the A-Z of saving your own seeds in this full day workshop.

Registration required. Box lunch included with workshop fee.

Visit seedsavers.org for more information.

Seed Savers Exchange

3074 North Winn Road, Decorah, IA 563-382-5990 • seedsavers.org

Check out these fantastic fall activities! In chronological order, each event’s number coincides with the number on the calendar!

2. September 2: ArtHaus First Friday: Maritza! Join us from 8 – 10 pm at the ArtHaus Studio Courtyard for live music with Decorah’s own Balkan boogie band! $8/$6 students. arthausdecorah.org 3. September 3: Tomato Tasting at Seed Savers Exchange! This free event includes tomato seed saving workshops, salsa contest, hayrides, kids activities & music, 1-4pm. seedsavers.org 4. September 10: Winneshiek Co. United Way Book and Bake Sale 8 am – 12 pm. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Iowa Ave., Decorah - Support 17 local agencies!

Call 563-379-1129 to donate books.

e om c l We o t

25W/ $25B

5. September 16: Baker London Presents: Dewi Sant at ArtHaus!

Come and support Minnesota songwriter, Michael Morris’s latest project, Dewi Sant in the ArtHaus Studio Courtyard, 8pm/$5 arthausdecorah.org 6. September 17-18: Driftless Area Art Festival, Soldiers Grove, WI. Experience painters, potters, woodworkers, weavers, metal-smiths, musicians, vintners, and brewmasters in a beautiful scenic setting! www.driftlessareaartfestival.com 7. September 17: Luther CSS - The Passing Zone: Gravity Attacks!

Luther Alumni Jon Wee (’88) and Owen Morse celebrate 25 years of lighting things on fire and throwing them around, 7:30 pm www. luther.edu/programming/centerstage 8. ­­September 17: Kickapoo BRAVE Ride, Choose from 20-40-60100 mile ride and enjoy post ride Harvest Dinner of local food and beer! www.crawfordcountywi.com/brave.htm

207 WAShIngton STREet, DecOrah, iowa

WWw.THEclaySTudioDecOrah.com • 563.517.1022 Take a class. Schedule a party. Walk by & pop in to paint a quick pot. We can’t wait to see you!

Happify your creative side!

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

9. September 20: Lake Superior, North Country, the great freshwater expanse. Frigid. Bountiful. Lethal. Wildly beautiful. Duluth author Danielle Sosin reads from The Long-Shining Waters, Dragonfly Books, Decorah, 7:30 pm. www.dragonflybooks.com 11. September 22: Bluff Country Artist’s Gallery CHICK NIGHT in Spring Grove 5-8 p.m. Shopping - Dining – Sales! Visit local businesses & earn a free movie at the SG Cinema! www. bluffcountryartistsgallery.org 12. September 22-24: Boats and Bluegrass is a family friendly music festival held on the Mississippi River in Winona, MN. Tickets and info at www.boatsandbluegrass.com Continued on page 9.

theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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fun stuff to do

Monday

Tuesday

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Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

1 ArtHaus 2

3

Saturday

3

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Tim Conway & Friends, Gallagher Bluedorn, UNI, 7 pm

T-Bock’s Open Stage Night

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the decorah iowa green INitiative

dig IN

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9

26

27

13

23 14

24

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Bluegrass Festival, Winona

12*September 22-24: Boats &

The Sept 24: Fall 17 18 An Evening Miles Davis Fun Theme w/ Garrison Sept 30 Experience, ArtHaus Weekends Keillor, –Oct 1: UffDa Poetry Slam!

Englert, begin at Luther Elks Lodge, Fest/Festival 8 pm Pinter’s Center Decorah, 8 pm of Quilts, Gardens & Stage, Spring Grove Pumpkins 7:30 pm

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22

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Kickapoo BRAVE Ride, Gays Mills, WI

The 17

* Passing Zone, Luther Center Stage, 7:30

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Kristen Highlandville 11 Chick Night, Ford, w/ Kara School Spring Grove, 5-8 pm Kulpa & Tony Contra Dance, Memmel, DJ Smiley, Haymarket 7:30 pm ArtHaus, 8 pm

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Style On 15 5 16 *Baker the Plaza, London Peter Downtown Presents: Mulvey, The Rochester, Dewi Sant, Root Note, Happy Hour 5 ArtHaus La Crosse | Show 7:30 Courtyard 16: Joel Ward & Jake Illika of the Northwoods Band, Haymarket

Se2p2t

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Steve Danielle Earle, Sosin Englert Author Theatre, Reading, Iowa City, Dragonfly 8 pm Books, 7:30 pm

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WEEKEND FUN: 6 September 17-18: Driftless Area Art Festival, Soldiers Grove, WI Sept 16-18: Dig IN! the Decorah Iowa Green INitiative Sept 17: A Taste of Rochester, Soldiers Field Mem. Park, 11am–8pm

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6 5 Mike Sept 9-11: McAbee, Steam Frankville Engine Fire Dept, Frankville, IA Days, Mabel

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Rica 9 4 Winn.10 The Fruit 7 Vesterheim8 Obsesion Co. United Free Bats, Vetiver, Salsa Band, Way Book & Breathe Owl Thursday!

Marty’s, Bake Sale, Breathe, The DJ Smiley, Luther, Good Shepherd, Mill, Iowa City Haymarket, 7:30 pm Decorah 8–12 9 pm Sept 10: Janis Ian, Englert Theatre, Iowa City, 8pm Evergreen Sept. 9: BeauSoleil Avec Michael Grass Band, Sept 9–11: Gnome Fest Ocho Mountain Bike Doucet, CSPS, Cedar Rapids Haymrkt Event, Levis-Trow Mounds Park, Neilsville, WI

Winneshiek Farmers Market, Decorah Vesterheim Free Thursday! First Friday: Seed Wednesdays (3-6pm), Saturdays (8-11am). Opening Reception “Sigvald Maritza, 2 Saver’s Asbjørnsen, Sculptor.” ArtHaus Tomato Courtyrd, 8 pm September 3 Live Music: Tasting Heiruspecs, Marty’s Beet Root Stew, Haymarket, Decorah, 9 pm 1-4 pm Luther, 7:30 pm Joe & Vicki Price, Ed’s No Name Bar, Winona Sept 2-4: Irish Fest, Peace Plaza, Rochester Low, Masonic Temple, Winona

Sunday

September Tuesday Wednesday

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10

3

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HAPPY 4th BIRTHDAY INSPIRE(D)!

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The Damnwells, Gabe’s, Iowa City

30 T-Bock’s Open Stage Night

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24

12

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DJ Smiley, Haymarket, every other Thurs., 9 pm

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Happy31 Halloween!

Oct 30: They Might Be Elcaminos, Giants, Englert, IA City, 8 pm Decorah Elk’s

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28 Talkstory Decorah, storytelling, ArtHaus, 8 pm

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Women’s Leadership Summit, Hotel Winn, Decorah

21

My Fair 29 Lady, Gallagher Bluedorn, UNI, 2 & 7:30 pm

Driftless Art Collective Fundraiser, T-Bock’s Upstairs!

8 pm

22

The People Luther Bros. Band, Flamingo Ball, Haymarket Regents Center

Collection opening reception, 5-7 pm

10 Vesterheim Free Thurs“The Peale

Lukas 27 Nelson & Promise of the Real, Gallagher Bluedorn, UNI, 7:30 pm

15 Oct 7-8 & 14-15: Ye Olde Opera House presents 21 ‘Plaza Suite’, 7 pm

14

October 7-9: NE Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour

Oct. 22: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Englert, Iowa City, 8 pm

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Big Muddy Run, Myrick Park, La Crosse, WI

Mike 1 McAbee, Haymarket, 9 pm

Saturday

7 8 23 Trailer 5 20 The 6 22 Park Boys, Rose Ensemble, ArtHaus Harvest Englert, Iowa Luther Center First Friday Festival, Seed “Teaching Stage, 7:30 City, 8 pm Savers, Artists Decorah, Friends of Decorah at Work”, 19 1-4 pm Library “Book Night” w/ Ember Buy & donate! 6-8 pm Schrag, 8 pm

Oct. 13: Their Majesties King Harald V & Queen Sonja of Norway visit Luther College

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Oct. 23: Lily Cai Chinese Dance Co., Gallagher Bluedorn, UNI, 3 pm

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16

Friday

Oct. 7: Big Daddy Cade, Haymarket Oct. 8: KPVL Fall Soiree, Elk’s Lodge, Decorah, 7pm

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Vesterheim Free Thursday, Every Thursday!

Thursday

Sept 29- Oct. 22: Driftless Art Collective’s ArtWalk, Downtown Decorah

October is National Arts & Humanities Month – Check out all the great art-related activities in the area!

Oct 10–12: Annual Winneshiek Celebration Masters of the Fiddle, of Life, Elk’s Lodge, Decorah 5-8 pm Gallagher Michelle Lynn, Safe House Bluedorn, Saloon, Lansing, IA 8:30 pm UNI, 7:30 pm Sept 14: The Uncle, Haymarket, 9 pm “Night Out At the Museum”, October 7-16: American Craft Week La Crosse Children’s Museum

OC5T 1

Colbie Caillat, SAC Concerts, Luther, 6:30 pm

2

October 1-2 & 8-9: McGregor Arts & Crafts Festival, McGregor, IA

HAPPY 150th BIRTHDAY LUTHER COLLEGE!

Festival of Quilts, Spring Grove

18 Sept 30 – Oct 1 – UffDa Fest /

Monday

October

Sunday

fun stuff to do

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

Tuesday

1

6

T-Bock’s Open Stage Night

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Nov 18–20: The Nutcracker – MN Ballet ($1 a kid!), Gallagher Bluedorn, UNI

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David Sedaris, State Theatre, Minneapolis

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Nov. 5-6: Iowa Wine Trail “Wine & Food Weekend”

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9

27

Friday

15

• Buy yams • Make pie crusts • Thaw bird

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4

Saturday

5

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Veteran’s Day

I like You, Haymarket

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23

16

Waukon Fireman’s Ball, El Caminos

Happy Thanksgiving!

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30

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Michelle Lynn, Cresco Holiday Lights 5K, Opera House, 7 pm Decorah Campground Mike McAbee, Bent Wrench, Fountain, MN

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30 17 31 18 19 Caroline ArtHaus Poetry Slam Worra, Luther w/ Gabrielle Civil, Elk’s Center Stage, Lodge, Decorah, 8 pm 7:30 pm Greg Brown, Englert Nov 17: Mates of State Theater, Iowa City, (Win & Ra Ra Riot, Blue Moose TapHouse, Iowa City Tickets on Inspire(d) FB!)

“Deck the Tables” with Friends of Vesterheim, Nob Hill Supper Club

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COMING UP IN DECEMBER! 3-4: ArtHaus Holiday Art Fair, 10 am–5pm, 2: Two May Banjos, Haymarket 11 am–3 pm, ArtHaus, Decorah 3: D.A.S.Y. Presents 22nd 3-4: Norwegian Christmas Anniversary Party with Paul Kade & 33 Weekend at Vesterheim the Blues Cartel & Mississippi soul 11: Kathy Griffin, Gallagher Bluedorn, 7:30 pm with the Johnny Rawls Revue.

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Vesterheim Free Thursday, Every Thursday!

November 25-December 27: Holiday Nights, Magical Nights, Decorah Campground, 5:30-8:30 pm

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Thursday

Nov. 12: Comedian Tracey Ashley, Marty’s, Luther, 8:30 pm Pistol Whippin’ Party Penguins, Haymarket, 9 pm

Election Day! VOTE!!!!

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Nov. 11-12, 16, 18-19: Luther Theatre/Dance, ‘Spring Awakening’, Jewel Theatre.

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2 Paul Taylor ArtHaus Dance Co., First Friday, Swingsation, Luther Center Art by Paul Lanesboro Stage, 7:30 Rude, 7-9 pm Arts Center Annual Gala DJ Smiley, The People Haymarket, every Bros Band, other Thurs. 9 pm Haymarket

Wednesday

Commonweal Theatre, Lanesboro, Minnesota: Little Shop of Horrors, through October 28 To Kill A Mockingbird, through November 13 Parfumerie, November 18 – December 20

Monday

Nov. 5: Joe & Vicki Price, Hideaway, Chaseburg, WI

November

Sunday

fun stuff to do

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1

2

Tuesday

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Wednesday

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Thursday

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Inspire(d) World’s Greatest Party

Friday

Inspire(d) invites you to the world’s greatest party in the world’s greatest venue! We’ll have amazing amounts of fun!

See you there! Time, day, month.

Monday

Saturday

Learn more about 25 Words/$25 Bucks at theinspiredmedia.com

See - we told you about our amazing fictional party in just 25 words! On the visual calendar (like the one at left), your event will be listed along with a number that corresponds. People can just scan on over to the following pages to get the details!

Sunday

For example:

So we’ve added some pages starting with this issue and have implemented a simple, expandable list of events after our regular calendars (see the next couple of pages). Those planning “fun stuff to do” will get a guaranteed spot on the calendar and in the event listing by purchasing “25 Words/$25 Bucks.”

We know it’s a tough racket to put on live music, activities, and special events, so we want to give you a chance to get the word out without breaking the bank.

Calendar time is always an exciting time at Inspire(d) Headquarters. “Just how much can we fit on there this month?!?” Up to this point, what we’ve chosen for these lovely pages has been entirely editorial and subjective. We figure, hey, you like our magazine, so you’ll probably like the fun stuff to do that we pick out from around our region. But we’re running out of space and want you, our lovely readers, friends, and fellow event-planners, to be able to tell us a little more about your fun.

25 Words/$25 Bucks

7

Looking for more details about events on the calendars?

Visit Vesterheim in Decorah!

Check out these fantastic fall activities! In chronological order, each event’s number coincides with the number on the calendar!

New Museum Store

13. September 23: ArtHaus presents Kristen Ford! Ford’s ArtHaus concert last summer was incredible and we welcome her back with Kara Kulpa and Tony Memmel. 8pm, $8/$6 students. arthausdecorah.org 14. September 24: 100th Anniversary Contra Dance at the Highlandville School! Music by the Western Home String Band. Steps taught 7:30; dancing at 8:00. No experience needed. narveska@luther. edu 15. September 24: Fall theme weekend fun at Pinter’s Gardens & Pumpkins - Pick your own pumpkin, hayrides, giant jumping pillow, corn maze & playground area! Weekends through Oct. 30. Fudge, pie, lunches. www.pintersgardensandpumpkins.com 16. September 27: Luther CSS – ‘The Aura of Flora in Decorah” Garrison Keillor and pianist Rich Dworsky bring a bit of the prairie home to Luther College. www.luther.edu/ programming/centerstage 17. September 30: The ArtHaus All-Original Poetry Slam! Featuring past winner Emily Scali, sponsored by Dragonfly books, 8pm at Decorah Elks Lodge (402 W. Main Street), $5/$3 students. arthausdecorah.org

25W/ $25B

in the Westby-Torgerson Education Center on the corner of Water and Mechanic Streets

Norwegian sweaters, jewelry, books, CDs, original artwork, and other great items.

New exhibitions on view this fall...

Norwegian-American Lutheran Colleges May 17, 2011April 7, 2012

18. Sept. 30/October 1: Spring Grove UffDa Fest! Heritage events, genealogy, Scandinavian foods, Music, Vintage Style show, 5k/10k Run for the Arts, Historic District Tour, Car Show, UffDa Games - Lutefisk Toss! www.uffdafest.com

Sigvald Asbjørnsen, Sculptor

18. Sept. 30/October 1: Festival of Quilts Show & Sale at Spring Grove Fest Building. Friday: $20 (includes hors d’oeuvres, wine & Saturday’s admission; presentation by Quilter Darlene Zimmerman) Saturday: $5. www.uffdafest.com

September 1, 2011September 3, 2012

19. October 6: Book Night at the Decorah Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Buy a book in honor/memory of someone you love and donate it! Snacks & entertainment! www.decorah.lib.ia.us 20. October 6: Luther CSS, The Rose Ensemble – Il Poverello: Exploring the Life & Deeds of St. Francis of Assisi. This joyful program will Reawaken the ancient through beautiful song and instrument, honoring St. Francis of Assisi. www.luther.edu/programming/ centerstage 21. October 7-8, 14-15: Ye Olde Opera House presents Neil Simon’s PLAZA SUITE Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. October 7/8, 14/15. Downtown Spring Grove. 507-4985859 for tix. www. yeoldeoperahouse.org 22. October 7: ArtHaus First Friday: Teaching Artists at Work Exhibition. Join us for an evening viewing artwork by ArtHaus teaching artists with live music by Ember Schrag! arthausdecorah.org

The Peale Collection: Norwegian Furniture from Hill Farm September 22, 2011April 30, 2012

Norwegian- American Museum

Preserving a heritage. Connecting us all.

