Inspire(d) Winter 2024-25

Inspire(d)

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WINTER 2024-25

Inspire(d)

DRIFTLESS

AN EXPERIMENT IN POSITIVE NEWS

FOUNDERS

Aryn Henning Nichols / Editor-in-Chief + Designer

Benji Nichols / Head of Logistics + Advertising Sales

Hooray for thesehumans!amazing

Sara Walters / writer

Tallitha Reese / writer

Steve Harris / writer

Laura Barlament / writer

Clara Wodney / writer

Olivia Lynn Schnur / mental health writer

Craig Thompson / conservation writer

Mary Thompson / conservation artist

Michael Floy Photography / center spread photographer

Laura Demuth / cover artist

Lynsey D. Moritz / social media rockstar

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Interested in becoming a contributor? Email work samples to Aryn at aryn@iloveinspired.com, and we’ll chat!

Inspire(d) Driftless Magazine is headquartered & created in Decorah, Iowa. We cover communities located in the NE IA, SE MN, and W WI area of the Driftless Region. Email aryn@iloveinspired.com to learn about Community Partnership opportunities in the future - we’ve got some fun ideas!

JOIN THE POSITIVE NEWS MOVEMENT

1. Buy local - We couldn’t make this magazine without our amazing advertisers and partners. Visit or shop with one (or many) of our advertisers, and let them know you saw them in Inspire(d)!

2. Become an Inspire(d) Member at iloveinspired.com/membership

3. Sign up for our Positive News Newsletter by scanning the QR code here ----- :

4. Visit us online – website and social – and share with your friends and family!

5. Listen to our “Rhymes With...” podcast at http://decorah.fun find the gnome...

G-Gnome is hiding somewhere in this magazine! The first five people (no previous winners please) to send us his page location through our contact form at iloveinspired.com/contact-inspired gets a free Inspire(d) 7-Year Pen in the mail!

iloveinspired.com facebook.com/iloveinspired @iloveinspired

What’s the name mean?

Inspire(d) – pronounced in-spy-erd... you know: inspired – stands for inspire and be inspired. The idea is that person one inspires person two. That person is now inspired. Then that person inspires person three (or person one again), who is now inspired. Then the cycle continues! That’s what those arrows around the (d) are about! We’re here to remind folks that people are good! Our mission is, ultimately, to change the world… starting with our own community. We like to call it an experiment in positive news.

Inspire(d) Magazine is published quarterly by Inspire(d) Media, LLC, 412 Oak Street, Decorah, Iowa, 52101. This issue is dated Winter 2024-25, issue 79, volume 18, Copyright 2024-25 by Inspire(d) Magazine.

Support Inspire(d)

We want Inspire(d) to be accessible for all, which is why it is free on stands across the Driftless! But you can support Inspire(d) through Membership! We’ll send the magazine in the mail, to you or a loved one, for $35/year. Visit the Membership page at iloveinspired.com for details, or send a check for $35 to Inspire(d) Magazine, 412 Oak St., Decorah, Iowa 52101. Thank you for your support, and for joining the positive news movement!

Want to make a comment about something you read in the magazine? Email aryn@iloveinspired.com.

We’re all in this together. And despite all our differences – or perhaps in celebration of them – I’d like to remind our readers that we are, indeed, stronger together. We are connected in this thing called humanity, woven together into a tapestry of varieties and opinions and textures that make one beautiful, complex whole. When we embrace this fact, we can accomplish so much more.

Talented Decorah weaver Laura Demuth’s work on this issue’s cover illustrates this notion beautifully. We loved learning about her path – from shearing her own sheep, making wool yarn, and mastering various weaving techniques in her artwork to becoming a Zen Buddhist priest, Laura’s meandering journey through life is inspiring, and reminds us that it’s never too late to try something new.

This issue is also a great reminder that community building happens on many levels, but the first step is almost always showing up for others. Kara Maloney of Lanesboro Arts wisely states in her Community Builder interview that “showing up not only builds community, it creates a powerful circle.”

Kathleen Jensen of The Little Hearts Project builds community while sending positive messages and love to the world through tiny, crocheted hearts. The project is an effort to raise awareness about suicide. These hearts are a reminder that you never know how your actions impact another’s, nor can you ever really know what someone else is going through.

Our mental health section dives into the world of loneliness and shares some ideas for finding connection that works for you. The winter holiday season can bring a lot of social outings and obligations at once. Then it all abruptly halts, often bringing a desire for hunkering down. By mid-to-late-winter, connecting with others can feel like an insurmountable task – especially when you’re an introverted sort. But connecting with others brings a light to our lives that we all really do need.

Finding light in the darkest of darks, Heidi Overson shares the tragic story of her daughter’s death due to accidental fentanyl overdose, and how she and her family built the Amara Rose Foundation in an effort to help others avoid the same heartbreak.

Folks looking for a (figurative) breath of fresh air should make sure to read our conservation story about woodpeckers. They are on full view in the winter, and writer Craig Thompson is back to tell us all about them. Paired with Mary Thompson’s gorgeous artwork, these stories are always a joy.

Eric Sovern brings joy as well – to all who pass through Cardboard Robot’s doors in Downtown Decorah, and to all reading this issue’s Sum of Your Business interview. He reminds us, “Art and craft work doesn’t have to hang in a museum for it to have value. All it has to do is express something you feel inside and then make you feel good about getting it done.”

Finally...confession: I fan-girl over Decorah’s wrestling hero Naomi Simon whenever I see her around town, so I was stoked to feature an update about her rising wrestling stardom in this issue!

And I love when my friends get to interview their loved ones for the probituary. Be sure to read about Lynsey D. Mortiz’s grandma, Martha Deines, on the back page Q&A! Here’s to wrapping up 2024, and looking to 2025 with hope, determination, and optimism. We can’t know what the future will hold, but we can band together to try to make it better. Happy New Year, dear readers. Let’s do this thing.

Looking forward,

Aryn Henning Nichols

It’s a region in the Midwest – Northeast Iowa, Southeast Minnesota, Southwest Wisconsin, and a wee bit of Northwest Illinois – that was skipped by the glaciers in the last ice age, leaving the area “lacking glacial drift” – i.e. Driftless. The gist of that is we get to enjoy bluffs, valleys, coulees, and other fun geographical features that don’t typically occur in other parts of our states (the Mississippi River contributes greatly to the geography as well). It’s a lovely place to live and visit, and we’re happy you’re here!

cover art by...

WEAVER LAURA DEMUTH

Our cover art was created by Decorah weaver Laura Demuth (and photogaphed by Inspire(d)’s Aryn). Read about Laura & her work on page 16.

What We’re Loving right now

A LITTLE LIST OF WHAT WE THINK IS AWESOME IN THE DRIFTLESS REGION THIS WINTER...

SUNFLOWER DISCOVERY CENTER!

Winter in the Driftless can be magical – when Mother Nature cooperates! But as any parent or caregiver can attest, it can also be a tough time to keep young kids busy.

The new Sunflower Child Development and Discovery Center in Decorah is now completed and operating on Decorah’s east side adjacent to the WinnMed campus. This incredible project is the outcome of years of dedication and hard work to raise the capital and funding needed to a local solution to rural Iowa’s childcare crisis – and what a cool solution it is!

While the Child Development “half” of Sunflower will quickly reach capacity, the other exciting half is the Discovery Center!

The Sunflower Discovery Center is a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, & Mathematics) indoor play and learning space. What does this mean? Super cool indoor activities for you and the children in your life. Check out the exploration exhibits, climbing areas, amazing water table, exhibits, and more. The space is truly a wonderland for the young and young-at-heart!

Daily admission for the Discovery Center is $9 per person over one year old, with annual memberships at $250 per family. Gift cards are also available. Hours are currently daily but vary from afternoons to evenings. Get all the details online at sunflowerdecorah.com. Here’s to an amazing (indoor) resource to help us through winter!

TRAILS FOR THE WIN!

2024 has been a big year for trail projects in Decorah. Organizations like Decorah Parks and Rec, Decorah Human Powered Trails, Luther Cross Country, the Iowa Scholastic Mountain Bike series, the Crater Trail (running) race, and Toppling Goliath’s Gravel Race continue to show that outdoor recreation opportunities and investments pay off for our region, greatly bolstering Northeast Iowa’s economy. These draws to the region have prompted some exciting projects, and Decorah was granted two major awards toward 2025 projects (woot)!

1. Athletic Brewing “Two for the Trails” Grant – Supporting and investing in Decorah’s unique soft trails system has been the goal of Decorah Human Powered Trails since its inception 20 years ago. Now operating as a standalone 501c3 organization, the group has prioritized finding funding opportunities to maintain the City’s incredible trail resources. In November 2024, DHPT was awarded a unique grant from the Athletic Brewing Company. Launched in 2018, Athletic is now the number one non-alcoholic beer brand in America and a top 20 U.S. brewing company. The company awarded over $2 million dollars to outdoor projects through its “Two for the Trails” program, with DHPT receiving a $15,000 grant.

“For the first time in our history, Athletic Brewing will donate $2 million in a single year through our Two For The Trails program, supporting a wide range of outdoor projects across the U.S., UK, and Canada. This essential funding will directly benefit the environment and communities where our customers live, work, and adventure,

TRIVIA EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE MUSIC ON WEEKENDS

Wednesday 3-6 pm & Saturday 9-12 pm May - October

helping to protect, enhance, and sustain outdoor spaces for generations to come. We aim to provide safe, equitable access to the great outdoors and look forward to seeing the transformative impact of these projects,” says Athletic Brewing Company’s B Corp & Two For The Trails Manager Cara Wilson.

DHPT will receive the funds in December and work will begin once the ground thaws in 2025.

“DHPT volunteers continually work hard to clear downed trees, remove invasive species, and maintain the trails around Decorah. We’re grateful for this grant which will help fund bridge projects,” says DHPT President Nick Pearch.

Keep in the loop, find out how to volunteer, or consider a donation by visiting the DHPT Facebook page.

Located in the Heivly Street parking lot, behind Oneota Co-op

2. City of Decorah Receives Major State Recreational Trails Grant for Carlson Park! – Carlson Park is a 110-acre parcel of property that was donated to the City of Decorah in 2019 by the Dave and Rick Carlson families and is an incredible addition to the region’s outdoor recreation offerings. The Carlson Park Project is on the South side of Decorah adjacent to Trout Run and the Minowa Heights neighborhood.

A comprehensive plan was completed for the park in 2021, with many community partners working to advance the project in the past five years including the Decorah Parks and Recreation, Decorah Rotary Club, the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa, Decorah Human Powered Trails, Northeast Iowa Resource Conservation & Development, the Carlson Park Trails Coalition, and many private donors.

In early 2024, a collaborative application to the Iowa State Recreational Trails Program was submitted as the first stage of trail development and community connectivity. The State Recreational Trails grants, created in 1988 with the purpose of developing and maintaining recreational trails and trail-related facilities across Iowa, are highly competitive, with more than 30 projects submitted for funding for the FY25 cycle. The City of Decorah was selected as one of nine projects to be funded in FY25, and the only “soft trails” project of this round with an award of $298,795.

This project includes the development of approximately 5.7 miles of mixed-use trails, designed to enhance outdoor recreational opportunities and improve access for residents and visitors alike. Fundraising continues for Carlson Park Projects via the Community Foundation of NE Iowa and the Carlson Park Trails Coalition. Find our more and be a part of this legacy project: tinyurl.com/CPDecorah

20 YEARS OF HELPING SERVICES HOLIDAY LIGHTS!

Helping Services for Youth & Families is celebrating 20 years of the beloved Holiday Lights display at Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah. The display is open for drive-through visits every night from November 28 through December 25, from 5 to 9 pm. Santa will make appearances every Friday through Sunday from 5 to 7:30 pm, ending his visits on Sunday, December 22.

