Stillwater Living August 2014 by Stillwater Living Magazine

AUGUST 2014

dog days of summer

A program

that’s worth the “weight” Introducing the new HealthEast® Stillwater Clinic Weight Loss Program Like diabetes or arthritis, obesity is no one’s fault – it’s an actual disease process and may require medical treatment. The HealthEast Stillwater Clinic Weight Loss Program can help any individual looking to make a change – permanently – and ultimately, live a healthier life. Our approach is different because our philosophy is built on a strong medical foundation and consists of a three-phased approach; active weight loss, maintenance and relapse prevention. What have you got to lose? Learn more by attending our FREE seminar on the third Wednesday of every month from 6 to 7 p.m. at the HealthEast Stillwater Clinic. You’ll meet our team, learn about the program, get answers to your questions and find out if it’s right for you and your lifestyle. To learn more about this program, contact HealthEast Stillwater Clinic at 651-471-5622, or visit healtheast.org/stillwater-weightloss.

2900 Curve Crest Blvd. | Stillwater, MN 55082 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

healtheast.org

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G-Force Fitness understands how the body works. Many area physical therapists and chiropractors refer patients to G-Force because they are sticklers on form and technique. With an eye toward your long term health and fitness, G-Force tailors your excersise program to fit your body.

knowledge, passion, caring... “These are the three qualities that set G-Force Fitness apart from other gyms. Our members know that they can count on us to provide them with safe, fun, and effective training every time they step through our doors.” -Gerardo Aguirre, owner and head trainer

G-Force Fitness Solutions • 1650 Marketplace Drive • 651-983-7260

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music features

Music on the Meadow - Sundays in August 3-6 pm weather permitting Aug. 3 - Timbre Creek Aug. 10 - Everette Smithson Band, Zydeco/Cajun Aug. 17 - Dan Lund, Country Aug. 24 - Paul Mayesich, best in rhythm and blues

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Preventive, Cosmetic & Comprehensive Dentistry

September 3William Kent Krueger at the Lowell Inn

October 1-

David Housewright

November 5Judith Yates Borger

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AUGUST 2014

Photo by Miroslavich Photography, Allison’s smile by Wooddbury Dental Care

Totally Criminal Cocktail Hour

This monthly event for local mystery writers and their fans at the Dock Cafe always includes lively discussions and a great time. Call 651-430-3385 for your reservation. $10 includes delicious appetizers. 4:30 - 6:00 p.m. Cash bar available.

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contents

August 2014

Features

20 24

WEIGHT LOSS THE RIGHT WAY A new, customized program that treats the ‘whole person’. BY ANGELO GENTILE

DOG DAYS OF SUMMER Local Business Owners and Their Best Friends BY LAURIE SCHNEIDER

Departments

6 16 18

MAINSTREET News and Views from the Valley TERRA FIRMA Permaculture, A Functional Relationship By Claudia Morgan

STUDIO TIME Sue Rowe, Telling Stories With Bears By Syndie Sorensen

Cover photo, by Laurie Schneider

WWW.STILLWATERLIVING.NET 3

editor’s note

Summer’s Final Stretch

VOLUME 10, NUMBER 8 AUGUST 2014 AUGUST 2014

I have no love for the “back to school” season. One of the many reasons that I loath it is because we don’t need a reminder that this glorious season is drawing to a close. Pretty soon the high octane energy of little people running the streets will be contained at area schools and the rest of us will have to carry on – things can get a little boring without them. Take Me to the River is just around the corner and once again the good folks at Art Reach St. Croix have organized an engaging series of programs for us. Sue Rowe is one of the many talented artists involved in Take Me to the River this season, read on to learn more about her unique offering. Terra Firma is fast becoming one of our most read and requested columns in Stillwater Living. In this month’s installment Claudia explores the value of permaculture in one’s backyard garden. Once again, I’m thoroughly surprised by how little I know about these things. Weight gain and weight loss can be an unhappy cycle for so many of us. What we need to keep an eye on is the big picture of our overall health when riding that roller coaster. Our friends at HealthEast have taken a very mindful approach to what the experts are calling ”population health.” Their Stillwater clinic has developed a super cool new weight loss initiative.

Peter McNiff

dog days of summer

Copy Editor Maureen McDonough

Julie Bourman

ANGELO GENTILE CLAUDIA MORGAN LAURIE SCHNEIDER SYNDIE SORENSEN

Curtis Dale

Laurie Schneider is back this issue with a dose of her patented visual storytelling. So many of our favorite retailers or other service providers in town have a companion with them at the office or shop that it has become somewhat common place. Laurie, being an animal person, caught the notion that we should see what the dog at the feet of the owner is thinking. You’re in for a treat of photojournalism in our cover story this issue.