523 W. Water St., Decorah, Iowa • 563-382-9681 • vesterheim.org

Looking for more details about events on the calendars?

Check out these fantastic fall activities! In chronological order, each event’s number coincides with the number on the calendar!

23. October 8: Harvest Festival at Seed Savers Exchange! This free event includes soup cook-off, tours, music, cider pressing & more, 1-4 pm. seedsavers.org 24. October 8: KPVL Fall Soiree. Music, Dance, & Silent Auction: Celebrate independent community radio in Northeast Iowa! Decorah Elks Lodge, 7pm. www.891theblend.org 10. October 27 (last minute date change, see 10 on calendar): Opening Reception for “The Peale Collection: Norwegian Furniture from Hill Farm.” From 5:00-7:00 pm “Free Thursdays” Event.

Exhibition on view until April 30, 2012. www.vesterheim.org 25. October 28: Talkstory Decorah at ArtHaus. Everybody loves a good story – come to tell yours or just sit back and enjoy! Theme: “Treat or Trick”; 8pm; $5/$3 students. arthausdecorah.org­­ 26. November 3: Luther CSS, Paul Taylor Dance Company - Arguably the world’s greatest living choreographer, the Paul Taylor Dance Company is extraordinarily gifted, embodying limitless versatility and deeply memorable movement. www.luther.edu/programming/ centerstage 27. November 4: Recent Artworks by Paul Rude. Free! 7-9pm ArtHaus Studio, exhibition sponsored by Luther College Art Department; wine tasting compliments of Oneota Co-op

25W/ $25B

28. Nov 11, 12, 16, 18, 19: SPRING AWAKENING – eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. Teenage self-discovery from youth to adulthood in 19th-century Germany. Jewel Theatre, Luther College. Details at www.luther.edu/theatredance great gift idea!

WORKSHOPS • PRINTS • OILS • DRAWINGS • WATERCOLORS • EXHIBITS AVAILABLE 107 WEST WATER STREET, DECORAH, IOWA OPEN MONDAY-SATURDAY, 10 AM - 5 PM

DOUGLAS ECKHEART 2011-12 WORKSHOP DATES 1. WATERCOLOR: ADVANCED - SEPTEMBER 10-11, 2011 2. WATERCOLOR & INK - OCTOBER 22-23, 2011 3. DRAWING WORKSHOP - APRIL 21-22, 2012 4. WATERCOLOR: BEGINNER - JUNE 16-17, 2012 Stop by on the NE Iowa Artist Studio Tour October 7-9!

DETAILS AT WWW.ECKHEART.COM • 563-387-6782 10

Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

29. November 12: “Deck the Tables” Event with Decorah Friends of Vesterheim! Decorations, entertainment, food, door prizes, a live auction, and more! At Nob Hill Supper Club. www.vesterheim.org 30. November 17: Luther CSS, Caroline Worra, Soprano – On special release from the Metropolitan Opera, this soprano powerhouse will captivate with her stylistic mastery and rich, bright sound. www.luther.edu/programming/centerstage 31. November 18: The ArtHaus All-Original Poetry Slam! Featuring guest poet, Gabrielle Civil, sponsored by Dragonfly books, 8pm at Decorah Elks Lodge (402 W. Main Street), $5/$3 students. arthausdecorah.org 32. November 25: Holiday Lights 5K! Run with a friend or walk with your grandma. Details and registration, www.helpingservices.org/holiday5K, or scan with your smart phone QR Reader now.

33. December 3-4: Norwegian Christmas Weekend at Vesterheim.

This festive celebration of holiday traditions for the whole family features music, demonstrations, food, and hands-on experiences. vesterheim.org.

Fall

FUN! for Young & Old! DigIN, Decorah Iowa Green INitiative www.digindecorah.com September 16-18

The 3rd annual DigIN weekend promises more fun than you can shake a shovel at! Visit Decorah for a weekend of green fun including urban garden tours, off-the-grid home tours, film screenings, educational seminars, the KDEC Green Expo, local food highlights, and more. Home owners, business owners, gardeners of all levels, and anyone with a passion to lighten their load on the earth can enjoy ways to bring “green” into your life and your wallet! Explore the Decorah area and all that it has to offer on this fantastic fall weekend!

Family Trees Family Genealogy Research Services by

Grandpa-Finder.com “You just never know where these old records and archives may lead!” SM

Decorah, Iowa 319-610-7736 Call for a brochure or check us out online!

Pinter’s – www.pintersgardensandpumpkins.com Shane and Elisa Pinter have created NE Iowa’s latest new entertainment destination! Pinter’s Gardens and Pumpkins offers families of all ages an exciting destination including fun garden displays, pick your own pumpkins, hayrides, corn maze, a giant jumping pillow and playground, farm animals, live music, fudge, pies and cakes, sandwiches, and more! The pumpkin patch and corn maze will be open weekends Sept. 24 - Oct. 30th. Bring the family and take a walk through the display gardens, enjoy an array of beautiful plants and garden décor, and enjoy the view from the front patios!

Grandpa-Finder.com

Effigy Mounds – www.nps.gov/efmo Somewhere around 1,000 years ago, Native peoples of the Driftless Region enjoyed creating elaborate burial mounds in the shape of many animals and such. Today, Effigy Mounds National Monument is one of the regions most fascinating and captivating parks – not to mention a great place to take in fall foliage. Check out these dates for special events!

September 24: National Public Lands Day (Fee Free!)

October 1- 2: Annual Hawk Watch / migration weekend October 1 – 31: Iowa Archaeology Month November: Native American History Month

From Grain to Glass – www.graintoglasshomebrew.com 2427 Tamarack Drive Rd, Opening September 2011 Beer is great.

Local beer is even better – make your own beer? Epic.

From Grain to Glass will soon be the Driftless Area’s best source for a full line of ingredients and equipment for both the beginner and experienced home brewer and wine maker. From prepackaged extract kits to fully customized ingredients for your own special brew – From Grain to Glass stocks over 60 grains from the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Belgium. Amongst all the home-brew tools and ingredients, there’s bound to be some great advice –and they even have all the ingredients for those with gluten sensitivities to make beer!

theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

11

Lanesboro

Arts Center

Exhibi�on GALLERY • 103 Parkway Ave N

St. Mane THEATRE • 206 Parkway Ave N

www.lanesboroarts.org 507‐467‐2446

Claudia Schmidt

Sat Sept 10

7:30 pm CONCERT $12/$10

Brianna Lane

And the Navigator’s Club

Sat Sept 24

7:30 pm CONCERT $12/$10

Sat Oct 29

6:30 pm Food TasƟng 7:30 pm Film

Brighter

Than The Sun

Enca us�c /Mi xed Media

Mary Catherine Solberg EXHIBIT Aug 13 ‐ Oct 16 Recep�on Sat Aug 13, 6‐8pm

An interview with Grammy-winning pop artist Colbie Caillat

By Benji Nichols

H2O SHOW

Juried Group EXHIBIT

Oct. 22 ‐ Dec. 23 Recep�on Sat Oct 22, 6‐8pm

C

olbie Caillat just might be Brighter Than the Sun – her positive thinking is certainly inspiring for Inspire(d). Hailing from Malibu, California, Caillat is downto-earth and genuine. Her debut record “Coco” put her on the map in 2007 and in 2008 she won her first Grammy for a duo hit with Jason Mraz entitled “Lucky.”

She was nominated for Best Pop Vocal for her album “Breakthrough” in 2009, and has just released her fourth album “All of You” this past July. The now 26-year-old has sold over six million albums worldwide and 10 million singles, and she’s performing live at Luther College in Decorah this October! Inspire(d) caught up with Caillat via email to ask her a few questions.

Your music presents a lot of optimism – the Los Angeles Times once dubbed you as an “evangelist for positivity”. In a world that can be full of the opposite, what keeps you inspired to stay on the bright side of things?

Saturday, Nov 5 Dinner • Music • Auc�ons

Lanesboro, Minnesota 12

No matter where I go, and what I do, I stay in touch with my family and friends. That keeps me grounded, and it keeps the everyday ups and downs we all have in perspective. My best friends today are the best friends I’ve had since I was in elementary school, so we can put anything that happens today in the context of our entire lives. And when I am home, I really like to exercise, take my dogs for hikes, spend time with those same friends, have a bbq, etc. normal things. We keep it

Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

very low key and down to earth and that’s what makes me happy.

I also have been doing work with Farm Sanctuary, the Humane Society and the Surfrider Foundation, so I know that I am using my success in a very positive way.

You performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo in 2010. Luther College has been the home for the past several years to the Nobel Peace Prize forum and celebrates deep Scandinavian heritage. What was it like to play that show with a truly world-class line up?

Bring the Family to for Fall Fun! 2011 Weekends Sept. 24th-Oct. 30th

The year I played was the same year that Liu Xiaobo from China was awarded the prize for his non-violent work for peace, but wasn’t allowed to come to Oslo to accept it. It was very powerful seeing an empty chair. We were honored to perform, and the city and people of Oslo were so lovely and welcoming.

~ Hayrides to Pumpkin Patch ~ Corn Maze ~ Haunted Corn Maze Starting Oct. 14th ~ Big Slides ~ Farm Animals ~ Giant Jumping Pillow ~ Pedal Carts with Track ~ Pumpkin Blaster ~ Corn Bin ~ Goat Walk ~ Bakery Goods & Sandwiches

Growing up in So-Cal, what has it been like to tour the rest of the country and internationally? What do you miss most about the LA Area when you are on the road, Colbie Caillat and what has been the best, unexpected Live at Luther College place you have found Sunday, October 2, 6:30 pm while touring?

My career has really opened the world to me and one day I hope to spend more time getting to know the countries that I now can only visit for a few days. I miss my friends and family and the wide-open spaces when I am on the road. I fell in love with Australia, but it doesn’t surprise me cause it’s like Hawaii and California combined which are my two favorite places in the world!

What’s your favorite thing to do on a day off?

I love to get up and go for a run with my boyfriend or a hike with my sister and our dogs, then get together with friends. I know I keep saying this, but it’s really true.

Your third album “All of You” came out in July of this year and features a guest appearance with rapper/actor Common – you have also co-written with Jason Mraz and Taylor Swift… who’s on the short list of musicians you’d love to work with in the future?

I would love to work with the Kings of Leon, and Coldplay!

You’ve had great success in the world of selling digital downloads and music – what is your favorite device to listen to music with and who are you listening to right now?

My dad just bought me a record player. It makes listening to music an event, sound matters, you listen to the entire record, front to back, and respect the work and feeling that was put into it. But of course on planes or in my car I love that I can plug an iPod in so easily and it fits right in my pocket. I listen to everything from Adele, Katy Perry, Kings of Leon, Coldplay, John Mayer, Andy Grammer, Common, Notorious BIG, Tom Petty, Bob Marley, Beyonce, Brett Dennen, Amy Winehouse, Jason Mraz, One Republic.

Visit

www.pintersgardensandpumpkins.com for Fall Theme Weekends , Live Entertainment Calendar and hours.

y r e k a Thate B Stop for sandwiches, homemade fudge, pie & other sweet treats!

9 63

Pole Line Rd

N

52

9 Co Rd A46

9

63

9 52

563-382-0010 • 2475 State Hwy 9 4.5 miles west of Decorah, IA

O

By Flannery

ness Initiative

t Iowa Food and Fit

urtesy Northeas Cerbin • Photos co

for is being allowed up g in ow gr of milestones to slices of ne of the many tter and jelly on bu ut an pe ad re “First you sp r & Jelly Song, the first time to te ut B ut an Pe e aches en th ‘em …”, which te ch bread. There’s ev un cr u yo , m ch ‘e build the s, and you crun from, and how to es m co take the peanut er tt bu where peanut children about h. perfect sandwic

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

Apple juice, ants on a log, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all evoke images of school lunches. But is the real, good ol’ fashioned PB&J sandwich becoming extinct? Homemade bread is virtually unheard of in school kitchens. Canning jellies and jams is quickly becoming a lost art.

Instead, federally reimbursed school lunches allow for highly processed foods – like prepackaged peanut butter and jelly sandwiches – to be a mainstay. We’ve resorted to convenience over quality in meals at schools and at home, failing to educate our children about food and its origins.

But as the 2011-2012 school year unfolds, there is hope to reconnect students to roots. Invigorated by support from the Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative (FFI) and with assistance from partner the Pepperfield Project – a local nonprofit dedicated to gardening education – students from across Northeast Iowa are learning about local foods and other important things like exercise, plus good ‘ol readin’, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic, at 12 school gardens.

Northeast Iowa was one of nine communities across the United States selected as a Food and Fitness site four years ago by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Food and Community Program. The goal is to address affordability and access to locally grown food, right along with finding opportunities for physical activity and play. This yields multiple benefits: Together, we can strengthen our communities, reinvigorate our local economies, reduce health care costs, and address historical inadequacies that prevent all children from reaching their full potential.

Most of the other eight sites are urban: New York City, King County Seattle, and Detroit are just a few. Northeast Iowa FFI is the only multicounty site (Allamakee, Clayton, Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek) and its outreach covers an area equivalent to the state of Connecticut. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation and other national organizations are using lessons from the region to learn about improving food and fitness environments in rural communities.

Northeast Iowa FFI identifies schools as the hubs of those rural communities, whether people have children or not. Changing school environment will impact the broader community. Gardening helps build relationships between people and places, as well as opens the door to a world of discovery: Fresh produce comes from dirt… it’s tasty.

Former Turkey Valley teacher Patty O’Hollearn introduced her family and consumer science students to cooking with fresh school garden

grocery • bulk • produce • café meat • cheese • bakery • wine/beer supplements • body care

a(c)tions

Inspir

Five ways we can make food and fitness a priority at home!

1. Buy and serve fresh, local food.

2. Start or join a walking school bus in your neighborhood.

3. Plant a garden – your own, a community’s, or a school’s.

4. Contact your local school and ask about their wellness team and how you can help.

5. Get children involved in picking out food, planning meals, and cooking.

Visit: www.iowafoodandfitness.org for more information.

Summer Hours (Apr-Oct) Monday-Saturday 8:00 am - 8:30 pm Sunday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm Winter Hours (Nov-Mar) Monday-Saturday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm Sunday 10:00 am - 7:00 pm

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EVERYONE CAN SHOP - EVERYONE WELCOME - NO MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

15

Dimes they are a-changin’!

Go to www.decorahbank.com to learn about easy-touse tools that’ll help you achieve financial success!

Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.

3rd generation locally owned & managed community bank in the Decorah area.

non-profit, non-partisan, interfaith resource center Offering services such as: Diversity Training • Conflict Resolution Training & Facilitation • Facilitation of interfaith events and initiatives • Immigration assessment & document processing • Mediation Services • Human rights education & advocacy • Peer-support substance abuse counseling • And much more.

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

produce last fall. For one project, O’Hollearn challenged her class to find a recipe that would utilize excess school-grown eggplant. From the eight different recipes, O’Hollearn’s favorite was a pizza made with a whole-wheat crust and topped with ratatouille. The students loved it too. Many of them had never even eaten eggplant before.

A school garden certainly increases awareness and demand for fresh, whole foods, but schools are able to grow only token amounts of produce – several containers-worth of tomatoes for hamburgers or cucumbers for a salad bar. Local farmers are better positioned to provide schools with a steady stream of fresh produce and a lot of work is happening behind the scenes to make this possible.