To mark the milestone, Helping Services has compiled an online history, “The Little Town That Could: A 20-Year History of Holiday Lights in Decorah, Iowa.” Originally planned to last just two to three years, Holiday Lights has become a mainstay in the community thanks to the dedication of countless volunteers, sponsors, and visitors. Explore the full history at HelpingServices.org/holidaylights-history.

Free-will donations collected at Holiday Lights support essential programs at Helping Services, including the Domestic Abuse Resource Center, Substance Use Prevention, Youth Mentoring, and Family Support. Find out more at HelpingServices.org/holidaylights.

What We’re Loving right now

BICYCLE FRIENDLY LUTHER!

Ding, ding! Luther College has earned a Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) silver award after completing a comprehensive assessment conducted by the League of American Bicyclists, the nation’s foremost bicycle advocacy organization.

“It’s great to see the efforts of our students recognized by the League of American Bicyclists,” says Jon Jensen, director of Luther’s Center for Sustainable Communities. Senior Madison Major and juniors Evan Hansen and Sophie Chadima, in association with Luther’s Center for Sustainable Communities, evaluated campus parking and bicycle

storage systems, surveyed students and employees about bicycle use, and assisted in gathering data required for the BFU application. While more than 500 higher education institutions have applied for a BFU award during the program’s history, only 209 have earned awards so far. The University of Iowa is the only other silver-level BFU campus in the Hawkeye State; Grinnell has a bronze-level.

Bicycling is a main component of Luther’s long-standing sustainability strategy and goal to be carbon neutral by 2030. Luther ranks 7th among baccalaureate institutions nationally on the AASHE 2024 Sustainable Campus Index.

Luther’s Center for Sustainable Communities has been the home for the college’s bicycle share program and its Bicycle Advisory Committee, which includes students, faculty, staff, and administrators working to improve biking safety and awareness. Find out more at luther.edu or bikeleague.org

COON VALLEY ‘ZINE!

Rural Vernon County Wisconsin is widely celebrated as the home of the nation’s first experiment in watershed-scale conservation, implemented by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in the 1930s.

Seventy Coon Creek community members shared their perspectives on the CCC and their reflections on flooding, conservation, community, and culture in the Coon Creek Watershed as part of “Learning to Make Running Water Walk,” an oral narrative project. The project was organized by the non-profit Coon Creek Community Watershed Council (CCCWC), UW Madison, and UW La Crosse in response to chronic and accelerating floods in the Coon Creek Watershed and surrounding communities.

NICHOLAS C. ROWLEY

COURTNEY ROWLEY DOMINIC PECHOTA LAURA THOMPSON KAREN ZAHKA

These community member’s stories are also being featured in “Walking with Water,” a four-part zine (grassroots magazine) series, produced by watershed council staff, students, and faculty at UWMadison along with La Crossebased Ope Publishing.

The first zine, “Process,” released in June 2024, shares stories and lessons from the CCCWC’s first two years. In the second zine, “Place,” storytellers reflect on how the Coon Creek Watershed is changing, and what it means to be a part of a watershed community. They look to the past to understand how the region’s history has shaped its present, and in turn, imagine how current actions might shape Coon Creek in the future. Copies are available at the Knutson Memorial (Viroqua), Bekkum Memorial (Westby), and Cashton Public Libraries. Find out more at cooncreekwatershed.org

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

Throughout the last 90 years across the rural Midwest, electricity has become ever-present, with every home (that wants it) connected to the grid. From municipal startups to investor groups of the early 1900s, and the eventual spawning of the federal Rural Electrification Act of 1935, the history of rural electrification is fascinating.

At various points in time, the City of Decorah has explored how our local electricity is provided, and what options are available for creating a municipal electricity utility or MEU.

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, Decorah residents can vote on a special referendum that asks whether the City of Decorah should establish a municipal electric utility (MEU), at present, in name only. The MEU would not have any infrastructure, customers, revenue, or expenses, but it could access information that is currently only available to utilities from the Iowa Utility Board.

If the referendum passes, it would enable the City of Decorah to request specific information from Alliant Energy about its assets and associated revenues. This information would make it possible to develop a feasible business model for a Decorah MEU.

In the larger, long-term scope, the City could use the information to petition the Iowa Utilities Board to purchase the electric service territory of the Decorah area. If any obligation bonds were needed at that point, Decorah voters would once again have the opportunity to weigh in, with a 60 percent majority needed for any bond financing. If that future vote passed, then Decorah would head to the Utilities Board, where they could assess Decorah’s plan and determine if it would be in the best interests of Decorah ratepayers to be served by a Decorah MEU.

This first, March 4th vote allows the City of Decorah to run the numbers. Establishing a municipal electric utility would give the City a seat at the table, even if to never turn on light bulbs. As they say – knowledge is power – or in this case, electricity! For more information on the vote, visit decorahia.org

What We’re Loving right now

A LITTLE LIST OF WHAT WE THINK IS AWESOME IN THE DRIFTLESS REGION THIS WINTER...

WINTER DATES WORTH LEAVING THE HOUSE FOR!

Jump into season’s fun – save this page to keep you connected, engaged, and moving through these cold winter months.

Elkader Winter Festival - January 25

Elkader, Iowa, and the Cabin Concerts Crew roll out the rug for Winter Fun including sledding, xc skiing, snowshoeing, and more on January 25 from 4 to 10 pm at the Elkader Golf & Country Club. Warm up inside the clubhouse with beverages and food specials and keep moving with music from the River Valley Rangers, Billy Bronsted Trio, and Slapdash Bluegrass! Check Turkey River Cabin Concerts on social media or cabinconcerts.org for updates – and plan ahead if you are going to make a night of it, as lodging in Elkader goes fast! Hot Inspire(d) tip – make time to ramble through downtown Elkader and one of our favorite small town Main Streets!

Decorah

Restaurant Week - January 20-26.

The Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to host Decorah’s Restaurant Week from January 20-26. Explore special dishes and unique offerings at Decorah area eateries all week long. From coffee shops to fine dining, casual to international cuisine, and

world-class beverages, Decorah is a foodie destination for Northeast Iowa. During this week of recognition, we encourage you to support, celebrate, and eat at these establishments. Get hungry and get to Decorah! www.visitdecorah.com

Barneløpet - February 1

What’s that? A family fun cross country ski race in Decorah? Ya you betcha’! Get outside on February 1 and enjoy winter at the 26th annual Barneløpet (pronounced BAR-nuh-lop-it) – Norwegian for “kids race.” It’s a non-competitive ski or walk event for the community’s youngest skiers, ages 3-13. The collaborative Vesterheim Museum and Sons of Norway event will be held 10 am at the Decorah Community Prairie, with registration beginning at 9:40 am. Skiers must provide their own skis. Barneløpet is open to children of all skill levels and is a great event for the entire family. Participants receive a Barneløpet snowflake pin, medal, and race bib. Hot chocolate and homemade cookies by the fire will keep all cozy. No snow or skis? Then join in the fun with a walk through the tall prairie grasses. Check vesterheim.org and Vesterheim social media for possible cancellations.

Brunch & Beyond at Four Daughters

If you’ve never visited Four Daughters near Spring Valley, Minnesota... this winter might be just the right moment. Beyond their regular hours and offerings, they also host Bubbles & Brunch on the 2nd Saturday of the month, as well as unique, themed dinners monthly – a five-course Lord of the Rings journey through middle earth anyone (January 24!)? fourdaughtersvineyard.com

15th Annual Oneota Film Festival 2025 - March 6-9

Films have the power to transport us to lands far beyond our reach - particularly on chilly late winter days and nights! The Oneota Film Festival has been bringing world class films and filmmakers to Northeast Iowa for 15 years. Thanks to the tireless efforts of many, the event continues to showcase these beautiful cinematic creations across Downtown Decorah, for all to enjoy. Several events lead up to this year’s Fest March 6-9. Here’s a partial listing - check out www. oneotafilmfestival.org for all the details!

December 12, 2024 – Film Screening, Spring Grove Cinema, 7 pm

January 12, 2025 – Film Screening, Lansing, IA

Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 2 pm

January 15 – Member / Sponsor Ticketed event - Rubaiyat dinner & film screening. (Check online to become a supporter!)

January 19 – Film Screening, Cresco Theatre &Opera House, 2 pm

February 2 – Film screening Calmar, PIVO Brewery, 2 pm

February 23 – Film screening Waukon, Town Theatre, 2 pm

Eagle Bluff - Dinner on the Bluff Series 2025!

A Dying Norway - in a Living America

Make sure to check out Vesterheim’s exhibit, A Dying Norway - in a Living America, featuring documentary photographs by Lars Idar Waage, before it closes February 16. The exhibit is a portrait of tiny Stavanger, Illinois, the location of the first permanent settlement of Norwegian immigrants in the United States – including some of those who sailed on the Restauration. This ship brought the first organized group of emigrants from Stavanger, Norway, in 1825. Through these images, Waage – who lives in Stavanger, Norway –shares how Norwegian identity and traditions are expressed in the Fox River Valley of Illinois. More info: vesterheim.org

RENTALS

Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center near Lanesboro provides incredible outdoor opportunities for youth (and young at heart) through all four seasons of the year. Some of our favorite “quieter” month offerings include the “Dinner on the Bluff” series, featuring a catered multicourse dinner and a fun lecture afterwards – all in an inspiring rural Southeast Minnesota setting. Don’t sleep on tickets if one of these events lights your fire – they often sell out by early winter. Visit www.eaglebluff.org for more information

• Saturday, February 22. 5-7:30 pm Dayna Burtness, Nettle Valley Farm: Regenerative Farming in the Driftless.

• Saturday, March 22. 5-7:30 pm Carrie Jennings, Freshwater Society: Drift-ish? A History of the Glaciation of MN

• Sunday, April 27. 10-11:30am (Brunch!) Mary Junko-Isle: Wildlife Discovery Brunch with Eagle Bluff’s Animal Ambassadors!

AWovenBeautifully Life: LAURA DEMUTH

Laura Demuth’s current project: A landscape tapestry weaving featuring the Yukon River. / Photo by Aryn Henning Nichols

Decorah artist Laura Demuth shares her meandering journey through weaving and life.

BY LAURA BARLAMENT

In Laura Demuth’s cozy home, once a one-room schoolhouse, drapes woven in red, blue and tan cover closets and shelves; on walls, floors, chairs, and railings, woven coverlets and tapestries glow with geometric patterns or flowing designs of trees, leaves, and acorns.

Laura, whose last name is pronounced “DAY-mut,” is a weaver in the Norwegian folk tradition, a skill she has honed for four decades. She received a Gold Medal in Weaving in 2001 from the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum and Folk Art School in Decorah, and she has continued to grow her skills from there, constantly exploring new techniques and passing them along through her teaching.

A floor loom occupies her home’s front room. Next to it sits a spinning wheel where Laura produces yarn from the wool of her own flock of sheep (and once, a single cranky llama). In recent years, Laura has converted an upper room into another center for her creativity. A tapestry loom, tucked under a skylight, perfectly fills this space, where her current project is unfolding: a landscape featuring the Yukon River. In the tradition of billedvev (“pictureweaving”), Norway’s tapestry technique, the design is based on a photo taken by her daughter, Bathsheba Demuth, an environmental historian at Brown University who specializes in the Russian and North American Arctic.

Laura is improvising subtle layers of greens, browns, golds, and reds to recreate the scene. “This is a new thing for me,” she says. “I’m just making it up as I go along.”

According to Laura, this has been her approach to weaving and to life in general. No lifelong goals, no grand plans. “I’ve meandered,” she says wryly.

WEAVING HER OWN WAY

Laura came to Decorah in 1976 to attend Luther College. Her life has been Decorah-centered ever since, but growing up, she moved a lot. Her father worked as a civil servant for the U.S. Army, and the family relocated every few years to multiple states as well as to France and Germany.

Laura finished high school in Hanau, Germany, where the post chaplain was a Luther College alumnus. On his recommendation, she applied to the college, and when Luther gave her the best financial aid package of the colleges she had applied to, she chose it.

At Luther, she encountered two important influences. Number one was her husband, Steve Demuth of Pipestone, Minnesota. They were married in 1978.

A philosophy major, Laura’s interest in ethics led her to the second important influence: the work of Mahatma Gandhi, to which spinning and weaving were integral. “It was the first time I heard of spinning,” Laura says. The idea of spinning yarn and thread by hand and weaving one’s own clothing stuck with her.

Laura at her tapestry loom. / Photo by Steve Demuth

“I

Various patterns in different projects by Laura. / Photos by Aryn Henning Nichols

While living in married student housing at Luther, she bought a loom and took a weaving class in the art department. She had grown up embroidering, knitting, and sewing. But weaving was completely new to her.

GIFT SHOPPING:

Meanwhile, Steve graduated. A math and physics major, he began working for Luther’s computer center while Laura worked on her degree. They both felt pulled to living in the country, though, so with only a semester of coursework left to go toward her BA, Laura dropped out. “It was a stupid thing to do,” she says. “But I had changed direction.”

Initially, they lived on a friend’s farm, and she took her floor loom along.

“I started weaving and making a lot of mistakes,” she says. She read books and magazines and got tips from fellow members of the Decorah Weavers Guild.

When Bathsheba was two, the family moved to their current acreage, north of Decorah. Her son, Gabriel, was born four years later. Laura home educated the kids, while Steve worked for Seed Savers Exchange and then for Mayo Clinic, where he was chief technology officer. (Following in his father’s footsteps, Gabriel lives in Rochester, Minnesota, and works for Mayo Clinic as a statistician for health care research.)

Although Laura began weaving thinking she would earn money for the family, that idea fell by the wayside. She couldn’t imagine how much she would have to charge for the labor and the yarn that goes into her blankets and tapestries.

“I didn’t see how hard it was going to be to sell things and make a living at it. I’m not an entrepreneur and not a salesman.”

www.cardboardrobot.biz

Barneløpet Feb. 1, 2025 FREE!

Enjoy a winter’s day at this non-competitive ski/walk event for children ages 3-13.

Decorah Prairie, Ohio Street

Start time: 10:00 a.m. Registration: 9:40 a.m.

For Information and weather cancellations: Check vesterheim.org and Vesterheim social media.

Barneløpet is a partnership with three Sons of Norway Lodges—Valdres #503 in Decorah, Iowa, Heimbygda #376 in Lanesboro, Minnesota, and Valheim #364 in Spring Grove, Minnesota. It is free thanks to support from Jon and Mary Hart of Decorah in memory of Kjell Arne Berntsen.

A large loom takes up a room on the main level of the Demuth’s home. Above: A rug created out of their own wool. / Photos by Aryn Henning Nichols

Yet, she committed to a hand-woven life, nonetheless. Today, she says in wonder, “We bought 40 bred sheep when I was nine months pregnant. It was crazy!” These sheep were Corriedales, a New Zealand breed good for producing wool. Thus started a decadeslong practice of shearing her own sheep, preparing the wool, and spinning her own yarn.

Eventually, they switched to a herd of Bluefaced Leicester, an English breed that is easy to handle and that has, in Laura’s words, “great fleece,” as well as working with that one temperamental llama – not so easy to handle. “She was a crank,” she says. “But now, I miss her.”

In the summer of 2023, the Demuths sold their sheep and llama. An adult Bluefaced Leicester weighs around 160 pounds, and they realized that shearing them had become too difficult. Laura misses her herd and expects they will acquire a smaller breed in the future.

She keeps pushing herself for two reasons, both ethical and educational.

“I think making your own clothing, or at least some aspect of your own clothing, can foster an appreciation for clothing itself; [it allows you] to gain some idea of the amount of labor and care and also intelligence that goes into clothing,” Laura says in a short documentary about her in Pioneer Public TV’s Postcards series. “It is actually a platform on which we can find expression and we can find joy.”

“Weaving has always been an intriguing problem. It’s a technical question that pushes your brain,” she adds. “It keeps you full with questions and possibilities.”

Continued on next page

Colorful yarn

/ Photo by Aryn Henning Nichols

The beautiful weaving featured on this Inspire(d)’s cover, looking lovely as a table runner. / Photo by Aryn Henning Nichols

VESTERHEIM CONNECTION

In 1993, Laura entered her weaving in the Vesterheim’s National Norwegian-American Folk Art Exhibition. This annual summer exhibition is designed to encourage and inspire folk artists to develop crafts rooted in Norwegian traditions.

The best pieces in the exhibition are recognized, and Laura won her first ribbon. “It was a double weave pick-up wall hanging that I made for my son,” she says. “He was very interested in the Vikings at the time, so the piece was filled with images of dragons, Viking ships, and runes.”

Laura started taking classes at the Vesterheim Folk Art School in 1998. “I knew the basic techniques, but not until I took classes at Vesterheim did I get better, because the teachers were masters,” she says. “They pointed me to the high-quality yarns, materials, and techniques.”

Her awards from the National Norwegian-American Folk Art Exhibition added up quickly, with ribbons in 1999, 2000, and the Gold Medal for Weaving in 2001. Only 25 gold medals for weaving

have been awarded since 1982. She is highly respected among the local and regional community of weavers and has published in several magazines about weaving.

Teaching was the next obvious step, and for the past 20 years, Laura has taught weaving for Vesterheim’s folk art school. “Laura Demuth is a masterful artist and instructor,” says Andrew Ellingsen, director of folk art education. “When Vesterheim closed

during the pandemic, Laura was one of the first instructors to take on the challenge of teaching folk art online. Whether she’s teaching online or in person, Laura celebrates and uplifts traditional Scandinavian weaving techniques while also bringing a warmth, a gentleness, and a calmness to the classroom. We are incredibly lucky to work with her!”

Laura teaches weaving classes at Vesterheim Folk Art School. / Photo courtesy Laura Demuth

FINDING AND GIVING JOY

In addition to becoming a master in Norwegian weaving, homeschooling her two children, and producing her own wool and yarn from her family’s flock of sheep, a visit to an open house at the Decorah Zen Center in 1999 started her journey to becoming a Zen Buddhist. She was ordained as a priest in 2013. “I’m this little mousy lady who lives in Iowa, and I have the chance to be a Zen Buddhist priest,” she marvels. “How weird is that?” She currently co-directs the Decorah Zen Center and assists with the practice and events at Ryumonji Zen Monastery, a training monastery in the Soto

Zen tradition, in Allamakee County. And in 2006, she completed her bachelor’s degree in philosophy at Luther College after a decadeslong hiatus.

If creativity and joy was the goal, Laura Demuth’s art and life show that she’s still “meandering” steadily in that direction. She has woven a beautiful life.

“I like things that are difficult,” she says. “I like to solve puzzles.” Her husband, Steve Demuth, remarks simply, “She is an inspiring person.”

Laura Barlament is the executive director of marketing and communications for Luther College. As a contributor to Inspire(d), she enjoys learning more about the vibrant tapestry of the Decorah community.

Laura’s weaving projects find useful homes in many spots across the Demuth’s property. / Photo by Aryn Henning Nichols

Kara Maloney

Lanesboro, MN COMMUNITY BUILDERS

TBY STEVE HARRIS

en years ago, Kara Maloney was a senior at Luther College in Decorah, completing a double-major in Studio Art and Business Management, running cross-country, and feeling excited about her future.

A bit anxious, too.

“Arts management is a highly competitive field,” Kara says. “I’d done internships at Vesterheim, Lanesboro Arts, and Springboard for the Arts, but I still wasn’t sure where I was headed.”

Kara arrived in Lanesboro, Minnesota, in 2015 for that one-month internship at Lanesboro Arts, a nationally recognized and respected small-town arts center. A year later, she became its full-time advancement director.

She had some reservations about moving to a town whose population barely topped 700. “I grew up in South Minneapolis and always figured the Twin Cities would be my eventual landing spot.

About Community Builders

My Luther advisor told me to give Lanesboro a try for two years. Now, 10 years later, I’m glad I did! It proved a great fit. People were very friendly, inviting me over for dinner, movie nights, community sings, potlucks. It felt like home right away.”

Today, at the age of 30, Kara is Executive Director of Lanesboro Arts. It’s a position and a place that’s giving her the opportunity to do what she loves most – community-building.

“I love the feeling of people being and working together,” Kara says. “My greatest professional joy is collaborating with others, members of my team, people in Lanesboro, and with other connections I have. Everything I do is community-driven.”

One her major goals is to bring the skills and viewpoints of artists to the community table. “We’re all trying to succeed with limited resources,” she says. “And artists know all about that! They also contribute imaginative thinking, the ability to pivot, and a resiliency that comes from dealing with criticism and critique that helps everyone.”

A community is defined as a unified body of individuals. You can build community in a neighborhood, city, region, state, nation… world, at any level. But it doesn’t have to be big to have a big impact. Building community is one of the most important things we can do in this life. Connecting with others helps us connect with our humanity, and realize we’re all in this together. Read more Community Builder stories at iloveinspired.com, and send us a note if you know someone we should feature here in the future!

Kara was raised in an active family, visiting museums, attending concerts, and enjoying the outdoors. Her parents were service-oriented, too, she says. “My dad volunteered at church, among other things. My mom – who’s also an artist – taught classes, created mural backdrops, and facepainted at festivals. They taught me community is important.”

Beyond her full-time work at Lanesboro Arts, Kara quickly jumped in to help with other community organizations. She joined the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce board (which she now chairs), the Downtown Business Promotion Group, the Sons of Norway, the Blandin Community Leadership Program, and LEAN (Lanesboro Entrepreneurial Action Network). She’s served six years on the SEMAC (Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council) board and is part of RUX (the Rural Urban Exchange) based in Winona. In her “spare” time she coaches the Lanesboro Junior High track-and-field team, is a familiar face on the town’s pickleball court, and enjoys personal art projects like rosemaling. “Life does get busy!” Kara says with a laugh. “It’s about making time for priorities.”

And when a community is small enough to literally know everyone, there can be a unique set of challenges and competing thoughts on what should be top priority. “Sometimes we get in the weeds and have tough conversations. People have differing opinions; feelings can get hurt. When that happens it’s important to keep talking and working together.”

Being on the younger side of leadership can feel like a hurdle as well.

“I feel valued and listened to, but there are times when I sense I’m not the most visible person in the room,” she says. “I move past that by seeking conversations and commonality. People my age are eager to build community.”

She sees fellow millennials and younger generations creating space and change across the region, citing Decorah’s Pride Festival and a mental health fundraiser in Lanesboro as examples, both organized by folks with a mix of ages. Kara says it’s important to not get stymied by the often-slow pace of change that’s sometimes a reality in small towns. “We all get impatient at times,” she says. “It helps to remember that ‘change happens at the speed of trust’ and to ‘move slowly, with care.’”

But small towns can also prove that, when neighbors are in need, people come together. Showing up not only builds community, she says, it creates a powerful circle. “When you show up to volunteer at a cancer fundraiser, to usher at a community theater play, to deliver senior meals, you support others. People who do that get supported in return.”