Northeast Iowa Food & Farm Coalition (NIFF), which has joined up with Northeast Iowa FFI, helps producers engage in the local food system and also works to make changes to the regional policies to support processing, distribution, and storage opportunities for the local food system.

Northeast Iowa FFI also supports opportunities for school food service staff to take courses in food safety, and has educated staff about procuring and preparing local foods. Food service personnel are some of Northeast Iowa FFI’s strongest allies. These great women and men serve students breakfast and lunch, while following a long list of governmental regulations, tight budgets, and often working with outdated equipment.

And for students, the school cafeteria is a great venue to share where food comes from, and who grows or raises it. In the spring of 2011, Northeast Iowa FFI piloted “Face of the Farmer.” Local farmers were invited for school lunch once a month.

Prior to their visit, students watched a short video clip about the farmer, his or her operation, and the featured food.

During lunch they asked the farmers questions, sampled their product, and received a “Face of the Farmer” trading card – complete with the farmer’s photo and bio.

To continue the creative teaching methods, schools participate in a cross-age program as well. High schoolers lead lessons about the benefits of local foods for elementary school students. For example, they might sample several varieties of local cheese, and then the high school students will talk about their favorites and tally the younger students’ top picks, getting a conversation rolling. This model has piqued the interest of Farm to School programs across the US. Over 9,700 schools are part of the national Farm to School network, connecting schools and local farms with the goal of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health, and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers.

Through grassroots efforts, Northeast Iowa FFI is addressing the twin epidemics of poor nutrition and physical inactivity. To increase support, the organization has helped jumpstart school wellness teams made up of dedicated school staff, students, and community members at 16 of the region’s 20 school districts.

Wellness team members have hosted health fairs and changed school concession options, but they need more support to continue pushing health initiatives in schools, and of course, there’s always room in the garden pulling weeds.

The teams and Northeast Iowa FFI advocate for morning walking clubs in schools, community fitness centers, and also recognize the importance of “natural movement.”

This is a concept as fundamental as bringing back walking or simply playing outside, activities

Movement for Health & Well-Being Change your life today!

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that are being replaced by screen time It’s a concept that is embraced in Safe Routes to School, a national program led by parents, schools, and community leaders

Serving all locations since 1998

n ouse o the Farm H e B& tl t B i L Made-fromscratch breakfast using locally grown foods

that encourages walking and biking to and from school rather than driving or getting bussed. And to encourage biking to and from school, the Northeast Iowa FFI supported a bike rack challenge.

With modest start-up dollars, high school tech education classes created plans for, and welded scrap metal to form unique bike racks.

Northeast Iowa FFI will continue to seek lessons from our local families and communities, and envision vibrant communities where there are opportunities for children, their parents – everyone – to experience fresh food and fresh air everyday.

Flannery thanks her parents and her namesake; author Flannery O’Connor, for her unique signature. Since graduating from Luther in ‘09 with a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies, Flannery has worked for the Northeast Iowa FFI. She embraces both food – perfecting breakfast “flancakes” topped with real maple syrup, and fitness – mainly a wild relationship with running.

Small appliances, cookware, & linens provided

enjoy life's simple pleasures & the peacefulness of the country

892 Pole Line Road • Postville, Iowa • 563-864-7304

(between Decorah & Waukon) •www.littlehouseonthefarm.com

theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

17

AdveNTuREs In YarDenIng!

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• Toppling Goliath Tasting Hour with live music by Buck Towne • Hands-on classes & demonstrations • Family Friendly with more kids activities than ever before!

Plus

FRIDAY NIGHT: Outdoor Movie Night Luther College’s Bentdahl Commons Dewi Sant, live music ArtHaus Studio Courtyard SATURDAY : Passing Zone Juggling Duo Center Stage Series, Luther College Switchback, live music McCaffery’s Dolce Vita

“Yarden” tours by Decorah Urban Gardeners (DUG) SUNDAY:

KDEC Radio’s Green Expo

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Ever wonder how and where to start with a home garden? Learn how area “yarden” enthusiasts get growing each year, and how you can do the same! And lots of our dig IN favorites are back! Like off-the-grid & retrofitted home tours, local foods, energy-saving & money-saving tips from experts, & more!

More info at digindecorah.com Brought to you by the Winneshiek County Convention & Visitors Bureau This ad sponsored in part by Inspire(d) Media

.

Inspire(d) food news feed Sharing Spaces Kitchens - Prairie du Chien Prairie du Chien’s Opportunity Center is an organization that enhances the lives of individuals with disabilities by creating opportunities that will develop their full potential in society. This summer, the center has broken ground on what will be the Sharing Spaces Kitchen – a new Opportunity Center co-packing operation. It will greatly increase capacity and markets for local food growers and buyers, including the on-site Opportunities Blooming Greenhouse and garden projects. The kitchen’s anchor tenant, The Local Oven, will produce breads and baked goods featuring local ingredients whenever possible. The products will be available through their retail storefront in downtown Prairie du Chien starting this Fall. In addition, the kitchen will serve as a food business incubator, assisting entrepreneurs to launch their food-based businesses. This groundbreaking project is a model that addresses several challenges at once on the local level and will be an incredible example for the tri-state area! www.sharingspaceskitchen.org

NewBo city Market - Cedar Rapids At the corner of 12th Avenue and 3rd St. SE in Cedar Rapids, a fresh new plan is hatching: The NewBo City Market. The market will act as a year-round meeting place and a center for social interaction, helping to revive a flood-ravaged neighborhood while providing a “town center” and dynamic spot for food, fun, and fraternity. When completed, the NewBo City Market will feature a carefully crafted and eclectic mix of local, ethnic, and gourmet foods, and events and attractions. Concerts, flea markets, festivals, and cooking classes are all on tap to provide a new and much-needed destination for the area. Coupled with the $7 million renovation of performance space CSPS Legion Arts (check it out at www.legionarts.org!), Cedar Rapids will have achieved a monumental step toward the vision of creating a vibrant hometown. Find out more at www.newbocitymarket.com

Chasing Chiles - Kurt Friese Co-author Kurt and Kim Friese may best be known in these parts as the co-founders of Devotay Restaurant in Iowa City, or perhaps as the head honchos of Edible Iowa River Valley Magazine.

Or maybe you’ve heard of Kurt as the founding leader of Slow Food Iowa and a Slow Food USA board member, or author of “A Cook’s Journey: Slow Food in the Heartland”. Basically, on the short list of long-time, good Iowan food lovers, these folks are at the top.

Last Spring, Kurt – along with slow food pioneer and ethnobotanist Gary Paul Nabhan and agro-ecologist Kraig Kraft – authored the book “Chasing Chiles: Hot Spots Along the Pepper Trail.” The three self-proclaimed “gastronauts” travel to incredible reaches to lay out the story of not only how chile peppers have come to be in the modern palate, but more importantly how they show us a picture of the effects of climate change on crops and farmers across the world. Take yourself for a wild ride by picking up a copy of “Chasing Chiles” at Dragonfly Books in Decorah or your local bookstore (published by Chelsea Green). www.chasingchiles.com theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

19

Science,

You're super!

Why Do Leaves Turn Colors in the Fall?

By Benji Nichols

As you well know, we are lucky enough to live in a part of the country that gets to experience the brilliant fall foliage of deciduous trees. And as most know, the season for fall colors can vary greatly with any given year – but do you know why? And for that matter, why those crazy green leaves go wild colors in the first place?

Let us explore…

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

We do our best to be accurate and wellresearched, but if you’ve got some other information or a local, regional, or world-wide sciency thing you think we should feature, by all means: send it on! aryn@theinspiredmedia.com.

First, there are three types of pigments found in leaves: 1. Chlorophyll (green, necessary for photosynthesis) 2. Carotenoids – or xanthophyll (yellow, orange, and brown) 3. Anthocyanins (reds and purples) These also help support other functions of the trees and their chemical reactions and systems. All three can be found in leaf cells through the growing period, but throughout the season, chlorophyll is continually made and broken down by the trees, giving leaves a green color. When the fall nights begin to get longer, chlorophyll production slows and eventually stops – since there is less light to power photosynthesis (…that’s how a tree eats... wait for it…).

Meanwhile, the carotenoids and anthocyanins are still present – have even increased as excess plant sugars exist with the slowing of photosynthesis – and they begin to show their colors.

Think of it like this: trees have two ways to receive nourishment during the growing season. First they sip up water and minerals through their roots in the ground. Second, they absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Both of these systems are necessary for the tree’s leaves to absorb the sun’s energy and make sugar (to eat!) from all of the goodness it absorbs (photosynthesis!). But as fall approaches, trees shut off or seal up their root lines in order to survive the winter. As that happens, chlorophyll (green!) dies off and allows the other pigments to show their colors (reds and yellows!).

Eventually, these too lose their ability to survive and the leaves turn brown and fall from the tree.

Easy, right? But why then does fall foliage vary so much from year to year, you ask?

There are three factors that mostly control the ever-regal turning of the leaves.

First, the pigments above, which we’ve already covered. Second, the length of nights (or lack of light), and third, the weather (kind of, well, wait for it…). The calendar primarily shows when the length of days will start changing the leaves from lack of sunlight – and this really is the most predominant factor in the process. However, nice warm days help produce lots of sugars in the golden fall daylight, while crisp autumn nights (but not freezing!) keep the trees root veins slowly closing up for the winter, keeping more sugars in the leaves. There are lots of other factors like soil moisture, what the growing season conditions have been like, and what kind of nutrients the tree has access to. In general, a warm wet spring, pleasant summer weather, followed by light-filled fall days with crisp nights can produce the most brilliant autumn colors. But a warm snap in the fall, or an early freeze, or a big rain at the wrong moment can easily bring the big show to an end. After all, nature is beautiful, but certainly not predictable, and no two seasons are ever alike!

Pete's Pots

POTTERY BY PETE BLODGETT

Join us for a Fundraiser for the Decorah Free Clinic During the Northeast Iowa Artists Studio Tour

October 7-9 10 am - 5 pm Location 12 on Tour 612 Stanwood Drive Decorah, Iowa

All proceeds during studio tour go to the Free Clinic 563.382.9610 www.iowaarttour.com

Benji Nichols is in continual awe of just how super science can be. He has also been known to hug a tree now and again. Here’s to hoping for a great fall foliage season –big hugs all around!

Sources: 1.) USDA Forest Service: www.na.fs.fed.us 2.) University of Illinois Extension: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/ forestry/fall_colors.html

CORRECTION! In Aryn Henning Nichols’ Summer 2011 Science, You’re Super “Why is the Sky Blue?” article, she said her brother, Wade Henning, was a TA/graduate student at the University of Florida.

He ACTUALLY goes to Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Sorry, Sciency Brother!

theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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Inspire(d) staff takes Boxed (IN) to Iowa City It’s a party, yes...but so much more!

IOWA CITY GETAWAY GIVEAWAY!

Planning your trip:

Inspire(d) teamed up with Englert Theatre, Brown Street Inn, and Devotay! We put together an Iowa City trip package, including two tickets to Greg Brown at the Englert, a stay at Brown Street Inn, and tapas and cocktails at Devotay! I know, exciting, right?!?! Enter to win at Inspire(d) Media’s Facebook!

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Iowa City is Approximately: 130 miles south of Decorah 185 miles south of La Crosse / Rochester 105 miles south of Elkader Visit the Iowa City / Coralville CVB for general travel info: iowacitycoralville.org

Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

I

owa City is a charming town full of fun, culture, good food, good drinks, and Hawkeye football. Home of the University of Iowa, it’s one of those cities where it’s hard to distinguish between college and town – and maybe it’s not really necessary. They complement each other, and create a place that’s pretty darn great to visit.

UI, in turn, is home to some 30,000 undergrad, grad, and professional students, the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, and it’s also the place that taught Aryn how to make magazines like this one!

In fact, the University of Iowa has long been called “where the writers go.” Tennesee Williams got his degree there.

Fiction author Kurt Vonnegut worked on Slaughterhouse Five while teaching at the Writers’ Workshop, where Flannery O’Connor also attended. The list goes on. Perhaps this is why Iowa City’s Prairie Lights Bookstore is one of the most famous independent bookstores in the country – the roster of author readings is impressive, and the cozy shop is a great place to hear a good story.

But Iowa City got its start as a hotspot way before the Writers’ Workshop – it was originally chosen as the state capitol in the mid 1800s. The Iowa constitution was written in the “Old Capitol Building” that forms the center of what

is now the University of Iowa Pentacrest. The first governor of the state of Iowa was inaugurated in this building, and the first six Iowa general assemblies met here. It was when the state government moved to Des Moines in 1857 that the Old Capitol Building became the first permanent UI-owned building. It is now the Old Capitol Museum, and visiting is a fun trip through history.

While you’re checking out the Pentacrest, make the free museum circuit and stop over in Macbride Hall to see our friend the Giant Sloth in the Museum of Natural History – it’s a really fun little educational tour – and then head down the hill to the temporary UI Art Museum, now housed in the Memorial Union post-2008 flood. Despite it’s smaller location, the content is well rounded and perfectly curated.

Opposite the museums – for a completely different type of fun – there is Hawkeye football. If there’s a famous household sports name in Iowa, it’s Hayden Fry. He is credited for doing more for Hawkeye football than any other coach before. Since his retirement in 1999, current coach Kirk Ferentz has stepped in to lead the Hawkeyes to victory.

During home games, a black and gold craze sets Iowa City ablaze virtually overnight. Upon waking (early, early if it’s an 11 am game), like on Christmas day, the town is transformed into a wonderland… one of big-ass turkey legs, cheering fans, beer pong, and marching bands in the streets.

Maybe the marching band is the whole reason you’re at the

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football game? (Okay, that’s a stretch for most people…but Aryn was in the Hawkeye Marching Band, so she loooves that part!)

If so, go catch something only a handful of Hawkeye fans know about: the UI Recreation Building pre-pre-game show. Right next door to Kinnick, the halftime stars put on a quirky, sometimes earsplitting show that ranges from raucous school songs to “The Stripper,” complete with glove- waving and silly shrieks. The band then marches – or dances – with the drum cadence on the way to the stadium tunnel and pre-game show.

Of course, there’s a lot more to Iowa City than the University of Iowa and Hawkeye football. There are beautiful, tree-lined streets, great pedestrian areas, outdoor concert series, and of course, great shops and food. Dining options range from tasty street-cart food and yummy burgers, to menus full of local love and inventive dishes. A must-stop is Devotay on Linn Street. Owners Kurt and Kim Friese have put together a memorable dining experience, with a Spanish-inspired menu and lovely atmosphere – even the

theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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.

Inspire(d) media

Facebook AREU YO DY REA FOR S?!?

I H T

where we give away fun

YOU COULD WIN A TRIP TO IOWA CITY TO SEE GREG BROWN FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18!

But that’s not all folks:

serving dishes are handcrafted by Kim herself.

We advise that you stay for the night, (heck, the weekend!), and within walking distance of the Pedestrian Mall in downtown Iowa City. The beautiful and welcoming Brown Street Inn (on, of course, Brown Street) is in the perfect location to enjoy the charming, quiet streets of Iowa City while still being able to walk downtown to check out live music and shows at iconic venues like Gabe’s, The Mill, Blue Moose Tap House, and the Englert Theatre. The Englert went through extensive fundraising and

Photo courtesy of University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band.

Wow

In addition to TWO TICKETS to see GREG BROWN at the ENGLERT THEATRE, we’re also including: A night’s stay at the beautiful BROWN STREET INN & TAPAS & COCKTAILS at DEVOTAY, Inspire(d)’s favorite Iowa City restaurant!

Pick up that jaw & start Here’s clicking. It’s time to enter. how: 1. Like us! If you’ve already done that, share us! We promise we won’t embarrass you in front of your friends…and they might bring you along!

2. Write “Are you ready for the Boom Town?” on our wall.

3. Bonus question: Who do you think is getting the Cy-Hawk Trophy this year?

4. Bonus Bonus question: Did you catch that Before and After al la Wheel of Fortune Reference?

We’ll announce the winner Friday (‘cause Friday’s fun), October 14. Woot!

then renovations in the early 2000s, reopening in 2004 to bring residents and visitors acts like The Second City, Neko Case, or the upcoming Greg Brown (see ad at left to learn how you can win tickets!).