One example of that support had a lasting impact on Kara’s commitment to her community. It happened on the evening of June 18, 2016, the day before “Art in the Park,” Lanesboro Art’s major annual festival. Volunteers showed up in Sylvan Park to set up. So did a fierce Midwest thunderstorm with high winds, heavy

Kara Maloney (center) and the Lanesboro Arts team. Below: The Lanesboro community gathers to celebrate completion of a new mural in the town’s theater district. / Photos courtesy Kara Maloney

We invite you to explore the fields at our family-owned farm where we grow more than 600 varieties of peonies

The on-site garden center also features unusual perennials, annuals, tropicals, fruit, trees and shrubs.

Open year-round.

rain, and hail. Trees came down, a park shelter was destroyed, event decorations were in shambles. Kara, one of the staff members in charge of the event, was faced with the decision to cancel it.

As they discussed that option, people began showing up at the park to help clear debris. Despite cleanup tasks at their own homes, and working in the beam of car headlights, volunteers brought order to the chaos. Chainsaws buzzed into the night as downed trees and branches were hauled away. “We didn’t make phone calls, people just came,” Kara recalls. “The next day, the festival went off beautifully. But we couldn’t have done it without those generous volunteers.”

Kara thinks about the impact of that type of community care – and the impact she wants to have in the future – every day, every time she works to create space for members of her community. “However long I’m here, I want to help make our community an even more welcoming place. A place where people of all backgrounds feel they belong. A safe and inclusive place where everyone can contribute their gifts. That’s the legacy I hope to leave.”

No matter a town’s size or age of its people, community-building happens best in simple ways, says Kara. “It’s about building relationships. It’s about being curious and staying open-minded. Most of all, it’s about showing up.”

Steve Harris (steveharrisauthor.com) is a freelance writer who lives in Lanesboro, Minnesota, and can be reached at sharris1962@msn.com.

To learn more about Lanesboro Arts, its Gallery hours, Calendar of Events, and volunteer opportunities, visit lanesboroarts.org or call 507-467-2446.

Kara enjoys rosemaling, a folk art tradition that originated in Norway centuries ago. / Photo courtesy Kara Maloney Below: Digital illustration of Kara (see original photo on pg 24) by artist Carly Ellefson (Luther Grad ’15).

88,000

At least

hearts have made their way out of Kathleen Jensen’s own door through The Little Heart Project. / Photo courtesy Kathleen Jensen

BY SARA WALTERS

ICOMMUNITY BUILDERS

Kathleen Jensen

Onalaska, WI

n stores, parks, and restaurants all over the world, little hearts – smaller than the palm of your hand – are spreading positivity. Crocheted with love in all sorts of colors, the hearts are affixed with tags sending messages of hope and light to all who encounter them.

These tiny reminders of good are made through The Little Heart Project (TLHP). The project’s creator, Kathleen Jensen, says they’re a “soft entry point” to making a difference in the world.

“At a base level, it is a random act of kindness,” explains Kathleen. But the larger mission of TLHP goes deeper. “We are trying to reduce the stigma around mental health and hopefully prevent suicides.”

This mission statement, “Preventing suicide one heart at a time through serendipitous words of encouragement,” is near to Kathleen’s own heart, as she herself was suicidal every day for eight years. The idea came out of a conversation with her therapist, who knew Kathleen enjoyed crocheting and making art, and mentioned a similar project in Texas, suggesting it might be something Kathleen would enjoy doing in her own community of Onalaska, Wisconsin.

She had no idea that, now, almost three years later, TLHP would reach people all over the world. But that is exactly what happened. TLHP hearts have been found in 35 states as well as Canada, Central America, Europe, India, and Africa.

Although she still faces her own mental health challenges, TLHP has given Kathleen something incredible. “I found my people,” she shares. “What a beautiful, beautiful gift. For so long I lived in a very, very dark world – alone, isolated, very sick. And when I started doing this, I met the most incredible people who want to make this world good.”

The success of TLHP is one example of how social media can create positivity in the world. Communities of Facebook crochet groups rapidly spread the word about the project. Soon there was a website (thelittleheartproject.org) and social media accounts, and hearts being distributed near and far.

Kathleen utilizes local groups for help, too. “I have some very faithful crocheters in the La Crosse area who make the hearts for us,” says Kathleen. Students at UW-La Crosse, Viterbo, and Western Technical College have also chipped in, crocheting hearts or tying on inspiring tags. And Kathleen shares the heart template on her website so others can easily contribute as well. It takes only three yards of yarn and, once you know how to do it, less than three minutes to make a heart. Those who help aren’t required to track their inventory, so it’s hard to say how many hearts, in total, have been made since TLHP started. Kathleen does know, though, that 88,000 hearts (and more every day) have made their way out the door of her own home and into the community.

“I’ve found that people who have lost a loved one to suicide desperately want to do something to help prevent this happening to the next family,” she says. “TLHP has become part of so many people’s healing journey.” She finds it fulfills a need to do something tangible during grief. Plus, there’s no wrong way to participate. “You can leave the hearts anywhere you go. There’s no wrong way to do this,” says Kathleen.

This assistance keeps TLHP going, but it also facilitates important discussions and opportunities for the community to talk about suicide. Kathleen’s position as TLHP founder has enabled her to speak publicly about suicide in an effort to reduce the shame and stigma around suicide and build support for the project.

Kathleen Jensen with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers / Photo courtesy Kathleen Jensen

“When I first started, I had no intention of speaking to anyone ever about this,” she says. “But when people are brave enough to talk about their mental illness, that lets other people know it’s safe to do the same thing.” From the first time she spoke, Kathleen has seen the benefit of sharing her words and her heart. After speaking to a group at Viterbo, a young lady pulled her aside. “She said, ‘I just wanted to tell you that last night I almost killed myself.’ And she pulls up her sleeves to show me dozens of fresh cuts up and down both arms. And then she said, ‘Being here today and listening to your story, being able to talk to you, I feel better.’”

Kathleen has folks lining up to share similar stories after each of her speaking engagements. “My degree is in marketing. It’s not like I’m trained in any of this to be able to hear these really, really sad stories,” she says. She holds space for this, though, because she sees the positive impact it has on herself and others.

“It’s helping to take away the shame. Suicide is not a shameful

thing. The people that die by suicide, it’s a very dark, lonely place where there is no hope, and you can’t envision there ever being any.”

One way she addresses this is to encourage people to say, “died by suicide” rather than “committed suicide.” She explains, “People commit a crime, people commit adultery. People who die by suicide are not criminals. They’re sick.” She also works tirelessly to convey the messages that “talking about suicide does not cause suicide. Hopelessness causes suicide.”

Kathleen has a full-time job, in addition to the time and energy she puts into The Little Heart Project. It is truly a labor of love, fueled by donations and volunteers and the kindness of strangers. She is grateful for everyone who contributes –whether by putting hearts out in their businesses, assisting with TLHP’s web presence, or giving the project exposure at events.

Requests flood Kathleen’s inbox, often the effect of one person seeing a heart and looking for a way to get involved. She recently fielded an email request for hearts from a director of disaster relief, looking to support those devastated by

Kathleen speaks publicly about suicide in an effort to reduce the shame and stigma around suicide.

/ Photo courtesy Kathleen Jensen

the hurricanes that hit North Caroline and Tennessee this fall. TLHP sent out 600 hearts. “How do we help those people who now have nothing?” asks Kathleen. “These hearts aren’t going to fix anything, but it will let people know that other people are thinking of them.”

Positive momentum continues to build. Kathleen had the opportunity to share her mission through PBS Wisconsin’s show, “Wisconsin Life.” The episode featuring Kathleen and TLHP airs January 2, 2025, at 7 pm. She was nominated for the Hometown Hero award by Wisconsin State Representative, Steve Doyle, and the Hometown Hero committee in Madison selected her. This gave her the opportunity to speak about her work to the entire assembly. Governor Tony Evers got word and invited her to chat about TLHP and mental health in the state, as well.

“It does take a lot of courage to stand up in front of a group of people and talk about all of this, but I know it helps. I have two-and-a-half years of proof. I know now it helps and that’s what I’m going to do – help people.”

since 2018.

LEARN MORE

Find TLHP crochet pattern, tag templates (available in English and soon, Spanish) and more information about The Little Heart Project at thelittleheartproject.org

DON’T HESITATE

If you or someone you know is struggling, please call 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Sara Walters is a mom and a writer. She has been an Inspire(d) contributor

Kathleen and The Little Heart Project will be featured on PBS Wisconsin’s show, “Wisconsin Life,” airing January 2, 2025, at 7 pm.

/ Photo courtesy Kathleen Jensen

SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE – WINTER GARDEN DREAMING

Spend some time this winter dreaming of (and planting) seeds for the seasons to come!

Longtime readers of Inspire(d) may know that Seed Savers Exchange (SSE) is an organization (and place) that is close to our hearts. As one of the largest NGO Seed Banks in the United States, this organization holds an incredibly important part in preserving and sharing countless seed varieties across the nation and world! Founded in 1975 by Diane Ott Whealy and Kent Whealy, SSE will be celebrating 50 years of “garden variety” seed culture and community in 2025!

The party kicks off locally with two free events this winter and early spring that are perfect for cold-day garden dreaming.

National Seed Swap Day, where folks can share seeds and stories, is Saturday, January 25, 2025, at the beautiful Vesterheim Commons building on Water Street in Downtown Decorah.

Sharing seeds and stories at a Seed Swap is a great way to connect with your gardener neighbors, and seed swap seeds are more likely to harvested from plants that did well in the local weather conditions.

Everyone is welcome. Never gardened before? Don’t worry about bringing seeds – just come and bring your curiosity! Gardened and saved seeds your whole life? Bring your seeds and stories to share! If possible, bring them in a labeled container. If you have extra ziplock bags, paper packets, or other potential seed containers for seeds you receive, you can bring those as well. Seed Savers Exchange will also be bringing empty, blank packets, and writing utensils for people to use.

Then, save the date for March 22, 2025, when SSE Hosts their Start with a Seed event at the Heritage Farm outside of Decorah. This is an informative, hands-on workshop in the lower barn (next to the Lillian Goldman Visitors Center). Greenhouse coordinator Alan Kissinger will walk attendees through the basics of seed selection, seed starting, and transplanting, as well as offer tips for a successful year of gardening. Participants will leave with their seed starts. Both events are free and open to the public.

You can find more details – plus all the 2025 50th celebration series events – at seedsavers.org/learn/#events.

Nabotunet

The perfect moment is now!

For folks over age 50, Nabotunet offers a carefree lifestyle where you are in control. Why give up your time to mow or shovel, to weed or worry about property taxes and property upkeep? Freedom can be yours at Nabotunet. We have a one-level, in-floor heat, 2 bedroom duplex home available today. Call Patty today for a tour and discover how easy it is to join the exclusive neighborhood!

All homes are part of Aase Haugen Senior Services Continuing Care Retirement Community, giving you priority access to additional senior living services when you need them.

50+ senior living neighborhood nestled in the bluffs of Decorah, IA.

Decorate your home with hearts and love this winter with this simple Heart Wreath Paper Project.

Michael writes: “On January 1st, 2021, while most were still recovering from New Year’s Eve, I ventured out early to capture the enchanting beauty of a location in Decorah known as “The Cut.” The scene evoked a calm peacefulness, with only the gentle sound of water trickling beneath the ice, making its way towards the Upper Iowa River. It was a serene moment of winter’s quiet splendor, beautifully frozen in time.” Learn more about Michael’s work at facebook.com/michaelfloyphotography.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL FLOY PHOTOGRAPHY

Get creative and stay cozy with Vesterheim Folk Art School this winter!

Nordic cooking, rosemaling, woodcarving, weaving, fiber arts, language, metalworking, youth and family programming, and more!

Mark your calendars! Spring/Summer registration opens Feburary 20, 2025!

Sign up at vesterheim.org/folk-art-school.

Vesterheim offers a 60% discount for in-person class tuition on a space-available standby basis to residents living within 50 miles of Vesterheim! Other scholarships available.

Learn more at bit.ly/VesterheimScholarship or scan the QR code

Find everything Scandinavian at Vesterheim Museum Store or online!

One-of-a-kind folk art, Norwegian sweaters, home decor, folk-art supplies, plus much more!

In Scenic Decorah, Iowa store.vesterheim.org 563-382-9682

Local Standby Class Discount for Winneshiek County Residents is supported in part by the Depot Outlet.

When the world feels full of darkness - both literally and figuratively - it’s easy to want to run away from it all. To cut yourself off and hunker down for the duration.

But the magic of life lives in the connections you make.

Connection can fit into a lot of different categories. Connection with yourself. Connection with another person – your partner, your kid, your parent, your neighbor. Connection with a group – a book club, folks in your neighborhood, your extended family. Connection with nature. Connection with your pets. Connection with your work. It’s up to you to find the connections that best serve you. And sometimes you’ve really gotta push yourself out that door to make it happen. It can be hard! Trust me, I get it.

8 FINDING CONNECTION Tips f or

I feel most closely aligned with introverts, to be honest. Sure, I’m good in a crowd and can talk to pretty much anyone, but I love a quiet house and hours to myself. But there is always a tipping point, when alone time wavers over into loneliness, and I recognize that I need contact and connection to feel whole and grounded and part of this planet. When I was thinking about the themes for this entire year, including this winter issue, it was early 2024. A whole calendar stretched ahead, full of promise and possibility. Now, here we are, at the end of that year. What have you learned about yourself and others? What types of connections do you need? What sorts of possibilities are ahead for you in 2025?

I’ve learned in recent years that I’m what’s called an “ambivert” – I have tendencies of both extroverts (hello, cheerleading background and putting myself out there each quarter in this very magazine) and introverts (Read all the books! Watch movies on the couch! Putter around the house!).

Every day is an opportunity to learn more, change perspectives, do something different. Every day is an experiment in humanity. And we’re all connected through that humanity. We’re all in this together. So: My hope, this winter season, is that we all find the collective strength to work toward a better future.

Happy New Year, dear readers. You inspire me.

Angie Herrmann

David Finholt

INTRO AND INFOGRAPHIC BY ARYN HENNING NICHOLS

XOXO - Aryn

3. Skip the small talk

1. Assume positive intent

People are generally sick of it. Don’t be afraid to dive into questions you actually care aboutif the people you’re asking care about them too, you’re more likely to find connection

(Wonder how many times we’ve put this phrase in aninfographic?)

4. Put down yourphone

8 FINDING CONNECTION Tips for

When you approach people with suspicion, you’re likely to find suspicious behavior. When you approach them with honesty and openness, it’s often reflected back.

2. Put in the effort

Anything worthwhile is going to take some doing / planning / willingness to put yourself out there. Looking for a place to start? Do activities you enjoy… in public. Odds are you’ll find a like-minded individual you might hang out with in the future.

We can't say this enough. If someone is across the table / in the room / present with you, you should be present with them. Put your device away and do real life conversation. Listen. Be heard. Repeat & enjoy!

Want to push yourself? Try learning something new –and meet others doing the same thing!

This cross stitch kit came from Cardboard Robot circa 2020! (True to its words, it’s still a work-in-progress...) It can be awkward and make you feel vulnerable, but you’re looking to find people who connect with you –so you gotta be your own genuine, authentic brand of you! 6. Be yourself!

7. Be aware of your social stamina Not everyone gets energy from being around others. Don’t be hard on yourself if you need some time to recharge your extrovert battery for the next outing.

FINDING CONNECTION

for Improved Mental Health

Mental health counselor

Olivia Lynn Schnur shares ways to find connecion through the cold winter months.

BY OLIVIA LYNN SCHNUR

Winter provides an opportunity to sink into a cocoon of rest and stillness. We seek solace in our homes with warm blankets, nourishing food, and cozy clothing. The cold days and long nights of this season can feel like a good excuse to cancel plans (or stop making them altogether).

But if we aren’t careful, a welcome retreat can become an isolation habit. Once the holidays pass, it can be easy to disengage from the people and hobbies we’ve loved just months before. Yet, connection is not something that we can postpone until the warmer days of spring. Meaningful relationships are necessary for our health and happiness year-round.

THE BENEFITS OF CONNECTION

A deep connection can release happiness hormones (like oxytocin or serotonin) that motivate us to reach out to that person again. Connection can also boost our resilience against stress and trauma. Our social bonds strengthen us.

On the flip side, loneliness weakens our physical and mental health. It dampens our ability to connect with others. If we aren’t careful, feelings of loneliness can drive us into hiding.

THE PARADOX OF LONELINESS

Connecting has never been easier. Yet, we are lonelier than ever. We are so lonely that the U.S. Surgeon General declared loneliness an epidemic. Beyond that, the World Health Organization labeled loneliness a global health threat.

This is the paradox of loneliness: the lonelier we feel, the more we tend to isolate, and the lonelier we become. Feelings of shame, insecurity, social anxiety, and fear of judgment prevent us from reaching out. Yet, hiding our feelings only deepens the chasm we feel between ourselves and others.

The first step to recovering from loneliness is sharing how you feel with someone else. Then, you are no longer alone in it. The antidote to loneliness is connection.

RECONNECT TO YOURSELF FIRST

Sometimes, connecting with others is difficult because we are disconnected from ourselves. If we do not honor or accept our own feelings, how can we share them with someone else? If we cannot recognize or express our own needs, how can we expect someone else to meet them? Our ability to connect with others is only as strong as the relationship we have with ourselves.

If you want someone who will love you unconditionally, who will always show up when you need them, and support you when you make a mistake… look no further than within. You have the ability to cultivate that unconditional love and positive regard for yourself.

Start small. Take time to get to know yourself. Figure out what makes you feel joy (hint: probably the things you loved as a kid). Honor your needs and limitations. Validate your own feelings. Nourish yourself with healthy foods, sleep, fluids, and movement that feels good.

The love (or lack of love) we feel for ourselves tends to show up in the way we relate to others. Connection always comes with risk. But we are more resilient against those risks when our inner voice is one of support, encouragement, and understanding.

SMALL DOSES OF CONNECTION

In order to take a chance on connection, we need to recognize two important truths. First, we all have the opportunity to connect with others. Second, every opportunity for connection comes with the potential for rejection.

A fear of rejection can sabotage these connection opportunities, leading us to view neutral responses as negative ones. And it can cause us to create stories of rejection in our heads when we don’t know another person’s intent.

Fear of rejection is visceral, and for good reason. Our ancestors survived in groups. Social rejection meant certain death. For that reason, we evolved with an instinctual need to belong and remain within groups. It’s important to remember how deep both the fear of rejection and the need for connection are embedded in our nervous system.

To start adjusting our reactions to positive intent, we can seek safe connections where the risk of rejection is lower. When you’re out in public, look up and make eye contact. Smile – even when a smile is not returned. Strike up a conversation while you wait in line. Ask your regular cashier to tell you their name. These relatively low-risk connections build on each other. Every positive encounter sends signals to our brains that it’s safe to connect.

Through this process, we start to increase our risk tolerance and resilience against rejection. We start to understand that rejection is not personal. We can rely on the connections that we do make to remind us that we are not alone.

A QUALITY CONNECTION FOR EVERY OCCASION

Mingling and networking serve a purpose, but if you’ve ever found yourself surrounded by people, but still felt lonely, you know that quality connections matter. We also need to understand that different people meet different needs.

Perhaps you have a friend who always makes you laugh but isn’t skilled when it comes to discussing deeper emotions. Or maybe one friend shares your hobbies and passions, but you can’t relate when it comes to lifestyle or values.

Our method of connection matters too. Social media can be wonderful for connecting when we have no alternative – when distance or health prevent us from meeting face-to-face. But though our ability to connect grows through the internet, we miss out on the quality of another person’s presence –the depth of their smile, the reverberation of their laugh, the warmth of their embrace, and the peace of their companionship. Take note of all the relationships and methods of connection in your life. Assess the needs being met by each connection. Notice where there are gaps. Start to think about how you might make connections to fill in the gaps. (See the following worksheet to get started.)

Continued on next page

CONNECT THROUGH SHARED INTERESTS

As we share our experiences with others and take the time to understand theirs, we can begin to develop a shared system of understanding.

Many religions and philosophies are centered around shared worldviews. If you’re religious, you may find that your shared beliefs and values help you develop deep and meaningful connections in your chosen religious spaces. Spiritual connection could mean attending meditation sessions, yoga classes, gratitude circles, or even a spiritual retreat.

Shared hobbies and interests can also bring people together. If you’re passionate about health and fitness, try joining a running club, taking fitness or cooking classes, or finding creative ways to make your meals or workouts more social. Love animals? Volunteer at an animal shelter or become a dog walker. Enjoy nature? Adopt a highway, volunteer to help build a trail, or join conservation groups. Are you a music enthusiast? Drum circles, singing groups, concerts, and lessons all have strong potential for social bonding.

We might even borrow connection-friendly ideas from other cultures. For example, in Sweden they have a tradition called fika, where individuals connect to enjoy an afternoon treat or drink. In Australia and England, they share a similar tradition of breaking for morning and/or afternoon tea. Perhaps you could start a tradition with a coworker or family member to set aside a moment each day to connect while enjoying a treat or drink.

Consider your own values, passions, and beliefs. What activities might lend themselves to social connection with people who share your worldview?

SEEK PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT

While there are myriad ways to connect, it is not always easy. Deep-seated feelings of loneliness and isolation can make us feel vulnerable. On top of that, fear of rejection and attachment wounds can make connecting with new people downright terrifying.

In this case, a professional can help. Consider reaching out to work with a therapist or joining a support group. Continue searching for support until you remember that you are not alone.

Connection is an essential human need. We are wired for love and belonging. While we can now survive without the need for a group, connection adds depth, meaning, and richness to the human experience. You are worthy of love, belonging, and connection. Your people are waiting for you to put yourself out there so you can find each other.

Olivia Lynn Schnur is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor, and EMDR Certified Therapist. She is also a Certified Yoga Teacher and Reiki Master. Olivia writes about health, healing, and happiness to in hopes of inspiring, educating, and empowering individuals to improve their mental health. You can learn more about Olivia, or book a yoga session, at oliviaschnur.com.

CONNECTION STARTER QUESTIONNAIRE

CONNECTING WITH SELF:

What makes you feel joy? (Think about what you loved as a kid. Can you borrow anything from your inner child?)

What are your hobbies, passions, or interests?

Take a moment to just breathe. Notice your feelings. Notice any unmet needs. Write down what you notice. (Repeat daily.)

What makes you feel most connected to your purpose or the world around you?

CONNECTING WITH OTHERS:

Who do you feel connections with now? How do you support one another? List all your friends, family-members, and co-workers with whom you have a strong relationship and how that relationship supports you.

What other ways would you like to feel supported? Can you get involved in a community group that can guide you toward a connection that fills that gap?

Is there someone in your community or workplace you’ve been curious about? What small steps can you take to start building a connection with this person?

Scenes from the Amara Rose Second Annual Remembrance Walk in September 2024. / Photos courtesy Emma K. Lee Photography

TURNING TRAGEDY INTO A FOUNDATION WITH A MISSION IN WESTERN WISCONSIN

BY TALLITHA REESE

“My beautiful daughter’s life ended on a cold kitchen floor of a dumpy studio apartment near La Crosse while I slept in my bed in Westby,” says Heidi Overson, describing her heart-breaking experience of a parent’s worst nightmare. “I wasn’t there to help her, to hold her, to try and bring her back to life. I never got to say, ‘I love you’ one last time.”