If you’re not into sports and the museum and music culture leaves you yawning, maybe it’s outdoor activities for you! Grab a coffee at Java House – they drip-to-order – and head north on Highway 1. Your first stop should be Wilson’s Apple Orchard – it’s such a beautiful place to spend a fall hour or two, and the apples are delicious (no pun intended). They even encourage you to eat an apple while picking your bounty. Once you’ve done just that, head on to Lake Macbride State Park, where you’ll find fishing, hiking, camping, boating, and more. One of the coolest things at Macbride, in our opinion, is the Raptor Resource Center. It’s a nonprofit organization that preserves Iowa’s raptors and their natural habitats, but it’s also home to several species of permanently disabled eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons. You can walk through the outdoor housing near the Nature Center and see the amazing birds up close. Each bird’s home has a plaque posted nearby with the bird’s names (technical and given) and some educational information as well.

Of course, all this exploring, hiking, and celebrating is hard work, and you certainly deserve a rest. And maybe a drink?

It wouldn’t be a story about Iowa City if we didn’t talk about booze: although University officials don’t like to admit it, UI was recently ranked the number four top party school in the nation, according to the Princeton Review, even with last year’s ordinance that makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to be in a bar past 10 pm. For those of you of age, check out the sidebar for great local wineries, distilleries, and breweries. ‘Cause, you know: in heaven there is no beer! (Oh wait, is this heaven? No, it’s Iowa. Whew.)

Go Hawks!

Devotay’s paella. Photo by Benji Nichols.

AS YOU TRAVEL TO IOWA CITY, CHECK OUT SOME FUN STUFF ON THE WAY OR NEARBY! Victories Restaurant and Sports Lounge www.victoriesfayette.com Fayette’s brand new eatery is right on the way for folks heading to Iowa City from the Decorah area. Read more about Chef Matt Henning on page 58 – he’s this issue’s Chef on the Block!

128 South Main Street, Fayette, Iowa • 563425-3128 Cedar Ridge Winery / Clearheart Spirits www.crwiner.com Pulling up the drive to Cedar Ridge Winery, you know you’re in for some sort of treat. The winery/distillery makes some of Iowa’s best wines and spirits, and their staff is friendly and welcoming in their lovely tasting room and vineyard grounds.

1441 Marak Rd., Swisher, Iowa • 319-8574300 Amana Colonies / Millstream www.millstreambrewing.com We talked a lot about good Iowa beer in our Winter 2010-11 issue – these guys were no exception! We are always excited to enjoy locally brewed beers, and a trip to the Amana Colonies isn’t too bad either!

835 48th Ave., Amana, Iowa • 319-622-3672



 •  •  •     theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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Lake McBride: Raptor Resource Center www.macbrideraptorproject.org/brochure_material.htm This place, as we said, is so cool. Say hi to the owls there – they were our favorites, although all the birds are beautiful. This is a great educational trip in a lovely State Park.

April-October hours: 6 am to 8 pm, daily. November-March hours: 9 am to 6 pm. Guided tours may be arranged by calling 319-398-5495.

Specializing in sustainable residential & light commercial construction

Backpocket Brewery • www.backpocketbrewing.com (currently Old Man River, McGregor) Our McGregor neighbors are moving shop: to the Iowa City area! They will be building Iowa’s largest craft brewery at Iowa River Landing.

We’re looking forward to seeing what Backpocket will offer as they expand “offices”.

David J. Wadsworth • 563.419.0390 • wadsworthconstruction.com

Luxury salon & day spa Cuts • Perms • Up styles • Color • Highlights • Facials • Manicure & Pedicures • 60-minute massages • Makeup Consultation & application

303 W. Water Street Decorah, Iowa 563.382.4941 Renae lost 60 lbs & 37 inches: from size 18 to 6!

• Lose 2-5 lbs./week • Doctor recommended since 1980 • Johns Hopkins approved More info online!

• Discounts available • Weekly doctor & nurses call • Support forum • Free personal support The Fast Plan that Works for Everyone!

Professional Health Coach Renae McIntosh, Decorah www.got2bthin.tsfl.com or call 563-380-7764

Meetings (optional) at 5:30 pm on Tuesdays at Java John’s in Decorah or Thursdays at Super 8 in Cresco.

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

Wilson’s Apple Orchard www.wilsonsapples.com This orchard was one of Aryn’s favorite places to visit on a fall day when she went to college at the University of Iowa. The owners are so friendly, and they really do encourage you to taste as you pick. Pretty sweet, eh?

2924 Orchard Lane NE, Iowa City, Iowa • 319-354-5651 Lincoln Café • foodisimportant. com This Mt. Vernon café is one of Benji’s favorites, and is totally worth the drive from the Iowa City area; they have amazing local fare.

117 First St. West, Mt. Vernon, Iowa • 319-895-4041 Sutliff Cider • sufliffcider.com We’re not too hot on super sweet cider, and thankfully neither are the folks at Sutliff Cider! Their Iowa-made hard cider is the perfect balance of tart and sweet! Perfect on a cool fall day.

382 Sutliff Road, Lisbon, Iowa • 319-455-4093 DON’T MISS THE IOWA CITY FOOD: Devotay • www.devotay.net Kurt and Kim Friese do it right here: amazing tapas, a great wine list, hand-crafted cocktails, and of course – don’t miss out on the paella specialty! Yum. Tell them Benji and Aryn said hi.

117 North Linn Street, Iowa City, Iowa • 319-354-1001 Motley Cow • www.motleycowcafe.com Motley Cow is hard to recognize since its move to its current location… that is, until you taste the food. Their seasonal treats are delightful, and so are their Manhattans.

160 North Linn Street, Iowa City, Iowa • 319-688-9177 George’s Buffet You can’t go to Iowa City without getting a burger at George’s.

Everyone will tell you this, so don’t even bother questioning. Get it. It comes in a little parchment bag and is perfect at any time of day (or early, early morning). (no web site… none needed… not really a buffet!)

312 E Market St Iowa City, Iowa • 319-351-9614 Panchero’s Mexican Grill (The original) • www.pancheros.com We crave this place. Burritos as big as your head in tortillas grilled right in front of you! It’s so simple, yet at-home ones never taste the

same. Our friend recently won the annual burrito-eating challenge. He gets 52 free burritos. We are jealous.

32 S. Clinton St. Iowa City, Iowa • 319-338-6311 Oasis Falafel • www.oasisfalafel.com The reviews were glowing about this place, so we had to try it. Apparently so did everyone else. Despite the busy dining room and long-ish wait…it really was good falafel. Especially fun is the condiment salad bar.

206 N. Linn Street Iowa City, Iowa • 319-358-7342 The Java House • www.thejavahouse.com Aryn spent many hours “studying” and drinking coffee here. They drip-toorder and offer great people watching vantages.

150 Stevens Drive, Iowa City, Iowa • 319-354.2111 John’s Grocery • johnsgrocery.com The idyllic corner grocery store, “Dirty John’s” is famous to townies and students alike. You can get obscure wines and a box of Mac and Cheese in one convenient location!

401 E. Market St. Iowa City, Iowa • 319-337-2183 Quinton’s • www.quintons.com Get the 1/2 sandwich and soup. You’ll never be able to eat the bag of chips that comes with it, but that’s okay. Save them for later…they will come in handy, for sure.

215 E Washington St, Iowa City, Iowa • 319-354-7074

Connect the dots...

LOCAL Easy, right?

So is working with Sim’s TV & Electronics.

Local & friendly US Cellular, Dish Network, Direct TV, & Satellite Internet services. Connecting’s never been so easy.

• Algerian & American Cuisine • Patio dining over Turkey River • Signature Cocktails plus a connoisseur’s selection of Belgian, Import & Craft Beers Around the World in 32 Beers

Beer Tasting Series

Hours, Menus & Events at scheras.com

107 S Main St. Elkader, IA • 563-245-1992

112 Winnebago St., Decorah, Iowa 563-382-CELL (2355) • www.simselectronics.com Mon - Fri 8 am - 6 pm • Sat 8 am - 5 pm • Thurs ‘til 8 pm Check out our great selection of HD TVs, laptops, digital cameras, & electronics supplies – we’ve got your part or can order it.

theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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Fine Casual Decorah Dining

New Pioneer Coop • www.newpi.coop So many favorites to be had at New Pi, so if we had to pick one, it might be the chocolate cupcakes. Hey – organic doesn’t have to mean healthy!

22 S. Van Buren St. Iowa City, Iowa • 319-338-9441 1101 2nd Street Coralville, Iowa • 319-358-5513

Banquet facilities - weddings, conferences, meetings, & more!

110 East Water St 563-382-4297 www.mabespizza.com

1101 Highway 9 563-387-0300 www.oakssteakhouse.com

It’s Where You Want To Be...

One of Aryn’s favorite things about going to school at UI was all the live music. You can catch shows at these fine establishments, and make sure you also sign up to win our Iowa City giveaway! It includes two tickets to Englert Theatre’s November 18 Greg Brown show, a stay at Brown Street Inn, and tapas and cocktails at Devotay! Like Inspire(d) Media on facebook to find out how to enter.

www.tbocks.com

206 W. Water Street • 563-382-5970

NOW, ON TO THE MUSIC VENUES: Englert Theatre • englert.org 221 East Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa • 319-688-2653 Blue Moose Tap House • bluemooseic.com 211 Iowa Ave. Iowa City, Iowa • 319-358-9206 Hancher • www.hancher.uiowa.edu 1-800-HANCHER The Mill • icmill.com 120 E. Burlington Street Iowa City, Iowa • 319351-9529

IT’S KIND OF A BIG DEAL.

Local gift certificates at 20 to 40% off!

Shop locally at kdecradio.com now!

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

OTHER ENTERTAINMENT: Hawkeye Football • www.hawkeyesports.com Iowa Marching Band • www.uiowa.edu/~bands Old Capitol Building Visitors Center / Museum of Natural History www.uiowa.edu/~oldcap U of I Art Museum • uima.uiowa.edu Bijou Cinema • bijou.uiowa.edu ENTERTAINMENT TO US: Coralville / Hawkeye Express Train! www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-footbl/specrel/081605aai.html LODGING: While there are a couple of lodging options in Downtown Iowa City and several in the Coralville area, we whole-heartedly to keep it local and check out the lovely Brown Street Inn. If you’re in doubt, just read the Trip Advisor reviews – more than 100 five star reviews! It’s not only a friendly spot to stay, it’s also within walking distance of downtown – a necessity, in our opinion!

Brown Street Inn • www.brownstreetinn.com 430 Brown Street Iowa City, Iowa • 319-338-0435

Projects: Paper Bag Turkey Hat! Step-by-step instructions at

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Fold here

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These parts are made from paper grocery bags!

Cut o n the

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u o y e k i l e c n Da

t i n a me An interview with Paul Taylor Dance Company dancer and Luther alum Rob Kleinendorst.

Introduction/Interview by Aryn Henning Nichols

In a time when the world is in constant flux, stopping to consider art doesn’t seem like a high priority.

But art – modern or traditional or classic or underground – opens minds to ideas that can change the world. It’s way beyond “Oh that looks pretty.”

But that doesn’t mean it can’t be pretty. Or so ugly it’s beautiful.

It takes a choreographer like Paul Taylor to skillfully weave the beauty in dying, the raw hatred of war, the passion in sex, or the morality of living into a cohesive show that is sometimes, well…pretty.

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Join us on select Sundays in the upper level of the Dahl Centennial Union on the Luther College Campus.

Annmaria Mazzina, Lisa Viola, and Robert Kleinendorst. Photo by Paul B. Goode.

Pancakes, Waffles, French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Hash Browns, Eggs Benedict, Breakfast Meats, Fresh Fruit, Baked Goods from the Luther Bakery, Made-to-Order Omelets and much more.

Fall 2011 Brunch Dates: September 11, 18, 25 October 2, 9, 16, 30 November 6, 13, 20 No brunch in December Reservations are encouraged for all brunches. Call 563-387-1030 to make your reservations today.

PRICES Adults ........................................$13.50 Children Ages 5-10 ..................... $6.50 Children Under five .......................Free Luther students with meal plans may use one meal transfer plus $8.55.

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Paul Taylor. Photo by Paul Palmaro.

Enjoy your brunch in the spacious Peace Dining Room, overlooking the beautiful Oneota Valley.

Paul Taylor, the man, is often billed as a giant: “a genuine cultural icon, a modern dance hero, a genius.” He built the Paul Taylor Dance Company (PTDC), first launched in Manhattan in 1954, to be truly one of the greatest dance companies in existence. It is respected and highly sought-after, touring extensively through more than 520 cities and 62 countries. But no matter the accolades, it’s important to remember: Paul Taylor, the dancers: they are all just human beings like you and me ­– albeit incredibly flexible and fit human beings – trying to make connections with and for the people in this world.

PTDC dancer Robert Kleinendorst is even more relatable – he’s a Midwesterner, and a Luther grad to boot. Kleinendorst, originally from Roseville, Minnesota, finished a B.A in voice and dance in 1995, then headed straight to New York to dance with a variety of ensembles and projects, further his studies at the Taylor Dance School, and eventually, in 2000, to join the company that helped inspire him to be a dancer in the first place.

Kleinendorst will return to Luther College this fall, along with the rest of the PTDC, to perform as part of the Center Stage Series. He took some time out of his schedule to chat with Inspire(d) about the upcoming show, what it’s like to live and work as a dancer, and what’s inspiring him these days.

Tell us about the upcoming performance at the Center for Faith and Life – what pieces are you bringing on this tour?

The audience in Decorah is getting a star-studded line up of dances that are some of Mr. Taylor’s best and most famous works – Esplanade, Mercuric Tidings and Piazzolla Caldera.

All of these pieces are really energetic and will enthrall the audience. This is an interesting combination because Paul usually programs a subdued, or more dramatic and emotional piece in the middle. But these dances are all very powerful, driven pieces. It’s going to be non-stop for the audience members.

Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

If there’s a household name in dance, Paul Taylor might be it, don’t you think? People have called him “the world’s greatest living choreographer” … what’s it like to work with a man and within a company with a reputation like this?

I wake up and grab breakfast and head to Pilates. I take or teach class at the Taylor studio, then rehearse from 12 – 5 pm. Quite often, I’ll go to the gym right after. I get home around 7:30 pm and cook dinner, play guitar and pass out! Then it starts all over again the next day.

It’s incredible to work with Paul but it’s great to dance the What do you say to the Modern Dance – or even Modern Art – dances he choreographed back in the 70s and 80s that are Haters of the world? You know they exist. Do you have any nuggets iconic. As a dancer, you grow up seeing these dances and now of wisdom that might sway them to the other side? you’re doing them – it’s an amazing experience.

Paul Taylor is definitely a household name within the arts I feel like modern dance and modern art speak to people with open and dance community. The general public only really knows a minds and imaginations. I feel like people who don’t see the value in art handful of dancers and it is sad dance it’s not recognized the or believe we’re wasting money on the way it should be. That people know arts are coming from a different place dance from TV shows like, “So You See the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Decorah than we are. They are either going to Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing go and see dance and open their mind with the Stars” instead of Paul at Luther College’s Center for Faith and Life to the experience and appreciate it Taylor is a travesty.

Thursday, November 3, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on or not. I think modern dance speaks My shining moments with Paul are sale starting October 6.

Details at more to your spirit and not intellect, when he comes out on stage and so if you’re not open and you don’t let we get to bow with him. It is the only www.luther.edu/programming/centerstage/ it happen, it won’t. People will analyze chance I get to be on stage with him dance and not understand it but it’s sharing a moment. not like a movie they can decipher.

People who don’t like modern dance should still come! A word of You’ve been with the Company – first at the Taylor School, wisdom would be go without any expectations and just be there for the then dancing with Taylor 2, and now in the PTDC – in some experience. way or another for the past 15 years. Was this your dream?