On January 7, 2022, at the age of 31, Heidi’s daughter, Amara “Mari” Lee, died due to accidental fentanyl poisoning. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid used to treat chronic severe pain or severe pain following surgery. It is a controlled substance similar to morphine, but approximately 100 times more potent.

According to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, just two milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose, depending on someone’s body size, tolerance, and past usage. Drug traffickers typically distribute fentanyl by the kilogram. One kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people.

Within months of Amara’s passing, Heidi, along with Randall Overson (Amara’s stepfather) and Jeff Richardson (Amara’s father), founded the Amara Rose Foundation.

The 501(c)(3) non-profit is dedicated to honoring lives lost to addiction and fentanyl poisoning by raising awareness, educating, promoting prevention, encouraging those in recovery, and helping those – and their families – who are struggling.

“I wanted to tell the world what happened to my daughter,” says Heidi. “I wanted to be a living example of a parent that went through hell with my daughter and turned that journey into a lesson, in hopes that other parents and families would fight harder to save their own children, users and non-users alike.”

Though Amara ultimately lost her battle, Heidi was determined that fentanyl wouldn’t win.

“I wanted to turn evil into good. There was nowhere else to go with our loss,” explains Heidi. “I always quote the verse Genesis 50:20: ‘… you meant evil against me, but God made it for good in order to bring this present result, the saving of many lives.’ That sums up our foundation pretty well. We know she’s in heaven and we will see her again, but until then, we are on a mission to save lives.”

Continued on next page

Left: Amara and Heidi volunteering at Rotary Lights in 2014. Right: Amara in 2011 before she got sick. / Photos courtesy Heidi Overson

Amara was Heidi’s firstborn child, older sister to several siblings and part of a caring family. She had a great personality and sense of humor, Heidi says, and was popular in school.

But in middle school, Amara began to struggle, and after a couple bouts of shoplifting, her family got her into counseling, hoping to resolve the issues she was having. Unfortunately, by high school, Amara had begun drinking and experimenting with drugs, unbeknownst to her family.

After graduating and moving out of her family home in rural Coon Valley, Wisconsin, Amara continued to stay in touch with and see her family often – they had no idea she was

using drugs. She hid it well. Amara became addicted to meth in her twenties, then heroin. When she had an overdose, her family became abruptly aware of Amara’s drug use. They got her into a one-month treatment center, hoping it would cure her. They didn’t know much about drug addiction and that one month of treatment is not anywhere near the amount of time needed.

“It was pure hell,” says Heidi. “There were so many ups and downs. Over the next few years, she’d use, get clean, come home to go through her withdrawals, take off again, and we wouldn’t hear from her for weeks. She was in three long-term inpatient treatment centers over time, but they did nothing for her.”

Auny Pole Photography

Remembering those who have lost their battle to addiction. Amara’s photo is in the center. / Photos courtesy Emma K. Lee Photography. Below: Amara’s favorite photo of herself. / Photo courtesy Heidi Overson

The long, hard, back-and-forth journey would end tragically as fentanyl made its way onto the drug scene. Due to its low cost and potency, drug dealers are mixing fentanyl with other illegal drugs such as heroin, meth, marijuana and cocaine, and even fake prescription pills and vapes, often creating a lethal concoction.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and American Medical Association, 60 percent of drug overdose deaths were linked to fentanyl in 2021. In Wisconsin, synthetic opioids (primarily fentanyl) were identified in 91 percent of opioid overdose deaths and 73 percent of all drug overdose deaths. The number of fentanyl overdose deaths in Wisconsin grew by 97 percent from 2019 to 2021.

Amara joined those tragic statistics with her death in 2022. Addiction was a disease from which she would never recover, the outcome terminal.

“Our family will never be the same,” says Heidi. “We all miss her, each in our own ways. I am devastated. It’s been almost three years, and I still can’t function like I used to…the pain is overwhelming some days. Part of my heart is gone.”

After starting the foundation, Amara’s parents built up a board of directors – all of whom have personal dealings with drug/alcohol addiction, fentanyl poisonings, and mental illness, through a variety of experiences such as working in law enforcement, counseling, experiencing addiction personally, or losing a loved one to overdose or fentanyl poisoning – and began sharing their stories.

Scott Bjerkos is a detective with the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office and Fritz Leinfelder is an investigator with the La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office. They both serve as presenters and have experience and knowledge of what’s going on in local communities and in the fight against addiction and fentanyl poisoning.

Featuring products from 200 local farmers and producers.

Julie Tully’s son, Karl, was a friend of Amara’s who also died from accidental fentanyl poisoning in 2017.

Veronica Hoiland was Amara’s jail correctional officer at the Vernon County Detention Center and grew very close to Amara while working with her.

Samantha Marshall is a board member who is in successful recovery and provides valuable insight during decision-making processes.

Julie Mills is very active in the Viroqua community and provides a variety of connections and event organizing skills. She truly has a heart for those struggling.

The current Amara Rose Foundation board: Julie Tully, Randy Overson, Heidi Overson, Jeff Richardson, Veronica Hoiland, and Fritz Leinfelder. / Photo courtesy Heidi Overson

The Amara Rose Foundation focuses on providing education, raising awareness, supporting law enforcement and jail programs and ministries, and encouraging and supporting people in recovery as well as those struggling with mental illness, addiction, and grief. They also connect with and support families and friends who’ve lost loved ones to addiction or fentanyl poisoning, and many of these people are presenters or volunteer for the foundation.

“Fentanyl is everywhere…and so many kids don’t know. Adults don’t know. This is a matter of life and death…we are spreading the facts as much as we can, wherever we can,” says Heidi. “Our presentations are hard hitting and educational. We use our experiences and tell what people need to be aware of, and we share our flyers and posters for people to take and hang up in their communities.”

Each year, the foundation hosts two big fundraising events –a Remembrance Walk in the fall, and a chili cook-off. Fentanyl Awareness Day – May 7 – is also recognized and commemorated with large presentations.

While the foundation directly supports those in recovery, mostly with loving moral support, resources and connections, Heidi notes that this year they helped provide rent assistance for one woman, who is working to move forward with her life. “This woman was one of Amara’s best friends, and they used together. She made it, but Amara didn’t. The foundation is very proud of her,” Heidi says. Heidi and her family personally saw the pain of stigma surrounding those struggling with addiction. The foundation works hard to educate others that addiction is a disease, and those suffering from it should be met with compassion.

The Remembrance Walk is one of the Amara Rose Foundation’s annual fundraising events. These signs were handed out at the registration table. / Photo courtesy Emma K. Lee Photography

Right, top: Julie Tully and Heidi at an Amara Rose presentation. Bottom: Yard signs were part of the 2024 awareness campaign. / Photos courtesy Heidi Overson

“We raise all these people up as much as we can,” explains Heidi. “We tell and show them that we believe in them, and they’re going to do great things. And they will! We’ve all had many, many conversations both over the phone and face-to-face with so many this year…they need someone to give them hope and to believe in them. We are there for them.”

In addition to a billboard, yard sign, and banner campaign in 2024, the foundation launched a drink-spike prevention sticker campaign with each sticker featuring messages about fentanyl and Narcan (a medicine to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose). Thousands of stickers have been handed out to bars and nightclubs in several communities. Next will be an awareness ad campaign targeting 13to 25-year-olds on TikTok and Snapchat, as well as on La Crosse’s WKBT News. Heidi says they’re working on a La Crosse MTU bus ad campaign too and hope to bring awareness to schools and other counties in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa in the future.

“We want our work to reduce the number of parents, families and friends suffering from their unimaginable and often unexpected loss,” says Heidi. “We want our stories to keep kids from taking a fake prescription pill laced with fentanyl, to never pick up a joint or a powder or a syringe. We just want to save lives and keep people from experiencing the awful pain that we did… and still are.”

Tallitha Reese is a freelance writer and content manager based in Cashton, WI. She owns Words By Reese and you can find out more about her and her work at www.wordsbyreese.com.

Northern Flicker Woodpecker. Artwork

PECKING FOR A LIVING

BY CRAIG THOMPSON • ARTWORK BY MARY THOMPSON

The wizard of the woods is he; For in his daily round, Where’er he finds a rotting tree, He makes the timber sound. – John B Tabb

In 1940, as Walt Disney’s Pinocchio wobbled across the big screen, a lesser-known creative genius gave rise to another cinematic icon. Woody Woodpecker, an irascible bird with a spikey red doo, impish grin, and signature laugh, leaped off cartoonist Walter Lance’s drawing table and into movie theaters. Modeled after North America’s Pileated Woodpecker, Woody’s celebrity eventually landed him on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, indelibly popularizing woodpeckers in modern culture.

True to its name, a woodpecker’s life is about pecking. All share anatomical features that make them uniquely “woodpecker.”

Special musculature in and around their heads holds their brain in place while they furiously peck away - no need for aspirin. Stiff tail feathers prop them vertically against trees to enable the business of pecking. Specialized feet with two toes pointed forward and two pointed backward, “zygodactyly” in the parlance of ornithologists, enable them to easily grip even the smoothest bark.

Winter is ideal for woodpecker viewing. Leafless trees offer unobstructed views of these forest-dwelling dynamos. Their inclination to make noise gives them away. As cold winter days slowly lengthen, woodpeckers begin to drum. Short, staccato bursts are a percussive proclamation of territory and a sure sign that spring is indeed on the way. Heavy, chisel-like bills facilitate excavation of wood to find insects and create nest holes. They’re so adept at woodwork, in Latin America woodpeckers are known as “pájaros carpinteros“ – bird carpenters.

An industrious lot, woodpeckers excavate new nest holes every year. The previous year’s holes don’t remain unoccupied for long. Tree cavities are prime real estate. A host of species unable to excavate wood – chickadees, nuthatches, titmice, owls, and even Wood Ducks – depend on prodigious woodpeckers for a constant supply of much needed housing. That, in turn, is dependent on an abundance of dead trees, a critically important resource for healthy woodpecker populations.

Driftless forests support seven species of woodpeckers. The largest, the Pileated, is a crow-sized behemoth. It’s resonant “cukcuk-cuk-cuk” vocalization echoes throughout wooded coulees. Deep, rectangular excavations in tree trunks skirted with piles of woodchips are evidence of a bird more often heard than seen.

Our smallest woodpecker, the diminutive Downy, is dressed in snappy black and white. A mere six inches long, these tiny acrobats easily explore the underside of branches and are often seen perched on goldenrod stems searching for insects. The Downy Woodpecker is a frequent backyard visitor.

In terms of pure panache, the Red-headed Woodpecker gets top billing. An impossibly red head sits atop a boldly patterned back and white body propelled by equally striking wings. The mere glimpse of a flying “red head” elicits oohs and ahhhs. In a manner reminiscent of flycatchers, red heads frequently dart out from dead trees to snatch insects in mid-air, a behavior known as hawking.

The Northern Flicker seems “less woodpecker” than its cousins. The large, jaunty bird sports crisp polka dots on a mocha-colored body. The only woodpecker to routinely forage on the ground, flickers have a propensity for ants. They’re often seen hopping like robins, opportunistically “excavating” anthills while searching for tasty ant larva. Flickers are snowbirds, heading to slightly warmer

climes – Missouri and Arkansas – to spend the winter.

In the woodpecker world, the prize for fine dining goes to Yellowbellied Sapsuckers. A smallish woodpecker bedecked in black and white, their scarlet forehead distinguishes them from similar looking species.