Do you ever wake up and think, “Wow, this is my life!”?

And – something we like to ask in all our interviews: who – or what – inspires you most at this time in your life?

I started dancing at Luther College and Doug Risner was the dance professor there at the time. My parents wanted to send Right now, my parents inspire me because of how open, kind and me to a summer dance program and Doug strongly suggested hard working they are. Those are the values they instilled in me since Paul Taylor. There were other summer programs out there – I was a kid. I think luck has a lot to do with success but if you don’t Jose Limon, David Parsons, but they sent me to Taylor. At that work hard or if you’re not kind to people, you’re not going to succeed. time, I had only seen Esplanade. I had never dreamed of being a They teach by example because they lead their lives this way. They are Taylor dancer until I took the intensive summer program, and it inspiring. felt absolutely perfect for me. That’s why I went to New York to study at The Taylor School.

At this point in my career, I don’t wake up and say anymore, “Wow, I’m dancing for Paul Taylor!” But I am thankful every day Aryn Henning Nichols has always wanted to be a dancer. It is, in fact, the for the job that I have.

reason she was a cheerleader in high school – there was no dance program at her tiny school! The quarterly pep rally dance routines had to suffice.

She’s looking forward to checking out the PTDC this fall in Decorah.

What’s a usual non-touring day in the life of Rob Kleinendorst like?

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2011-12 Season details at www.luther.edu/theatredance theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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Forestry/Wood Harvest

Inks & Solvents >>>>

Printer

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Paper mill

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

Distribution > 70 mile radius of Decorah x 2

Minnesota Wisconsin

Iowa

Consumer Use/Reuse

Disposal: recycling or landfill (coffee table?).

This part is in your hands!

Inspire(d) offsets the carbon footprint of the magazine in your hands, and pledges to track and lessen its overall environmental impact through 2012 and beyond.

Delivery

Inspire(d) HQ: staff editorial content, design, ad sales/travel research

By Aryn Henning Nichols

When I don’t know the answer to something, I often ask Google. “What’s the best place to stay in Minneapolis?”

“How do you alphabetize a list in a Word doc?”

So, naturally, I brought up Google when I needed to ask, “What’s the carbon footprint of…” …this is where I was going to write “magazine publishing.” But Google, these days, tries to finish your sentences. It goes on to guess “your toilet paper?”

Of course, I was curious. Just what WAS the carbon footprint of my toilet paper?

The environmental advocacy group, National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), says that if each U.S. household, every year, replaced just one of their non-recycled-content rolls of TP with one that does have recycled-content, more than 424,000 trees would be saved. From one roll.

Shocking, right?

Whether the product goes, literally, down the toilet, or into a magazine, as is our case, it’s still the paper business, and it’s an industry that is hugely contributing to global warming and air, water, and land pollution. It takes

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a lot of energy to harvest and process trees, and for publishing, Things we could do better: there’s the added environmental impact of printing and distribution.

- Use papers with more recycled content that are also Forest But we love trees. We love the earth. (Big hugs all around.) So we Stewardship Council Certified (using only wood pulp that has been thought there’s no better time than now to start looking at how to harvested from responsibly managed forests). The reason we decrease our carbon footprint. haven’t done this already is cost, but we’ve been researching with A carbon footprint is a measure of the total greenhouse gas our printers, Crescent Printing (based out of Onalaska, Wisconsin). emissions for a business, person, event, or product through There are some great options available, and we hope to make transport, manufacturing, and general day-to-day tasks. The goal is more green upgrades in 2012. to make your “footprint” smaller, thus leaving our lovely earth less - Raise awareness with our readers, encouraging them to recycle marred. Inspire(d) Media hopes to look at all of our processes in or pass Inspire(d) on to friends.

2012, researching in detail what our impact is on the environment - Deliver magazines locally with a bike and trailer! and how we can minimize or - Find regional “stewards” to offset our footprint, making help keep our magazine racks each magazine a little more – stocked (so we don’t have if not totally – carbon neutral. to drive the Driftless Region Let’s start with the positive: Distribution loop more than What we’re doing right. once).

- Our inks are soy-based, - Get an even more fuelmaking them naturally low recognizes the energy ethic of efficient delivery vehicle. in VOCs (volatile organic - Encourage readers to Inspire(d) Media compounds). check out the magazine online. as represented by the purchase - The cover has 10% - Get recycled-content toilet of 6 Oneota Tag carbon offsets recycled material (but we can paper in-office (that one’s on the 12 day of August, 2011 do better). easy)!

- Our interior pages are not coated – this not only Miles driven, reams and rolls removes the intensive process of paper printed on, research of coating (present on lots of conducted, office energy glossy magazines), but also used, toilet paper unrolled… makes the pages easier to it all adds up to our carbon recycle. footprint. But accurately - We work from home! This measuring these things is means no commuting and no additional space to heat and cool. difficult. My rough estimates show that currently, per year, we - We ride bikes for errands a lot! drive about 8,500 business miles, print about 50,000 magazines, - We only have one car: our trusty Subaru, and it gets pretty good and our in-office energy use, in total, equals about $350 (25% mileage – about 25-27 miles/gallon. of our whole-house usage). Plus truck delivery of our completed - We recycle, compost, and use cloth napkins. magazines from Onalaska to Decorah, cardboard for the boxes, - We’re local: No shipping tons – literally – of magazines across and the energy needed to actually receive, plate, and print our the country. magazine at Crescent Printing…well, there are a lot of variables.

- We’ve gone quarterly (cutting down our entire process from six But I took all these numbers and worked with some online carbon to four times per year) and our whole magazine is viewable online. footprint calculators, divided the number by four issues a year, and divided THAT number by an average of 12,500 magazines printed See the illustration on the previous page to learn more about per quarter. I also looked at other magazines that have gone the path of Inspire(d) Magazine. through this process – like Backpacker, National Geographic,

Winneshiek Energy District

“Dentist day! Those 6 months took FORever!”

Okay…we know you’re probably not going to say that. But we do have digital x rays with less radiation, metal-free dentistry available, plus cable TV in every room, local art, nice views, and, of course, free toothbrushes and floss.

Hooray for Dentist Day!

Dr. Jon R. Hart • Dr. Peter J. Blodgett • Dr. John E. Wilmes 108 Fifth Avenue, Decorah, Iowa • 563-382-3657 • Visit our website at: www.decorahdental.com 36

Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

and Discover. Their average carbon footprint was about 1.5 pounds per copy. We’re a much smaller operation, obviously, so with all those numbers, we’ve decided on a generous one pound of carbon dioxide per copy, or, for this entire issue, 5.67 tons.

To offset this footprint, we’re buying, well… offsets.

Since sometimes there’s no way around negatively impacting the environment (except not doing or making the thing you’re planning to do or make), a way to lessen the damage is by putting something equally good into – or removing something equally bad from – the environment at the same time. Most of the world’s developed countries have signed the Kyoto Protocol, What do YOU do with your Inspire(d) requiring companies and countries to reduce their emissions over when you’re done reading? Let us time – if they can’t, they must buy know at Inspire(d) Media Facebook! offsets. But the United States and its businesses aren’t required to do this. That means all US offsetting is voluntary – the purchaser just wants to make the world a better place, or so we can assume.

But the offsets are often purchased for projects in other countries or places so far away that it’s hard to believe anything positive is happening. But luckily for the Driftless Region, there’s a local option!

The Winneshiek Energy District sells offsets called Oneota Tags. It is, according to the Energy District’s website, “the only program in the world where offset dollars go to energy projects directly in Winneshiek County, reducing emissions AND stimulating the local economy at the same time.” EnergyDistrict.org has tons of great information that will help you understand the different types of offsets, where your money is going, and why buying them locally is a really great idea.

Each Oneota Tag offsets one metric ton of carbon dioxide and costs $30. Since we create f 5.67 tons of CO2e per quarter, we’re buying er o zine t n a ri $170.10 worth of Oneota Tags. I just enter d P ) Mag u o the number in the form on energydistrict.

Pr ire(d org/offset and click check out (let’s do it p Ins together…exciting, right?). A few PayPal clicks later and this Fall 2011 magazine is (roughly) carbon neutral! And we’re saving trees in the bathroom now too! (More big hugs all around!)

Follow us through 2012 as we continue to make changes, and thanks for reading!

Aryn Henning Nichols was the first to think recycled-content toilet paper couldn’t possibly be pleasant. But she was, happily, wrong! Change the world, people: Change your TP!

Read the story about the Winneshiek Energy District from the Winter 2010-11 issue at theinspiredmedia.com.

Want to learn more great green stuff? Come to the Third Annual Decorah Iowa Green INitiative (Dig IN), September 16-18, 2011. digindecorah.com

For all your printing and promotional needs contact Steve Sokolik @ 608.781.1050 ext. 179

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37

Making (More) Cents of Green

By Benji Nichols

In the past years, Inspire(d) has worked hard to highlight businesses that go out of their way to use green technologies and thinking. We offer up our latest champions of the environment here – to learn more about Making Cents of Green, read 2009’s “Making Cents of Green” feature at theinspiredmedia.com.

Gundersen Lutheran Energy Check Up Program A few years back, Gundersen Lutheran realized the rising energy costs that they were experiencing were doing little but help raise the price of healthcare for consumers. Energy audits ensued; simple measures were first taken, and then bigger projects to help conserve energy and resources. From the wisdom gained came the Energy Check Up Program, available to healthcare organizations and beyond. Through things like retrofitting light fixtures, scheduling air handling and HVAC equipment cycles, and changes in heating/cooling technology, the Check Up Program has helped save hundreds of thousands of dollars in just a couple of years for Gundersen Lutheran. In fact, they have gone as far as to partner with the City Brewery in La Crosse to harness excess methane waste gas which is burned to create electricity for the Gundersen La Crosse campus. Cheers to that! Check out more at www.gundluth.org

Ring, Ring! “... ... ...?”

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Your sister?

No. it was Donlon Healthmart! They call to check on my prescription refills once a month. My sister only calls once in a blue moon.

we call more than your grandkids!

Synchronized Med Refills: We keep track of your prescriptions, and call once a month to ask if there are any changes or any Over-TheCounter items to include in your order, and then have it all ready the same day each month. And it’s just $10 a year!

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201 West Water Street, Decorah, Iowa • 563-382-2626 • www.donlonpharmacy.com 38

Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

Energy Star stars shine bright in Decorah!

In May of 2011, the Oneota Community Food Co-op earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR certification. This means that the Co-op building performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency, and meets strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA. ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Last year alone, Americans saved $18 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 34 million vehicles with the help of ENERGY STAR. In addition to the Oneota Food Co-op, Decorah Bank and Trust, and JC Penney have also earned Energy Star ratings in recent years.

“Whether operating a grocery store, a school, or an office building, getting the most of energy dollars while reducing a carbon footprint just makes sense,” says Joe Grimstad of Decorah Bank and Trust. Indeed! Let the stars shine!

Find out more at: www.oneotacoop.com/about-the-coop/sustainability www.jcpenney.net/about/social_resp/environment/energystar.aspx www.decorahbank.com/environment.php The Green Business Challenge – Save energy and money!

The Winneshiek Energy District is encouraging businesses to save energy and save money with the Green Business Challenge.

Businesses that sign up for the Green Business Challenge will gain recognition for their efforts and qualify to win one of three intensive electrical audits from Smartgreen.com energy consulting valued at over $3,000.

Businesses that sign up for the Green Business Challenge enter their energy use data into the EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool. This is an online database that allows businesses to qualify for the Energy Star program, monitor energy use, and access resources for reducing energy costs. To sign up, businesses can start by collecting their last 15 months of energy use data. Then go to www.energydistrict.org/programs/ challenge. For questions about this or other programs of the Winneshiek Energy District, contact bizinfo@energydistrict.org.

The Green Business Challenge is funded by a grant from the Iowa Office of Energy Independence.

While the Challenge is limited to businesses and organizations within Winneshiek County, all businesses can benefit from the Energy Star tools by following the web links or by going to www. energystar.gov/benchmarking.

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theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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Decorah’s Very Own Jack of All Artistic Trades: Meet Rachelle Reis Branum 40

Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

By Lauren Kraus • Photos by Aryn Henning Nichols

R

achelle Reis Branum’s wide smile welcomes you in. It’s impossible to NOT feel instantly comfortable with this energetic, funky, excited, talented, creative woman.

This was especially helpful as I sat in the first evening of her class at ArtHaus in Decorah. Rachelle’s hunger to create is contagious in the classroom. She got us novice students (and the experienced ones too) excited about diving right into the vibrant watercolors we would use for the next six weeks.

She somehow manages to maintain this sparkling personality as she bounces between all of her life’s roles – artist, business owner, wife, teacher, mother, Driftless Art Collective board president, and entrepreneur.

Originally from Cresco, Iowa, area, Rachelle was inspired to pursue art in high school and won a scholarship to the University of Northern Iowa to do just that.

After that, she spent some time living life and searching for her “voice” as an artist.

“Throughout my life, I have tried on many careers, mostly in arts education,” she says. “But I always seem to come back to the need to create.”

Decorah residents for the last four years, Rachelle and her family were drawn back to the vitality of Northeastern Iowa after living in Cedar Falls, San Antonio, Ankeny, Omaha, and Minneapolis. Once settling in, Rachelle obviously didn’t waste time jumping into the art scene.

She owns and operates The Clay Studio, a community pottery studio, is the cocreator of Wise Owl Designs with Decorah artist Lea Lovelace, and also teaches various classes at ArtHaus.

As if that’s not enough, for the past 10 years she’s been creating her own Soymade Scents candles – “I have a lot of repeat customers so I keep on making them for those who are addicted…” – and

also sews “20 or so” quilts every few months with her mom in a venture called Wabi Sabi Ware.

“I love spending time together doing what I imagine women would have done at the turn of the century: canning, quilting bees, etc. It has brought our relationship to a new level – we are co-creators appreciating and needing each other’s talents like friends.”

How in the world does one woman do so much? We thought it might be best if she fills you in. Don’t ask us how she found time to answer our questions!

You are an incredibly multifaceted artist and teacher. After graduating from UNI, where and to what did your creative energy take you?

I try not to restrict myself but work in what interests me at the moment.

I did a lot of colorful, abstract yet representational watercolors in my

Close, convenient care for illnesses and injuries Your busy life doesn’t stop when you or your child get sick or injured.

If this happens, turn to the Gundersen Lutheran – Decorah Clinic for treatment of cuts, sprains, allergies, infections, rashes and minor injuries. Same-day appointments are available when needed so you can get back to living your life.

For your convenience, we open at 7:30 a.m. on weekdays and stay open until 6 p.m. (5 p.m. on Fridays). We’re also open Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.

To schedule your appointment, call (563) 382-3140 or (800) 865-3140. gundluth.org/decorah

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

early 20s since I was quite busy with my job – at the time I worked as an assistant curator of art education at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. I didn’t have the time or studio space to continue pursuing clay. It was great for me. I let the work guide me and really got to trust my intuition.

When we moved to Minneapolis in my late 20s, I got back into clay work. But now I was using clay to tell stories and work through my own insecurities about “finding myself”. I remember struggling at that point and wanting to find a billboard among the crowded highways that said, “Hi Rachelle. Do this: ___________.” It was a process for me to realize that I could create myself instead of always searching to find myself.

Good clothes take you good places

Did you settle on creating something during this time of your life that you felt proud of?

cozy

casual

Yes! When I was pregnant with my first child, Caden, I tried to discipline myself into making a small pinched bowl form for each day of the gestation. I am inspired by folk art, especially that of Mexico, and it was a practice for me in consistency and mindfulness. It seemed like making a pilgrimage without having to travel. There are still over a hundred of these small bowls around our house. I have sold a few dozen and I like the idea of the bowls now making real pilgrimages into other people’s lives.

I was lucky that ArtHaus was starting up and that gave me a chance to teach. Then I told Lea Lovelace, ArtHaus Co-Director, that I would have a show. I did want to make art again, though I didn’t want to bring clay and all the dust and mess into my home with two preschoolers. I wasn’t sure if I was interested in painting again. So I procrastinated, something that has always worked for me in the past. I decided to learn to sew. Out of that, came my first show at ArtHaus!