As their name implies, sapsuckers have a proverbial sweet tooth. They drill rows of small holes known as sap wells into tree trunks to release sugary sap. Brushy tipped tongues enable them to efficiently lap it up. Clusters of sap wells attract a host of additional species, including hummingbirds, searching for a quick slurp… or the insects also attracted to sap. It just so happens sap wells can be life savers for hungry birds when early spring weather takes a turn for the worse. When you can’t find bugs, you can always rely on sap. That makes these feathered confectioners vitally important members of their woodland neighborhoods.

Most Driftless woodpeckers are steely enough to endure the Upper Midwest’s snowy climate. This winter, when you’re itching for a change of pace, put on your boots and gloves and head out. A quiet foray into your local grove is sure to yield a glimpse of these fascinating woodland carpenters.

Craig and Mary Thompson live north of La Crosse near an oak forest brimming with busy woodpeckers. Mary’s favorite is the flicker because “they’re the only bird cool enough to wear polka dots every day.” Craig has already made an April reservation at a local sap well.

INSPIRING ENTREPRENEURS IN THE DRIFTLESS

you purchase

When

one of Cardboard Robot’s CardBored Boxes (pictured at right), you can make your very own Cardboard Robot out of the box! / Photo courtesy Cardboard Robot

INTRODUCTION BY ARYN HENNING NICHOLS

Cardboard Robot on Winnebago Street in Downtown Decorah is “your friendly neighborhood makingstuff store.” It’s a place filled with creativity and inspiration – art supplies, science toys, craft kits, nice paper and journals, and lots of nice pens (and other good stuff too).

“Everything we sell takes some creative input – building, writing, doing. One of the examples I often give is that we don’t sell greeting cards, but we do sell blank cards and envelopes that you can make into a thoughtful and personal greeting card,” says owner Eric Sovern.

Eric and his wife, Shannon Horton, moved to Decorah from the Twin Cities in June of 2008. They had just had their son, Jack, in 2007, and Eric was able to work remotely at his job for Surly bicycles.

In 2011, the Decorah community was lucky to name Shannon as the new Decorah Middle and High School librarian, and in 2017, Eric and Shannon jumped into the entrepreneur world by opening Cardboard Robot in Decorah.

It’s a family business through-andthrough. “Jack turned 17 in August of this year. He’s a senior. When we started the shop, he was 10 and loved giving people tours of the store when they came in,” Eric says. “Best salesperson ever.” And the work Shannon does at the schools goes hand-in-hand with the mission at Cardboard Robot, funneling ideas to engage young people in creative endeavors.

The Cardboard Robot building sits tall on an alley corner midway up Winnebago (a street that gets more rad by the minute). The front door is sandwiched between an always awesome (often cardboard) window display and a cool black-and-white mural. Inside, the 3D printer is generally humming away, making something neat in the background while Eric is busy helping a customer or putting together a CardBored Box in the back workshop.

What’s that, you ask? The CardBored Boxes are Cardboard Robot’s own brand of everything-youneed activity kits. Packaged in a box you can turn into your very own cardboard robot; each kit is a complete maker adventure. Current offerings include the Helm of Brilliance – a DIY headlamp including a small circuit board; the (Hold Me Closer) Tiny Stamper – with a Speedball linoleum carving tool and pink eraser to make your own stamp; and the Fun Size Art Gallery - three mini canvases and supplies to make a “wee art show” (including two 3-D printed figures ready to admire your work).

Burgers. Sandwiches. Salads. Appetizers Great Wings. Best Bloody Mary’s in Town!

ON TAP!

Eric Sovern, owner of Cardboard Robot, “your friendly neighborhood making-stuff store.” Below, the Tiny Stamper CardBored Box. / Photos courtesy Cardboard Robot

While Cardboard Robot is a great place to find presents for birthdays and holidays alike, Eric wants folks to remember creativity is a gift for yourself, too. Creative work is all about the process; you don’t have to be good at it to do it. It’s the doing it part that often holds the most beauty.

The Basics:

Name: Eric Sovern

Age: 55

Business: Cardboard Robot

Year Business Established: 2017

Business address: 110 Winnebago St Decorah

Website: cardboardrobot.biz

Tell us about the “leap” moment. When/how did you decide to jump in and become your own boss?

From what I know, a lot of business owners are living out a dream they’ve had for a long time to own a business. Maybe it’s odd, but that’s not been my experience at all. I had never planned to open a retail store for people who make things. Instead, I think I’ve lived a life that has somehow led me inexorably to opening a retail shop for people who make things. So, in that sense, there was no “leap moment” so much as a long slow decline into entrepreneurship.

I think Cardboard Robot is the culmination of the jobs I’ve done, the hobbies I’ve tried, and the desire for the kind of weirdo clubhouse of creativity that I wasn’t sure existed anywhere. I was a teacher for a few years, and I worked in the bicycle industry for a lot of years. Both of those careers involved a lot of creativity and trying to do something worthwhile. Also, in 2007 we had a kid. There’s not much that will keep you on your toes trying to figure out cool things to build, make, and do more than trying to keep a six-year-old entertained.

Shannon, in her role as librarian, started a maker space for Decorah Middle School, and that became a huge inspiration for the store we eventually created. Watching students light up when asked to build something is a powerful thing.

Honestly, the store itself is a pretty equal two-scoop helping of Shannon’s great eye for cool things people might want and my love of the jumbled hobby store. I love it so much when people come in and have an idea of a thing they want to make. I want to help with that. A mom came in one year frustrated that her daughter didn’t want any of the princess costumes that were offered for Halloween, but instead wanted to be

The Cardboard Robot building sits tall on an alley corner midway up Winnebago Street in Downtown Decorah. / Photo courtesy Cardboard Robot

a clothes dryer. Yes, please! Getting to help bounce around ideas about how that might work was 100 percent satisfying.

That’s ultimately the genesis of the store’s name, too. Making a weird costume for your kid can be so much more fun than just buying something. The Cardboard Robot really did happen in our basement – and it’s a symbol in our minds for getting creative.

What’s the weirdest request you’ve had at the store?

I did have a person walk 10 feet into the store once, look around for a solid 20 seconds from that spot, and then ask me if everything in here was made out of cardboard. I’ve also had people think we’re a shipping store that will package up your glass beer growlers and get them safely across the country.

What do people come in for all the time?

Pens and journals. I love pens and journals, and so do our customers. The simplest form of creativity happens when you grab a writing instrument and face a blank page.

What’s the best thing about being your own boss?

I love not having to ask for permission to do a thing. I’m a pretty spontaneous person generally, and planning ahead doesn’t always come naturally to me. So, now, when an idea strikes, I can just go with it. I don’t have to run it through a committee or have a meeting. That feels pretty cool.

How about the worst?

The fear of failure can be paralyzing. “What if people don’t like this?” I mean, I feel like the store is a pretty good representation of what I like and who I am. If people don’t get it, or don’t like it that feels personal. I get that it’s not, but still…

Cardboard Halloween costumes for the win!

/ Photo courtesy Cardboard Robot

Any mentors/role models you look to/ have looked to?

I once worked on a crew painting dorms in the summers while I attended the University of Iowa during the previous century. The boss was a younger guy just a few years older than I was who had taken over the business from his uncle. He was the sort of person who wanted to teach you to do a job, to do it well, and to be proud of the outcome, and that made me want to work hard just so he would make money. It was from him that I learned that what job you did wasn’t really the important thing. What mattered was working hard and working with integrity. “Paint the parts that nobody will ever see and do it well because it’s the right way to do it.”

I also come from a line of entrepreneurs and idea people. My parents are both people who hatch plans and go for it. Both of them went back to school later in their careers and were never afraid to change course and follow a new path. That’s an amazing lesson to have learned and I will always be grateful for them. Having a belief somewhere inside you that you can do just about anything is pretty powerful, and I’m grateful to my folks for instilling that.

What’s the one thing you wish you had known before you started?

I wish I knew at the beginning how to better ask for help. I think I still need that. There are so many parts to running a business, and I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to be good at all of them – though, I think I have tried. It really does help a ton to lean on the skills of the people in your life. I couldn’t be happier when someone asks me for help, but it can be difficult for me to do that myself. I suppose it may be the most Midwestern thing about me. I’m still working on this.

How do you manage your life/work balance?

Working at Cardboard Robot is something that I really do enjoy. I’m mostly able to separate myself from work for time with family and friends. But that doesn’t mean I don’t wake up at 4 am thinking about shelving or how many bags we have left. We originally moved to Decorah from Minneapolis 17 years

DIY card supplies and crafting / art books abound! Left: Watch for the Cardboard Robot sign. / Photos courtesy Cardboard Robot

ago to reduce commute times and feel more connected to our community and our kid. I think that has worked out pretty well for the most part. This might also be a good question for Shannon to answer.

What keeps you inspired?

The inspiration for this venture comes directly from our customers. I love that we have regulars who get supplies from us to make amazing things. It’s also energizing to talk with Decorah’s visitors and find out where they’re from and what they do. During a lot of conversations I have with these folks they will pull out their phones to show me pictures of the art or craft or cardboard fort they’re building or making. Seeing that and hearing people say how much they appreciate having a place that supports creativity is the fuel that keeps this bus on the road.

What do you wish people knew or believed about creative work?

The thing I least like to hear from people is, “I’m not an artist,” or, “I’m not crafty.” I think people actually believe that you are either born with the natural ability to make beautiful things, or you are not, and are forever relegated to a life of blandness. Everyone is an artist. Everyone can make things. You may not be able to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling, but that’s a good thing because it’s already done, and I think you’d get in trouble. Michelangelo didn’t paint that on the first day he picked up a brush. He wanted to do it, worked at it, and got good at it. It’s the same as it is with everything. I’m no good at flying a plane, but that’s because I’ve never trained to do it or made it a priority in my life. I’m pretty sure I could learn to do it with training and practice. Some people have been doodling in the margins of every piece of paper they’ve held. That’s artist training, and sometimes they get pretty good at it. Art and craft work also doesn’t have to hang in a museum for it to have value. All it has to do is express something you feel inside and then make you feel good about getting it done.

Party Hits of the 80's

Andrea Van Kempen

FOUGHT TO THE TOP

Naomi Simon wrestled with Team USA at the U20 World Championships in September of 2024, taking home the bronze at 180. And this fall, she began wrestling as a freshman at University of Iowa. / Photos courtesy Naomi Simon

WRESTLER NAOMI SIMON’S JOURNEY FROM DECORAH MATS TO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS & BEYOND

BY CLARA WODNY

“It just felt right.”

For Naomi Simon, Decorah’s hometown women’s wrestling hero, the decision to dedicate herself to wrestling was a simple one.

“Wrestling fits my body, it fits how I like to think about the world,” she says.

And despite being an individual sport, Naomi insists that the real heart of wrestling is the supportive, tight-knit community it provides. “Wrestlers are really hard-working people,” she explains. “When you spend time around other wrestlers, you automatically have this point of connection that most people can’t understand.”

FINDING HER WAY TO THE MATS

While Naomi’s decision to try wrestling was her own, it does run in the family. Her dad, Matthew Simon, wrestled throughout high school and one year in college. Her younger sister, Anastasia, joined wrestling with a group of her friends at a young age. In fact, it was watching Anastasia compete at the Kid’s State Wrestling Tournament in Des Moines that inspired her own career in the sport.

Today, Naomi has an impressive list of accolades to her name: A four-time Iowa High School State Wrestling Champion with an undefeated record across all four years, the 2024 Dan Gable Ms. Wrestler of the Year, and, as of September 2024, a bronze medalist for Team USA at the 2024 U20 (Under 20) World Freestyle Wrestling Championships in Spain.