That’s a lot of pressure when you’re just starting a new medium. How’d that go?

warm

How did you get the ball rolling again with art when you moved to Decorah?

I learned to sew by doing. No patterns, no rules, although I ended up making some rules for myself in the end. I just started to play. I created small quilts like I would paint. I let the color and

211 West Water Street Decorah, Iowa M.T.W.Fr.Sat 9-5 Thurs. 9-8 563.382.8940 Tiles made by the community decorate the facade of The Clay Studio.

theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

43

fabrics determine the shapes and look for unity and variation.

For the show, I conceptualized the idea of taking old forgotten handiwork from women at the turn of the century and making it new again, adding a new layer to the story. I went back to the storytelling I was doing with clay but added the exploration of my watercolors into it – I wanted to make art that leaves room for your own interpretation, your own story.

You’re also the creator and owner of The Clay Studio. Tell us the story!

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Well, I love art, I love learning, I love new challenges, and I love clay. I don’t always love what I make out of clay – but I do love lots of other people’s work. I love the problem solving and element of surprise that comes with working in clay. And I love to see what kids come up with to make out of clay almost as much as I love to see kid’s drawings. I wanted a place to work in clay but didn’t want to just be a studio artist holed up in my basement. I want to share the joy of creating with others. And I wanted to do my part in adding something to the vitality of Decorah. I truly believe everyone has a creative side that can benefit being nurtured.

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

What is Wise Owl Designs all about?

To balance that more “heady” work, I am enjoying collaborating on work with Lea for Wise Owl Designs. It is fun to just make art on a weekly basis without all the pressure I put into a piece that is “storytelling”. The work is purely design-based – whimsical, playful, fun. I love that we can make fun clothes for kids, while trying to be earthwise about it. We use organic cotton, overstocks, or upcycled clothing whenever possible.

What is your favorite medium?

The only consistent thing is change. In trying to find my artistic voice, the art has always come first and the medium second. I would call myself a mixed media artist because of that. I want to create a story for the viewer. I can’t seem to pin myself down to one medium which for years felt like a failure, a “jack of all trades, master of none” type.

You’ve been the Board President of the Driftless Art Collective (D.Art Co) for the past year – tell us about your work with that organization. How does it help connect artists – like you – in the region?

It has been very exciting to be part of D.Art Co this year. We’ve been reshaping it into an umbrella organization for other arts groups (currently we are fiscal sponsors for ArtHaus and Oneota Film Festival) and as a support system for local artists. We are lucky to have such a big number of artists and creative people in our community, and D.Art Co is important in educating the public about what the arts /artists have to offer in terms of community vitality. We want to make sure each visitor to our area is aware of what a vibrant arts community we are. D.Art Co’s work this year will culminate in the launching of a website which will be an information hub: showcasing arts happenings in the area, work of local artists, and resources for artists.

Coming up is our annual membership drive and party October 22 as well. I hope to see lots of people there – it is guaranteed to be fun!

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Seriously: How do you fit it all in?

I am a “jump in, get your feet wet, and then solve problems” type of person and although I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone, it is what works for me!

I follow my interests and then am in the middle of many things without wanting to let any of them go… except for the days when I am ready to move to the desert and only think of myself and my art, like I imagine Georgia O’Keeffe doing. I am very interested in exploring the places in between: consistency and change, repetition and variation, loving the modern and respecting tradition, finished and unfinished, polished/professional and lively/naïve, making work through intuition and thinking conceptually. I love the comfort of consistency but chase after the inspiration/growth that comes through change.

Lauren Kraus, happy Decorah resident, loves summer, not humidity. The best part of the summer was her trip to Peru! Next thing to look forward to: a cool, crisp fall.

If you are interested in learning more or seeing Rachelle’s work in person, purchasing anything or taking a class, check out these links, or visit her upstairs of the Clay Studio during the Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour!

GET YOUR BOOK BUZZ...

Commemorative glass plates in honor of Luther’s Sesquicentennial.

Artwork from an original 1911 Postcard.

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www.theclaystudiodecorah.com www.wiseowldesigns.com www.arthausdecorah.org www.simplejoystudios.etsy.com

theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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Art Attack is Back!

It seems that every fall people are puttin’ on their Arty Pants. (Yes, of course that’s a thing.) Since there’s a lot of great stuff going on, we thought we’d put as much of it as possible in one place for easy viewing. So, without further ado, check out what’s happenin’ in the world of arts:

Driftless Area Artist Festival September 17: 10-5, September 18: 10-4

Enjoy local wines, foods, music, and art at the seventh annual Driftless Area Art Festival. This event brings artists together in Crawford County, Wisconsin, always the third weekend in September.

It’s a beautiful time of year, and since the festival is headquartered in Soldiers Grove, there’s no way to avoid the stunning hills and valleys of the Driftless Region. “Discover the area.

Discover its artists. Delight in both.”

Bluff Country Artist’s Gallery

Chick Night

Thursday, Sept. 22, 5 to 8 pm The Bluff Country Artist’s Gallery in Spring Grove hosts this fun girls night out – although “roosters” are welcome too. Chick Night is a local night out with friends shopping, eating and watching a movie. Participating businesses in downtown Spring Grove extend their hours and offer specials for those at Chick Night. You start at the Gallery and get a punch card, then visit and shop at a minimum of three participating businesses. They will punch your card so you can earn a free ticket to the “chick flick” movie on the roster at the lovely Spring Grove Cinema.

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

Decorah artist Jeanine Scheffert will be on the Northeast Iowa Artists Studio Tour. Photo courtesy NIAST.

October is National Arts Month, and there are a lot of exciting things happening!

Northeast Iowa Artists Studio Tour October 7, 8, and 9, 2011

Iowa’s oldest and largest Studio Tour is celebrating 14 years with new artists and “adventures” on the tour. 54 artists at 40 locations will offer a behind-the-scene’s peek into their methods and studios, covering everything from pottery and paintings to woodcuts, baskets, and jewelry to woodworking, kaleidoscopes, sculpture, photography, fused glass, ironwork, and more. Tour participants can set their own pace while driving from studio to studio – a full-color brochure features a map and directions and more detailed maps and GPS coordinates are available as web downloads. The tour is free of charge and sites are all within 35 miles of Decorah.

Workspaces are open from 10 am to 5 pm all three days. For more information or for a brochure, visit www.iowaarttour. com or email tour@iowaarttour.com, or call Winneshiek County Convention & Visitors Bureau: 800-463-4692.

D.ART Co. Driftless ART Collective

D.ART Co. Driftless ART Collective

D.ART Co. Driftless ART Collective

D.ART Co.

Art Walk/ Arty Party:

A month-long fundraiser for Driftless Art Collective On-going September 29-October 22.

Arty Party October 22.

Driftless ART Collective

Inspire(d) Media and T-Bock’s Sports Bar and Grill would like to invite you to join in “Take it to the Streets!”, an upcoming month-long fundraiser for the region’s newly re-branded Driftless Art Collective.

D.ART Co. Driftless ART Collective

theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

47

wares,” she says. Agora now has expanded to include 250 different artists’ work from across the nation – many local, and more than 90% of Gail’s store is filled with American Craft: handmade wares produced by artisans from right here in the U.S. Early October marks the kick off of “American Craft Week,” which, despite the name, is actually 10 days.

From October 7 through 16, the Craft Retailers and Artists for Tomorrow (CRAFT), ask retailers, artists, and the public to take note of the craft items they purchase, and keep it local, or at least national.

“Local foods have gotten such a big push – when you support your farmers, that money stays in the community,” Gail says. “It is the exact same way for local artists. They are individuals trying to make a living.”

America Craft Week (ACW) is part of a larger movement to educate the public on not only keeping it local, but making the idea of “craft” more visible. Craft, by definition, is a skill in doing or making something, but in past years it’s been associated with cookie jars and potholders. Nothing against those things, it’s just Potter Pete Blodgett will be selling his bowls that craft embodies so much again this year, but this time as part of the more, and American Craft Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour. All the Week is hoping to widen that proceeds from sales over the Studio Tour definition once again. weekend will go to the Decorah Free Clinic. www.agoraarts.com Support this great cause and artist!

The events kick off with ArtWalk’s opening night, Thursday, September 29 – stop in that night at the ArtHaus Studio to get a “guided tour”. Visitors and residents are invited to take a stroll around Downtown Decorah through an amazing “street gallery”.

Decorah businesses will work with talented Driftless Art Collective (D.Art Co.) artists to display unique works in storefronts for all to enjoy throughout the October, the national arts and humanity month. And there’s an extra bonus: some artists will offer select pieces for silent auction as part of the fundraiser for D.Art Co. Folks can place bids any time between September 29 and 12 pm October 22, the day of D.Art Co.’s Arty Party and Annual Fundraiser. The Arty Party and Fundraiser will be held at T-Bock’s Second Floor! Arty Party-goers will enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, great conversation, fantastic art, and fun! All the silent auction items will be on display, with opportunities to bid on favorite pieces continuing until 9 pm. A small handful of art pieces will be part of a short and fun live auction as well, in addition to a few other Arty Party surprises throughout the night. All are invited to this free event!

American Craft Week

October 7-16, 2011 Gail Bolson-Magnuson was one of the first to bring area art to the street – Water Street to be exact. She opened Agora Arts in 1991 with 33 artists selling their work on consignment.

“There were so many artists in the region, but no local space to sell their

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Driftless Area Art Festival Celebrating the Visual, Performing, and Culinary Arts of the Driftless Area 80 Visual Artists Live Music Local Foods

Free Admission and Parking

Saturday, September 17 10:00—5:00 Sunday, September 18 10:00—4:00 Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin

www.DriftlessAreaArtFestival.com

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

Stop in and fill your heart, mind, and soul with new insights.

The latest in trendy fashions arriving daily!

Personal Shopping Assistant!

Don’t worry about keeping up with

The Funky You’ll love the variety of fashions and accessories that cause excitement in today’s social circles. There’s a funky kid in all of us, so go ahead, grownups…try it on, get over “stuffy” and get a little crazy! You’ll be surprised at how it changes your mood and brings on the smiles. Val will help you put it all together.

fashion trends. Create your own and let “Bittersweet Boutique in Lanesboro is all about bringing out the best in me! I can’t count the number of people who have said, them keep up with you! Bittersweet Boutique offers personalized assistance in combining “Your outfit is SO CUTE! Where did you get it?” I always love to share my secret: Bittersweet Boutique in Lanesboro, layer elements and accessorizing with scarves, handbags and jewelry. Not sure how it would Minnesota! Val and her staff are so much fun to shop with, and look on you? TRY IT ON! Dressing rooms are they know just what I like and what will look great on me. They have many new must-have items every time I stop in, and they get provided for your shopping convenience, as excited as I do when I come out of the dressing room sporting and Val or her associate will be on hand stylish combinations of tops, bottoms, and dresses. Share the news: with tips and tricks that will make Bittersweet Boutique is retail therapy at its finest!” you the envy of everyone at your

Lanesboro, Minnesota (507) 467-2292 Thursday - Saturday 10-7 Sunday - Wednesday 10-5

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next social gathering.

The Antique Lover Great selection of furniture, porch beams, trunks dressers, buffets, kitchen Hoosiers and many other exciting finds.

Thanks for a great year! Open through Christmas Eve December 24, 2011.

Re-opening March 31, 2012 in an all-new space in downtown Lanesboro!

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113 W. Water St. Decorah,

e h t to

Inspire(d) Media and T-Bock’s Sports Bar and Grill would like to invite you to join in “Take it to the Streets!”, an upcoming month-long fundraiser for the region’s newly re-branded Driftless Art Collective.

The events kick off with ArtWalk’s opening night, Thursday, September 29. Visitors and residents are invited to take a stroll around Downtown Decorah through an amazing “street gallery”. Decorah businesses will work with talented Driftless Art Collective (D.Art Co.) artists to display unique works in storefronts for all to enjoy throughout October, the national arts and humanity month. A popular event when D.Art Co. was known as the Decorah Regional Arts Council, ArtWalk will bring all the great ideas of the past back to the streets, but with an added twist: some artists will offer select pieces for silent auction as part of the fundraiser for D.Art Co. Art lovers can place their bids any time between September 29 and 12 pm October 22, the day of D.Art Co.’s Arty Party and Annual Fundraiser.

The Arty Party and Fundraiser will be held this year at T-Bock’s Second Floor! Mid-renovation, Arty Party-goers will get a sneak peek at the beautiful building’s restoration and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, great conversation, fantastic art, and fun! All the silent auction items will be on display at the Arty Party, with opportunities to bid on favorite pieces continuing until 9 pm. A small handful of art pieces will be part of a short and fun live auction as well, in addition to a few other Arty Party surprises throughout the night. All are invited to this free event!

The Arty Party also represents the launch of dartco.org, an easy-to-update local arts website. It will host details on mission, membership, and resources, and will be a platform for members to network and gain exposure through an artist directory, regular arts updates, and outreach opportunities. This will be a new benefit for D.Art Co. members – the organization will be accepting new and returning members at the Arty Party and Fundraiser, and ballots will be available for members to vote on arts council board positions for the 2011/2012 year. The new board will be announced following the Live Auction.

The Driftless Art Collective’s mission is to empower our community to network and foster partnerships, so together we can create stronger art-related events, cultural activities, and educational opportunities. As a membership organization, we provide promotional, business, and community-building support to artists and arts groups hoping to get off the ground, grow, and improve life in our region.

D.Art Co. plans to use funds raised during “Take it to the Street” to hire a central administrator for the organization. As fiscal sponsors – right now for ArtHaus and the Oneota Film Festival, and more projects on the horizon – D.Art Co. must process paperwork and checks for current projects, and accept and review applications for future projects. An administrator would work with the board on these tasks and also assist in grant writing, regularly update the dartco.org website and social media, and help organize art business-related workshops and events. The arts are important to everyone: art-related events equal tourism and tourism equals dollars for our community. Come out and “Take it to the Streets” with the Driftless Art Collective!

If members of the public would like to volunteer at the Arty Party and Annual Fundraiser, contact D.Art Co. board member Aryn Henning Nichols at aryn@theinspiredmedia.com.

Sponsored by Inspire(d) Media and T-Bock’s Sports Bar and Grill.

Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

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Inspire(d)

2011-2012 Artist Series 9-11 Remembrance; 10 Years Later Sunday, September 11, 2011, 7 p.m.

Tim Conway & Friends

Sunday, September 25, 2011, 7 p.m.

Masters of the Fiddle

Thursday, October 13, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

Lily Cai Chinese Dance Company

The Magic Flute with UNI School of Music

Friday, January 27, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Elvis Lives

Tuesday, February 7, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Spirit of Uganda - A BUCK A KID! Sunday, February 19, 2012, 3 p.m.

Sunday, October 23, 2011, 3 p.m.

Wroclaw Philharmonic with Garrick Ohlsson

Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real

Burn the Floor

A BUCK A KID!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 27, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 25, 2012, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

My Fair Lady

The Chieftains

Saturday, October 29, 2011, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 3, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Hugo Wolf Quartett

Colin Hay

Sunday, October 30, 2011, 3 p.m.

Friday, March 9, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

The Nutcracker - Minnesota Ballet

Béla Fleck and the Flecktones

November 18-20, 2011, Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday & Sunday, 2 p.m.

Flying Karamazov Brothers

Kathy Griffin

Sunday, April 15, 2012, 3 p.m.

A BUCK A KID!

Sunday, December 11, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

Mannheim Steamroller

Friday, December 16, 2011, 7:30 p.m.

Monty Python’s Spamalot

Sunday, January 15, 2012, 2 & 7:30 p.m.

Rock of Ages

Thursday-Friday, January 19-20, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 31, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

A BUCK A KID!

The Midtown Men

Friday, April 20, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Morgenstern Trio

Thursday, April 26, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Twist and Shout

Sunday, May 6, 2012, 7:30 p.m.

Dates and times subject to change

Tickets on sale to general public August 1, 2011 Join Friends of the Gallagher-Bluedorn to order early!

Fostering a

Positive Future

By Kristine Kopperud Jepsen

I

t’s cicada season, and to school kids that means one desperate thing: the end of summer vacation. But for more than 450 of those Iowa teens the whirring in the treetops is white noise to the fact that, not only are they heading back to school, but they’re just months away from facing the world on their own. Alone.

They’re foster kids – veterans of a system that both scrutinizes their particulars and commodifies them in a sincere but limited effort to keep them safe, clothed, and fed. And loved too, hopefully.

Kirsten Heine, a foster parent herself, got Project Care off the ground in just a few short weeks. She hopes to continue growing the program to help more foster kids as they set out on their own for the very first time.

Photo by Aryn Henning Nichols

We put the care in healthcare.

David Heine, MD

563.382.1200 • www.thefamilycareclinic.com 52

Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

Serving 6,000 kids in Iowa each year, the foster care program manages children who’ve been abused, abandoned, neglected or otherwise estranged until they can either return to their families or find a new permanent home through adoption, according to Iowa KidsNet, a collaboration of six Iowa non-profits that recruits, trains, licenses and supports families to foster and adopt Iowa kids.

But reunification and adoption don’t always happen, and foster children “age out” of state custody when they turn 18. Some graduate. Some don’t.

In a 2010 report on the progress of foster grads in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois, it’s clear getting a diploma isn’t always the most pressing concern.

Conducted by Chapin Hall, a policy research center at the University of Chicago, the study found that of the 732 students tracked from “ageout” to age 23-24, 37 percent had been homeless or couch surfed since exiting foster care. Less than half were employed at the time of their last interview, most who were employed were not earning a living wage, and more than one-quarter had had no employment income in the past year.

In addition, two thirds of the female participants had been pregnant, and 45 percent of young men had been incarcerated.

“It’s impossible to overstate the disorienting effect of growing up in the foster system,” says Kirsten Heine, chair of the Mission and Outreach Committee at Decorah’s First Lutheran Church and herself the foster/adoptive mother of two boys. “Can you imagine your child or grandchild being picked up and moved to a stranger’s home?”

So when Heine’s pastor, interim clergyman Harris Hostager, asked this past spring what her brand-new committee was doing to support Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) – a local partner agency of Iowa KidsNet – Heine shouldered the challenge. She hit on the aging out issue when she asked her friend and social worker Deana Hageman at LSI about foster kids’ particular needs.

“Problem was, it was already the beginning of May. We had just weeks to identify the kids in Winneshiek County who were aging out and do something about it,” Heine says.

“Thank you!” says Project Care On behalf of First Lutheran Church of Decorah and the Project Care Committee, We would like to extend our heart-felt thanks to all of the individuals, businesses, and families who made Project Care possible! The goal of Project Care was to recognize six area students who were not only graduating high school but “aging out” of the Foster Care System. This dedicated effort raised money to help equip these young people in their next stage of independent living as well as host a wonderful and well-deserved graduation party on June 9.

These young people have endured much, persevered, and we wish them well in all that is ahead for them. We also hope that this project brings to light the need of all children in Iowa’s Foster Care System. This inspiring endeavor would not have been possible without kindness and generosity of those listed below. We thank you for your support!

Olivia’s Attic

Unique . Inspired . Personal

“Be Not Forgetful to Entertain Strangers: for Thereby Some have Entertained Angels Unawares” Hebrews 13:2 Dan Huebner Story People-Annette Laitenen Luther College-Jim Haemker Ace Kitchen Place and Ace Hardware-Julie Spilde Diane and Larry Grimstad Carol Edmondson Farmers and Merchants BankAndy Ludeking Walmart- Brad Henderson, Dewey Stuve, Jodi Kappes, John Berns Kwik Trip-Sharon Decorah Bank and Trust-Ben Grimstad Ben and Padrin Grimstad Subway-Kim Zweibohmer Pizza Ranch- John Dambek Rockweiler’s TV and ApplianceDean Rockweiler and Jason Zuck Bargain Outlet- Janet Porter Whippy Dip- Rosie Carolan Cindy and Jeff Ernest Marilyn and Jeff Roverud Gundersen Lutheran- Marla Klocke Casey’s- Dawn Culver’s- Bruce and Sue Anderson Justin and Jeanne Gullekson Bank of the West- Justin Gullekson Karen and Pat Trewin and Family Zach and Andrew Heine The Family Care Clinic- Dr. David Heine David and Jane Jensen Once Upon a Time Book StoreMarlys Lien The Magpie Coffee HouseKathleen Ritner Ruby and Gene Hermeier Dr. and Mrs. E.D. Farwell Karen Woodward Kathy and Doc Fuqua and Family Denise and John Olds Brad and Jane Miller Jayme and Dan Nelson & Family

Kirsten and David Heine and Family Jim and Helen Meehan Diane Marten First Lutheran WELCA Katie Shepherd Bob and Darlene Jones Gloria Carpenter Dawn Dynes Christensen Nancy and Mike Hovden and Family Carol Birkland and Tom Woxland Norma and Paul Dirks Janet Lambert Harris and Luetta Hostager Susan Nelson Melinda and Bruce Hanson Sonja and Mark Lund Owen and Linda Christianson David and Brenda Carlson Bev and Elliot Christen Roger and Jane Kolarich Steve and Lindy BorskeHubbard Jim and Sandy Hoeg Rochelle Jermeier and Mike Voltmer anonymous donors The First Lutheran Mission and Outreach Committee Jenine Jordahl Bill Musser and Otter Dreaming Deana Hageman First Lutheran Circles Laurie Wocester Al and Shirley Ludeking Jon and Mary Hart Quillin’s Grocery Store Cake Buzz-Kari Burns Decorah Greenhouse-Jim Lukes KTTC News KWWL News Inspire(d) MediaAryn & Benji Nichols

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53

Hageman explains that connecting with aged-out students can they really dreamed of,” Heine explains. “It spoke volumes about be tricky because they quickly drop off the state’s radar when them not wanting to dream big, only to be let down.” they turn 18, the age at which they can leave foster care and be “We kept discovering, over and over, how little things have huge independent. “Many students cannot wait to be free,” she says. effects,” Heine explains. “When we asked one young woman what “Every child is different, but almost all those who opt out just want she wanted most, if she could have anything at all for graduation, to be on their own and free of ‘the system.’” she requested ‘a butter yellow cake with whipped cream cheese Challenges aside, they found six students within 35 miles of frosting.’” So Heine ordered six cakes – one for each student.

Decorah scheduled Another student to graduate both requested a new set from foster care and of tires for her car so high school. The First she could commute Lutheran committee between her part-time dubbed the effort work and the college Project Care, and Heine classes she’d enrolled took to the streets, in. Still another student approaching dozens reluctantly asked for of local businesses help paying down his about donating goods, investment in a new services, and supplies wheelchair. that new foster grads In addition to hard would need as they goods, Heine rounded began life on their own. up commitments from “I walked in with a banks to help establish homemade flier and savings accounts and walked out with stainless learn budget planning. steel pots and pans, Another vendor offered microwaves, TVs, all way free job training to below cost or donated model the basics of outright. I was only professional conduct turned down once,” and success in the says Heine with a shy workplace. “It helped grin, still astonished in having this crossher quiet way. section of donors take Within days, she had an interest in helping laptops, Crock Pots, the students, having toasters, cookbooks, them see where and flatware (and “really how to get answers beautiful flatware at for themselves without that,”), towels, gift anyone telling them cards for gasoline, they had to do this or pre-payments on utility that a certain way,” services and more.

Hageman explains.

“Bless Kirsten’s By the time the party heart! Every time she rolled around, Heine called with project had enough gifts for updates and stories of each student to cover the ongoing generosity a buffet table. “We of the community, I had to ‘wrap’ them cried!” says Hageman. with table cloths,” she Top: Heine along with fellow organizers Deana Hageman and Clergyman Harris Hostager.

“You have to understand, says. The students, Bottom: People were overwhelmed by the generosity of the community and Project Care.

Photos courtesy of Project Care. having ‘new’ is really some of whom knew important to these kids – each other through and to the families who’ve cared for them. We foster parents are foster programming, were able to build their own guest lists. Some thrifty by necessity. We garage sale. We find ways to make ends invited foster families. Some reached out to birth families, their meet. Through no fault of their own, foster kids rarely have anything former social workers, and friends. A bevvy of project donors came, theirs alone, and the way our community validated that simple need as well. was incredible.”

“The kids had no idea what was coming. When the gift-giving With just days to go before area high school commencement started, they were overwhelmed and excited and grateful. Tears ceremonies, Heine and Hageman turned their attention to were flowing everywhere,” Heine says, misting a little herself. customizing gifts for the students and planning a real, live Since that party, four of the students have made plans to start graduation party. “It was difficult to get the kids to articulate what college, and all are living on their own. While they declined further recognition in this article, their former caregivers and Hageman 54 Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com Continued on page 56

Kinderhaus

a(c)tions

Inspiring wonder; education from the outside in.

Inspir

Can’t wait until Project Care’s 2012 graduation party? Check out these opportunities to learn more about foster care in our community: August 21: Doug Johnson, CEO of Lutheran Services in Iowa, will present an overview of the organization’s work serving “children, youth and families, people with disabilities, the elderly and people of refugee status... helping in times of need, strengthening families and advocating dignity and social justice for our neighbors in the community.” Location: First Lutheran Church, Decorah Time: TBA Contact Kirsten Heine for event information, 563-735-5358.

Preschool for ages 3-6 • KinderhausDecorah.com • 563.379.7303

Late September: First Lutheran Church, Decorah, will host “Heart Gallery,” an exhibition of photographs of Iowa children waiting for adoption. Taken by professional photographers, the portraits help introduce prospective foster and adoptive families to children in need. The gallery belongs to Iowa KidsNet, a partnership of six Iowa non-profit agencies. For information and a preview, visit iowakidsnet.com.

56 3 . 3 8 2 . 0 7 9 9

Right now, this minute, there are more children in Iowa in need of foster care than there are homes to provide love and support. This November, get certified to be a foster and or adoptive parent by completing training called Permanency and Safety: Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting. PS-MAPP is a 10-week series of 3-hour classes. For information, contact Kidsnet at 1-800-243-0756 or visit iowakidsnet.com to get scheduled for an orientation session.

After your massage...

Take time to watch

the leaves turn

The six non-profit agencies that make up KidsNet are: Four Oaks (www.fouroaks.org) Boys and Girls Home and Family Services (www.boysandgirlshome.com) Children’s Square USA (www.childrenssquare.org) Family Resources (www.famres.org) Lutheran Services in Iowa (www.lsiowa.org) Quakerdale (www.quakerdale.org)

Day Spring

116 Washington, Decorah, Iowa

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inspire & create

Stop by or give us a call! 508 W. Water St. Decorah, 563.382.6440

See Inspire(d) calendar or ArtHaus website for details!

www.arthausdecorah.org arthaus508@gmail.com theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

55

say the legacy of Project Care is to spread awareness of Northeast Iowa’s foster program and the particular needs of the young adults it raises.

“I’m always telling foster kids, ‘Don’t let your past determine your future,’” says Hageman, “but there’s no easy way around the fact that we all make decisions based on what we know or have experienced, which for foster kids, sometimes isn’t great. We’re often asking these children to do things differently than they were raised, which makes them feel vulnerable. They have to feel a positive vibe around them in the wider community to begin to believe it.”

And as for Heine, well, she’s back at work with the committee, pushing for the construction of a website for Project Care, organizing related presentations and events for the fall and winter, and maintaining local buzz surrounding next year’s fundraising for graduates.

“I’m just so awed by the response to this need,” she says. “Many of this year’s donors didn’t even know the recipients’ names, and yet they gave what they had and were most sincere in wishing them well. I don’t know too many communities that just do that.”

Kristine Kopperud Jepsen is grateful that she grew up in a family and small-town community that let her make her own way and feel loved, every time she glanced back for support. She hopes to support Project Care and other local initiatives by helping them build a home on the Web and raise awareness of their mission.

“We never forget our past but we move on. I’ve moved probably 20 times, treatments, foster homes, hospitalization, just different placements I guess. But you learn something different from every placement.” Graduate Taylor Meana (center in photo) said to KTTC News at the Project Care graduation party this spring. She also told them she was amazed at how many people cared for her enough to put on the party without even knowing her.

Photo courtsey of Project Care

Welcomes

Lana W. McDermott, DDS Lana received her Bachelor of Science from Luther College and her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Iowa. She is a member of the American Dental Association and the Iowa Dental Association.

{

“I feel so fortunate that I get to come back to my hometown and do what I love, practice dentistry! I look forward to helping families achieve excellence in dental health in a comfortable, friendly, caring atmosphere.“

}

When not practicing dentistry Dr. McDermott enjoys: running, working on home improvement projects with her husband, Patrick, boating on the river with family and friends, snowboarding in the winter and interior decorating.

“Dr. McDermott and I share the same philosophy in providing the best quality of patient care possible. I look forward to having her join us at West Side Dental.” Jon R. Hart, DDS

Call to schedule an appointment with Dr. McDermott today!

563.382.3657

Dr. Jon R. Hart • Dr. Peter J. Blodgett • Dr. John E. Wilmes • Dr. Lana W. McDermott 108 Fifth Avenue, Decorah, Iowa • www.decorahdental.com • westsidedental@mchsi.com

Crooked Barn Music Festival and Family Picnic Hosted by: The Crawford County Domestic Abuse Task Force.

Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 10am - 6pm @ La Riviere Park,Vineyard Road, Prairie du Chien, Wi The Crawford County Domestic Abuse task force is once again hosting the Crooked Barn Music Festival and Family Picnic. Bring your blankets, bring your chairs and join in a fun-filled day among La Riviere Park’s rolling hills. Live music, games, door prizes, an auction, cartoon artist, arts and craft venders, and food and beverage stands will all be on the grounds. In addition, Valley Fish and Cheese will be serving up their famous fish fry.

Live music will be presented throughout the day by River Monsters (11 am to12 pm), Levitating Train Committee (12:30 pm to 1:30 pm), 88 MPH (2 pm to 3 pm), The Charles Walker band (3:30 pm to 4:30 pm), and Challenger (5 pm to 6 pm). There will also be horseshoes, a bean bag tournament, turtle races, a frog jumping contest, face painting, reverse tie dying, a pictures board contest, and more, plus many door prizes including a Fuji Mountain Bike, Washburn acoustic guitar and case, a pair of Milwaukee Brewers tickets and more!

Advanced tickets are on sale for $5/adults, $2/children ages five to 12, or a $15/family package. Tickets at the gate will be $7/ adult, $3/children, and $17/family. Tickets and inquiries can be guided to 608-326-4215.

Boats and Bluegrass September 22-24, 2011 Prairie Island Park, Winona, MN Hands down, Winona’s Boats & Bluegrass should get a blue ribbon award for presenting what very well may be the best little music festival in the Midwest. Three days of bluegrass-ish goodness with everyone from Pert Near Sandstone, Charlie Parr, Greensky Blue, and Two Many Banjos to Sandman the Rappin’ Cowboy, I like You, Michelle Lynn, and a myriad of other artists.

Acts both local and wannabe local create the laidback but string pickin’ goodness of the weekend – and don’t forget the boats! Each paid festival ticket also gets you access to group canoe trips throughout the weekend on the backwaters of the Mississippi River. Camping is free with a festival ticket, and families are not only welcome, but encouraged to participate. Do yourself a favor and check out more at www. boatsandbluegrass.com.

Gear up.

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Lunch & dinner Monday - Saturday • 563-382-3067

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106 E. Water St • 563-382-3544 | 200 E. Main St • 563-382-3538 theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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CHEF

ON THE

BLOCK

Matt Henning, of Victories in Fayette, Iowa Intro by Aryn Henning Nichols

T

here’s something about taking a bit of a drive for dinner that’s appealing. It’s that supper club mentality, the notion that there’s a little hideaway just around the corner that’ll have the perfect meal for you, and as an added bonus, you might get to see some interesting scenery along the way!