But no rise to the top happens without its challenges, and many heroes come from humble beginnings. This is certainly true of Naomi, who began her career as the only girl on the middle school boys’ wrestling team in Decorah, Iowa. When she joined wrestling in 7th grade, there was no girl’s program.

“Since it was technically a school sport, they couldn’t turn me away,” she says.

For most of that year, Naomi felt out of place among the boys, who weren’t very accepting. And she certainly wasn’t a natural talent – she recalls winning only four of the 20+ matches she competed. By the end of the season, Naomi was ready to walk away from the sport. Then, just prior to her 8th grade year, Decorah native and Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee Lee Fullhart moved

back to town and began building a women’s program at the high school.

“He built an environment where I could just be an athlete and I didn’t have to worry about being bullied or singled out,” says Naomi. “He told me I would have a spot here, that I would be respected, and that I would have to put in the work just like anyone else. Sticking it out was one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced, but I haven’t looked back since”.

With a renewed excitement and a dedicated, determined group of teammates to train with, Naomi quickly rose to the top of the girls high school wrestling scene. And in 2022, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union officially sanctioned women’s wrestling as a sport, making Iowa the 34th state nationally to do so.

The sport’s popularity exploded across the state, and at the same time Naomi began to seek additional opportunities outside of the high school season. Supported by her community, she took the leap into the national wrestling scene.

NATIONAL WRESTLING

USA Wrestling is governed at the state level, with each state federation having its own leadership and methods of operating. “It can be really confusing the first time around, but it’s also very rewarding,” says Naomi.

Naomi (right) after a win on the Decorah High School wrestling team. She graduated in spring of 2024, finishing her high school wrestling career as a four-time State Wrestling Champion with an undefeated record across all four years. / Photo courtesy Melissa Simon

In Iowa, the women’s program is directed by National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee Charlotte Bailey and coached by former NCAA champion and University of Iowa Hall of Fame inductee Jeff McGinness.

Like Coach Fullhart, Charlotte and Coach McGinness have had a massive impact on Naomi’s development, both on and off the mats. They are able to bring a group of girls from different locations across the state together into one strong, cohesive team, investing in and providing opportunities for each athlete. It is their leadership, commitment, and encouragement that has made Naomi’s time with Team Iowa, “some of the best wrestling experiences I have ever had”.

USA Wrestling competitions offered Naomi challenges and learning opportunities that high school matches no longer could. Not only was she facing more skilled opponents, but high school and USA wrestling competitions utilized different “styles” of wrestling and methods of determining scores to which she had to adapt. While many wrestlers will make a big deal out of the transitions from wrestling “folkstyle” in high school season to “freestyle” at USA or international meets, Naomi takes it all in stride. “At the end of the day, it’s just wrestling.”

In 2022, shortly after her sophomore year of high school, Naomi competed at the Youth Trials in Fort Worth, Texas. There, she lost her match for the first time in over two years. While a loss might be discouraging to some, it only energized Naomi. She quickly got to work with Coach McGinness, driving to his weekly training camps in all different areas of Iowa and pushing herself to compete at a higher and higher level.

She credits her first Junior and 16 & Under National Championships – a tournament commonly referred to in the wrestling community as “Fargo,” as it takes place each year in Fargo, North Dakota – as being one of the biggest turning points in her career. Finishing 6th that year, she would go on to become the Fargo champion in 2023.

INTERNATIONAL WRESTLING

In May of 2024, Naomi competed at the World Team Trials event in Spokane, Washington. She won the Under 20 Division, securing her a spot on the USA U20 World Championships team – which also meant her first chance at wrestling internationally.

One requirement upon making the team was to travel to Colorado Springs at least once over the summer for training camps. These camps are held not only to ensure peak physical performance ahead of the big competition, but also to create and deepen bonds between athletes and coaches, as well as among teammates.

In July, the World’s team traveled to Madrid, Spain, to get a feel for international competition and attend an additional camp. For Naomi, the hardest parts of the experience had little to do with the competition itself. “It was the things outside of wrestling – the long plane ride, adjusting to the time difference – and it was so hot –usually around 105 degrees!” she says. “Once I started wrestling, I didn’t have much of an issue.”

Back in the states, the athletes returned to their home base for the last few weeks of preparation before flying to Spain again –Pontevedra this time – on August 31. Within 15 hours of landing, the team was in the gym, preparing.

On September 6, Naomi competed in her first match at Worlds, against Maryiaa Orlevich of Ukraine. She lost by just one point – and then had to wait to find out if she would have the opportunity to compete in a second match.

Continued on next page

/ Photo Facebook @IowaWomensWrestling

Naomi (second from left) poses with a crew (and her bronze medal) at the World Championships in Spain. / Photo courtesy Matt Simon

The University of Iowa proudly announces Naomi’s third place win at the U20 World Championships.

International wrestling competitions differ from US tournaments, in that they follow a Repechage Double Elimination bracket model. Essentially, if you win a match you automatically move on to the next stage. If you lose, you have to wait to see how well your opponent does in their next match. If your opponent wins again, you get added to the Repechage bracket and are afforded the chance to keep wrestling.

In the end, Orlevich advanced to the final and Naomi was given another match. Paired against one of the toughest competitors in the field, Japan’s Chisato Yoshida, Naomi had her work cut out for her. She delivered, dominating with a 9-0 victory and earning 3rd place in the 180 weight at her first international wrestling championship.

@IowaWomensWrestling

UNIVERSITY OF IOWA WRESTLING

In the fall of 2024, Naomi began her first year at the University of Iowa, studying health and human physiology. Knowing from a young age that she wouldn’t want to attend a small college, she was thrilled when the Hawkeyes announced the addition of a women’s wrestling team in 2021. There, she is helping to define the emerging landscape of Division I women’s wrestling.

Now in their second year of competition, the Hawkeyes boast one of only four Division I women’s wrestling programs in the entire country. Of these four, the Hawkeyes are the only member of the Power Five Conference – the group of 69 Division I schools that boast the most prominent collegiate athletic programs in the nation.

The other three – Presbyterian College, Sacred Heart University, and Lindenwood University – are all smaller, private, liberal arts institutions.

Currently, women’s wrestling is not recognized by the NCAA, meaning there is no official national tournament. However, it was named an NCAA Emerging Sport in 2020 and is projected to become official in 2026.

Just over a month into wrestling season, Naomi confirms that deep bonds, camaraderie, and sportsmanship are just as present among the Hawkeyes as the other teams she has been a part of. These connections and friendships are important, if only because of the sheer amount of time the girls spend training together.

Currently, Naomi attends five-to-six team wrestling practices, three lifts, one cardio session, and additional club wrestling practices (not affiliated with the University) each week.

Surprising no one, except perhaps herself, Naomi’s first collegiate season has had a successful start, beginning with the Luther Hill Open in Indianola, Iowa. Of the 18 Hawkeyes who competed, 13 earned top-three finishes.

“I was incredibly nervous to wrestle in Indianola,” she confesses. “It was my first collegiate competition, and I just didn’t know how it would go.”

Naomi wrestled four matches, ultimately winning the 180 weight category.

Their next meet, a double dual in Marietta, Georgia, saw the Hawkeyes come away with a 46-1 win over Hastings and a 30-14 victory over Life University, both NAIA teams. Naomi won both of her matches, then went on to win all three matches the following day at the Eagle Madness Open, also held in Marietta.

The Hawkeye’s final competition of the season will be the National Collegiate Women’s Wrestling Championships (NCWWC), which is scheduled for March 7-8, 2025, in Coralville, Iowa. Founded in 2019, the NCWWC offers the chance for all NCAA varsity women’s wrestling programs (Division I, II, and III) to compete at a high-level national competition at the end of the season.

With many years ahead of her, Naomi looks forward to continued effort and improvement on the mats. In the same way that her journey has been inspired and supported by trailblazing women wrestlers and coaches before her, she will add her name to the legacy and influence future wrestlers and wrestling fans alike. With each practice, each match, and each victory, Naomi is not just making a name for herself but paving the way for the future of women’s wrestling.

Clara Wodny is a senior at Luther College, studying English and Visual Communications. She recently returned to Decorah after spending a year abroad in England, where she attended the University of Nottingham. While there, she was a writer and Assistant Design Editor for IMPACT, a student-run magazine. She has written for a variety of news sites and magazines, including SwimSwam, SAGE Scholars, and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation.

Closer to home, Luther College in Decorah recently announced the addition of a women’s wrestling program, becoming the 39th Division III school to do so. The team is set to begin competition next fall for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Martha Deines

(Note from Lynsey: Fun Fact: The “D” stands for Deines! My middle name is my mother’s maiden name.)

My grandma, Martha Grace (Andrews) Deines, exudes love, happiness, and safety. I’m lucky to call her a close confidant and dear friend. In her life so far, she’s been a pastor’s wife; a mother of six (the six D’s - David, Dana, Dawn, Diedre, Darla, and Danette); and the best grandmother to 12 and great-grandmother to an ever-growing number! Martha’s greatest point of pride is the love and care she has for her family and close family friends! Martha – who just turned 90 years young in April 2024 – is quiet, calm, and positive. She’s a woman of few words, but always straightforward answers. She is easy-going and goes with the flow. She can often be found in her home in Greene, Iowa, knitting a blanket for a loved-one, working on a puzzle, or watching a sporting event. Beyond this reserved exterior, she is one of the most resilient, strong, and selfless humans. Martha will be the first to tell you how much she loves you and how proud she is of you. Her bright, genuine smile and laughter lights up a room. Maya Angelou’s words come to mind, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” And my grandma makes the people around her feel loved –she is always their biggest cheerleader. Her energy is, quite simply, soothing for the soul. Sometimes it is hard to hear over our busy lives and the distracting world around us, but when friends and family who know Martha get the time to connect and pay attention, they feel truly seen and held within her deep love and genuine uplifting words.

Try to describe yourself in one sentence: Happy, married, mother… proud of my family! Content.

Best advice you have received: Well, probably just, “play it cool” and don’t go to bed angry.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a teacher, and I was! I was an elementary school teacher for a handful of years. I also helped my husband, John (who was a pastor at UNI) as his secretary. We made a good team, and it was nice for him to not have to worry about those types of things. I have very fond memories of our time at the UNI Lutheran Student Center. I continue to have good connections with people from that time and place that are very important in my life! (Martha still has season tickets to UNI Volleyball and attends nearly every home game!)

Do you remember your first job? I worked at the park in the summer – entertaining and teaching kids. I have always liked being around children, with my job as a teacher and stay-at-home mother of six!

Is there something you’ve done that you are proud of?

Leading the band as the drum major in high school!

If you could eat anything every day for the rest of your life, what would it be? Ice cream! Preferably, butter pecan! (Shortly after she answered this question, someone knocked on the door to remind her about an ice cream social happening that afternoon! I believe she manifested it ~ magical Martha!)

If you were stranded on an island, what would you bring? Water… and ice cream! And my knitting to stay entertained.

How did you meet Grandpa? We met at a carnival that was in town when we were teenagers! We both grew up in Greene, IA, but we were in different grades and attended different churches, so we didn’t really know each other until then.

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

What was one of the best decisions you’ve ever made? Marrying John… the kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, and all of the joy our life together brought! He left too soon.

Do you remember your wedding day? The weather was so beautiful that day. It was at St. Peter Lutheran Church where John’s father was the pastor. It is the church I attend now, after living in a lot of different places for John’s church callings as a pastor himself… Feels very good, very full circle, to have ended up back in Greene.

Do you have any advice for love or relationships? Be comfortable with each other and be honest at all costs.

What do you hope for the future of your family? Happiness! Good health! Do creative things and surround yourself with people you enjoy.