Victories is just that kind of place. The restaurant and sports lounge is located in tiny Fayette, Iowa – population 1,300 and home of scenic Upper Iowa University – but instead of a little hole-in-the-wall tucked away, it’s a beautiful new building on Main Street with outdoor patios, colorful awnings, and two spacious levels inside. The main floor locks into the sports bar niche nicely, serving bar food with a kick: fresh, local ingredients with an inventive flair.

Upstairs, the formal dining room opens up to wide windows on one side, and an open kitchen on the other. Watch as Executive Chef Matt Henning creates the tasty treats that will eventually make their way to your table. The food – all made fresh-from-scratch – ranges from salads to chili fries to mussels to blue cheese burgers to garlic ginger beef medallions.

We suggest trying the house-smoked turkey breast sandwich with figs, Brie, and a side of sweet potato fries. Yum. Matt smokes many of Victories meats himself, and has carefully crafted the menu so there’s “something for everyone,” highlighting seasonal ingredients and age-old favorites.

The restaurant was a 2010 recipient of an Upper Iowa University economic development grant – the grant, now in its third year, is given to a business that wants to start, expand, or relocate a business in the city of Fayette. Most of the restaurant owners met as students at the Upper Iowa campus. Partners hail from Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Arizona, all brought together again to give something back to their alma mater community.

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

Name: Matt Henning Age (if you’re willing): 36 Restaurant/Business: Victories Restaurant and Sports Lounge Number of Years Cooking: 18 Formal training or live-and-learn?

School of hard knocks & CIA – Napa Valley. Trained under: Michael DeMaria, M Culinary Concepts; Erin Salzmann, Mondo’s; Robert Kapricoff, Houston’s.

What’s your earliest or most significant memory of cooking or being cooked for?

Helping my mom make egg sandwiches for breakfast and shucking bushels and bushels of sweet corn.

Why did you decide to become a chef?

I started cooking while attending Iowa State University – after graduating I wasn’t enjoying the job I was at and decided to move to Arizona to pursue a chef career.

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What’s the best thing you’ve ever made?

That’s a tough one – grilled ahi tuna burgers off the top of my head, but I have been smoking a lot of meats lately, and my pork ribs and butt are pretty darn good!

Do you have any monumental food fails you’d like to share with us?

While cooking for the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, I attempted to make a bulk batch (300 pounds) of mac & cheese. I attempted to cook 250 pounds of macaroni all at once in a make shift kettle made from a 200 gallon sink with a burner on the bottom. It was a disaster. Needless to say it burned the bottom of the sink, didn’t boil, and the pasta turned to mush!

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What’s your favorite: Ingredient: Garlic.

Dish: Cioppino, with all the goodies: shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, fish, etc.

Cookbook: “Food Lovers Companion.” It’s the bible!

Random (or not so random) kitchen tool: Emulsion blender. I use it for everything!

Vegetable: Baby beets or Brussels sprouts.

Fruit: Peaches

arances

How about secret food indulgences you don’t normally talk about? Will you tell us?

I’m a sucker for hole in the wall Chinese place and buffets, but usually regret it after.

A

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

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Massage can heal. Call me. I’d like to help.

Chair massages at the Oneota Co-op: Tues, Thurs, & Sat, 12 - 2 pm

Matthew Johanningmeier, LMT Carlson College of Massage Therapy Graduate 563-880-8886

A letter from S. Claus September 1, 2011

Dear Helpers of the World, I know usually you all are writing ME letters, but I thought – since I’m so excited – I would take a little time to write YOU! What am I so excited about? Well, Christmas, for starters (at the time I’m writing this, it’s only 137 days away, and we’re already working hard!), and a close second is the Holiday Lights, Magical Nights display at Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah (THAT’S only 85 days away)!

Holiday Lights, Magical Nights is one of our favorite pre-Christmas events. It’s always fun to be part of the lives of those young and young-at-heart: from tiny infants (“What is that thing in the red outfit?”), to mystified toddlers (“That really is Santa!”), to kids not quite sure (“That can’t really be Santa!”), to adults taking it all in (“It’s great to believe again!”).

Jingles, my elf, and I have had some truly touching moments at Holiday Lights. Like the time a loving little girl said, “Save my toy and give it to someone who doesn’t have any.” Or when a little boy cried tears of joy when I handed him a toy car. He said, “Santa, this is exactly what I wanted. How did you know?” And I remember the dog guarding his young master…thinking Jingles would be his next lunch. We’ll never forget asking the Japanese student, “How do you say ‘Santa Claus’ in your language?” Imagine our surprise when she looked at us and said, “Santa Claus!”

We can’t wait to see who we’ll meet this year, and hear the holiday wishes each visitor has to share. But first, we’d like to make a few wishes of our own: be good to your friends, family and neighbors… lend a hand to that person in need… always give a hug or smile to someone who could use it. Do these things, and you will always be on my “Good List”.

Jingles and I, along with all the elves, could also use some help! Before you know it, it will be time for Holiday Lights, Magical Nights and so much must still be done! I know the good people at Helping Services would appreciate extra hands and energy – would you like to pitch in? Can you fold programs? Or perhaps you want to greet visitors on one of the nights the display is open… you might even get to be MY helper! Or maybe you would enjoy helping with the display set up on November 5th? If you want to contribute in any way, call my friend Oz 563-387-1720 – he’ll set you up as an “Honorary Elf”!

Is it too early to wish you Happy Holidays? I think not.

P.S

. Don’t forget 2011 Holiday Lights, Magical Nights opens November 24, at Pulpit Rock Campground. Come see the lights and support Helping Services for Northeast Iowa. Learn more at www.helpingservices.org.

Happy Holidays,

S. Claus

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We offer a Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program that reviews:

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theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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Photo by Aryn Henning Nichols. Truck model’s agents are Mike and Dom Bockman - thanks, guys!

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

Tis’ the Season…

Tailgating Season, That Is

By Jim McCaffrey

Now that summer is an outgoing tide of memories, it is time to ratchet it up for the next big thing. It’s party central. Step up and rub shoulders with the big boys and/or… er, girls… as well. Football mania is descending upon us and with it comes another national pastime: tailgating. This social phenomenon is kind of like the Energizer Bunny. Starting in August with preseason NFL games and concluding in early February with the Super Bowl, the season keeps going and going and going.

And with it comes pre-game get-togethers with family, friends, and inevitably, total strangers. I would imagine the ritual probably dates back to at least the ancient Greek Olympic Games with buddies sharing six packs of mead and lamb kabobs. The best rendition of its beginning I could find, after a little digging, was in 1919. It was Green Bay’s first year and fans backed their pickups around the field and used their tailgates as seats to watch the games. As a Packer fan, that scenario made the appeal of tailgating infinitely clearer.

So let’s get started. The first and most important item to procure is a boatload of your favorite adult beverage. Ice-cold beer works well here. I would suggest not bringing a case of Dom Pérignon champagne – everybody will think you’re a snob. Remember – these events began in the back of a truck… but still try to put your own spin on it. Local foods and local beers are welcome, and when outdoors, cans are usually best… and make sure you bring enough to share! (Fun aside, it is also important to drink responsibly – you still have to get home from the party. When in doubt, call a cab!)

To work up an appetite, toss the beat up old football around and enjoy a couple turns playing hacky sack or the beanbag game with the kids. One needs to prepare for the smorgasbord of food that is being spread out on the beer pong table. What was once probably just a simple pre-game lunch of hotdogs and hamburgers has evolved into a treasure trove of tasty treats. I love it – especially the common sharing of food by everyone. Old family recipes like someone’s mom’s dill pickles proudly and inevitably show up on the table.

Homemade fresh salsa and chips, potato salad, coleslaw, a seven layer Mexican casserole dip, baked beans and, of course, deviled eggs, are frequent sides awaiting a cornucopia of grilled goodies from the barbeque virtuosos.

theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com

It is not uncommon for these masters of the heat to be set up at dawn and slow cooking or smoking their delicious fare. Each one an MVP in their own right. Kings of the coals. Bragging rights are at stake here. There is something about playing with fire that brings out the primal beast in all of us. But that’s part of the fun of it all.

The grill guys are putting on a show, pumping out ribs, hot and spicy barbeque chicken wings, root beer pulled pork, bratwurst, shrimp kabobs, and the list goes on and on. The camaraderie is infectious.

Fans from opposing sides sitting together gently ribbing each other about their teams, discussing the finer points of previous games, and having a gastronomic marathon.

Tailgating parties aren’t necessarily limited to the parking lots of your team’s stadiums either. Can’t make it to the game? Pull a television out into the garage or deck. Invite family and friends to bring their respective grills and side dishes. This actually has some advantages. Since this is a private party, you can control who shows up. You do not have to put up with the obnoxious guy who has to prove how macho he is by going around smashing beer cans on his forehead. Unless, of course, he is your brother-in-law. Then you are just out of luck. All kidding aside, tailgating at home can be a very enjoyable experience. A simple thing I like to do is grill sweet corn.

Since I am not on a first name basis with Martha Stewart I will have to give her credit for this idea. Husk your sweet corn and put it on the grill on high heat. Keep turning until the corn is nicely browned on all sides. Melt some butter and add fresh lime juice and cayenne pepper to it. Slather on corn and enjoy.

Have fun whipping up the following sides, and try my famous grilled chicken recipe (you might remember this from my Father’s Day 2010 column)! The food options are virtually endless…

Uh oh! Gotta run. It’s game time!

NE Iowa & SW Wisconsin

L VE

All you need to know for food ‘n’ fun An online magazine featuring giveaways, the “food ‘n’ fun calendar” and special offers

Gerda’s Potato Salad (Thanks Mom!)

Carolina Coleslaw (Serves 8-10) Dressing: 1 tsp dry mustard 1 tsp celery seed 1 cup apple cider vinegar 1 cup sugar 1 tsp salt 2/3 cup canola oil Combine following ingredients in a large bowl: 1 head of cabbage, finely shredded 1 Vidalia onion, finely chopped 2 carrots, grated

5 lbs. Russet or Idaho potatoes 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 dozen hard boiled eggs 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise 1 small red onion, diced fine 1/4 cup yellow mustard 4 stalks celery, diced fine 2 Tbl Dijon mustard 2-3 large dill pickles, diced fine 2 Tbl spicy brown mustard 6 radishes sliced thin Salt and pepper to taste

Peel and dice potatoes. Boil until just tender. Drain and cool. Separate egg yolks from whites. Place yolks in a medium sized bowl. Mash into small pieces. Stir in garlic, In a sauce pan, add all dressing mayonnaise, and mustards. Chop egg whites ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium into small pieces and place in a large mixing heat. Simmer and stir over medium heat bowl. Stir in remaining vegetables. Gently stir until sugar is dissolved. Cool and pour over in mayonnaise mixture until well combined. veggies and toss. Refrigerate until cold.

Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Grilled Roadside Chicken Refrigerate until cold “I would imagine the (Serves four) 4-6 hours. ritual probably dates

back to at least the ancient Greek Olympic Games with buddies sharing six packs of mead and lamb kabobs.”

- Jim McCaffrey

Wash chicken with cold water and pat dry with paper towels.

Place in a 9x13 baking dish. Trim green onions of any wilted leaves and roots. Set aside. Combine remaining ingredients to make a marinade. Coat all sides of the chicken with marinade. Let rest for 30 minutes. The chicken should be grilled over indirect heat. If using a gas grill, light the outside burners and leave the center one off. With a charcoal grill, push the grill ready coals to one side. You will have to add more coals about half way through.

Place chicken on the non-heated portion of the grill. Cook without turning. Baste occasionally with remaining marinade. Chicken is ready when juices run clear. (About 45 minutes). About 10 minutes before chicken is ready brush green onions with vegetable or olive and place over direct heat until tender. Place chicken on cutting board and cover with foil for 10 minutes. Serve two pieces per person with grilled onions on top.

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Jim McCaffrey is a chef, author, and co-owner with his family of McCaffrey’s Dolce Vita restaurant and Twin Springs Bakery just outside Decorah. He is author of a humorous cookbook titled “Midwest Cornfusion.” He has been in the food industry in one way or another for 40 years.

2149 Twin Springs Road, Decorah, Iowa 4-9 pm Wed – Fri | 11-9 pm Sat | 11-8 pm Sun theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011

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Donald & Ilene Moore: 65 years of marriage, laughs, & love.

Photo by David Moore

INTRODUCTION & INTERVIEW BY GRANDSON HANS ASCHIM My grandparents, Donald and Ilene Moore, truly know how to live. With their lifelong commitment to serving the community and raising a beautiful family, time is always precious. Between tending a farmer’s sick calf late in the evening, organizing 4-H events, and making sure all four children completed their schoolwork, keeping busy was never hard. Still, my grandparents have always made time for exploring hobbies, reading, traveling and constantly learning for the sake of learning. Here’s to living to the fullest and to two people I greatly admire.

IM: I worked with the Extension Service, a community service providing education, especially educating farm wives, organizing the county fair and 4-H Club. In those days it was hard to get about and communicate, the roads were so bad.

The whole county was a different place to get to know.

What is one thing you couldn’t live without?

DM: My wife! (Laughs) IM: If not, it might be your computer. (Laughs) DM: I guess it’s better to say we couldn’t live without family. They never caused us any trouble (laughs).

IM: We have a great community in Decorah.

Do you know someone you’d love to interview for this page? Let us know! aryn@theinspiredmedia.com

What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Donald Moore: The cheapest thing in the world is saying Thank You. It gets you more than anything else. Profuse ‘Thank Yous’ gets a lot of mileage.

Ilene Moore: Respect all people. No matter what their educational or financial situation is, respect everyone as people.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

DM: I didn’t think about it. I knew I wanted to go to college.

Not a lot of people went in our day. When I started college, I started out with being a veterinarian in mind.

IM: I wanted to be in the Iowa Extension service, particularly with 4-H clubs, working with education in farms and agriculture. 4-H stands for head, heart, hand, health, for both boys and girls. It was an important influence in my life as a young person.

What did/do you do?

DM: Well, I became a veterinarian (laughs). As a vet, I did general practice. I also represented the government. My era was involved in cleaning up TB (tuberculosis) in cattle and brucellosis in cattle. We also represented the state of Iowa in the poultry and meat inspection agencies.

IM: I’d say you liked small animal care the best – working with people in the community, giving care for dogs and cats.

DM: I can still name some of their pets. I knew them well. I liked that more than anything else.

You’ve been married for 65 years this spring (2011). Tell us about your wedding day.

DM: The tulips were out. It was a nice day, all of the flowers were out. It was the 21st of April and we had good weather. It was an evening service on Easter Sunday.

IM: It was a simple wedding compared to what they are now. There wasn’t much for gifts. It was very post-war, there was a shortage of a lot of things. Housing was short and so were the things that went in it. It was a struggle to find a car. The kind of things people get now as gifts were hard to come by.

What are you most proud of?

IM: Don worked a lot of community service, serving for over 40 years on the board of the bank, in that time it grew a lot. We worked a lot on the hospital board.

DM: I did early fundraising for the hospital. Then I was out hunting for money for the American Cancer Society. When I walked in the door they’d pull out their checkbooks and ask how much! We’ve seen the hospital grow from a few general practitioners to a multi-specialty group. We’ve had good support from the community.

IM: I originally started raising money for the cancer society in 1948. A friend and I were the very first group to get representatives from different parts of the county to organize for the Winneshiek county cancer society.

Any thing else?

Decorah’s been good to us. We love it here. The community of the whole county’s been good to us- a great place to live, a great place to raise our family. We’re proud of our family.

ALWAYS FRIENDLY, COURTEOUS & ON TIME. Our drivers are happy to take you where you need to go.

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TAXI HOURS

6:30 am - 6 pm Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 6:30 am - 8 pm Thursday 7:30 am - 8 pm Saturday Closed Sunday

Thanks to all who made our Panama Mission Trip a Success.

Your support and donated frames and lenses helped the people of Panama.

Plus a special Thank You to: Decorah Lutheran Church, Decorah Lions Club, Casper Heating & Plumbing, and all of our patients who donated.

Drs. Meehan & Schwartz Family Eye Care traveled to Panama in June 2011 on a Mission Trip to provide eye care.

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