LAURIE SCHNEIDER Laurie Schneider Photograpy

Please don’t make the kids school shop when it’s really nice outside. Please pick a rainy or overcast day to fit that lil rugger in his new toughskins. Enjoy every last drop of sunshine and hit the beach and parks while the gettin is good. STEVE (SHOWCASE) SKALMAN

Real Good Then

HAWK JEFF BAGGOT

Peter McNiff Publisher and Editor peter@stillwaterliving.net

4 STILLWATER LIVING

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WWW.STILLWATERLIVING.NET 5

letters to the editor

Love Will The “day in the life” of a local farm boy was my favorite story in the last two years – its right up there with the story about the kids playing hockey last winter. While Stillwater Living has been a local favorite of ours for the last decade, I don’t remember this type of fun and fresh editorial in the recent past.

JULY 2014

So many old people my age complain about kids today being lazy or disrespectful, etc. I would suggest that kids today are better than ever and that our community will be in good hands in the future. Also, my wife thinks he should consider modeling as a back-up career to farming.

A Day in the Life at Morning Glory Farm

Teddy B. Stillwater

The Kids Are Alright

ren Teach Your Child d nurturing

ri school to exten

Area Montesso

r high-age approach to junio

I enjoy reading about the area youth each July – thank you for continuing this practice. It has been fun reading the four journal entries from South Africa and I really enjoyed the “update” from the kids running youth United Way.

students.

accomplishments. izing students’ the pavilion, recogn one another and attentive to day of at the with g up a festive last en are respectful on sun is heatin School Childr beaming. he warm afterno m. Parents are Croix Montessori those progra June at the St. the students’ school in early ys, chickens and ent of celebrating rs, Even the donke sentim us acres ater. ing teache gorgeo has Stillw nurtur 15 on the in rural Beyond the rsation this day alpacas that live d. Plans mood and are topic of conve awkwardly cute members excite the celebratory work, another grounds sense the school’s board d, beginning in the fall of the school’s staff, parents and to expan m, for for the school playful. Junior High progra are solidifying g a Montessori ased school, offerin farm-b by and 2015, . staff at this landh Grade 6, of 8th, and 9th grades The faculty and 16 months throug children from the end of 7th, school their students, which educates high Montessori ating, along with one is outside with the farm-based junior s Head of are indeed celebr Every It will be the only says Sheri Rylicki, St. Croix’ sful school year. al setting. The ally. Cities, another succes natural, pastor a handful nation er in the Twin ng the inviting, fact, one of only coming togeth animals, enjoyi School, and, in open house are and ay picnic underw program gets fixings for a giant pavilion. A brief nature ’s school at the

By Angelo Gentile Schneider Photos by Laurie

LIVING 16 STILLWATER

JULY 2014

Rylicki says ever eager to exten yone connected with the school d the nurtu experience has been ring spiri to adolesce from olde nts, those of t of the Montesso ri learning r children and older junior-high children reinf by teach age. “Looking orce their at the need This arrangem ing concepts they own s of our child is offered in have alrea ren, dy mastered the area, we as the webs ent parallels the “real . the region ” or work worl don’t feel that and looking at what ite that is smal people of all states “Individuals there’s any d, where, l and nurtu work and the needs ages and dispo ring, hands-on model in socialize with of the junio sitions.” r high stude , have indiv nt,” says Rylicthat meets Another idualized need majo s.” ki. “They environment— r component of Those elem Mon that tesso third piece ents—smal ri triangle. In l and nurtu of the afore is the on teaching the ring techniques, mentioned is an uncommo case of the St. Croix individualized environment, handscore of the school, the n and natu Montessori envi land, anim approach—ar model. als and farm ral one: outside and focu ronment e at the -related elem sed on the The Montes ents. Montessori sori Method An Italian schools are physician Montessori popu lar. and developed, The Teachers Asso educator, Dr. in abou ciation estim North American Maria Mon as the Mon the early 1900s, what tessori abou t 4,500 Montessori ates that there tessori Meth would beco schools in t 20,0 are od or Mon the United tessori educ me known that Minn 00 worldwide. Priva States and teschoolre ation. It is an educ esota hosts view.com ational appr Additionally, 61 private oach character on independ Montessori reports ence; freed schools and there are a number ized by an schools. om within of movemen of charter emphasis a few mag limit net t Montessori Montessori natural psyc within the classroom s, including freedom schools in ; a respect hological, St. the Croi state x . for a child physical and an individua ’s enrolls Montessori School open lized appr social deve about 100 ed in 1994 oach for classrooms; lopment; children. A , and curre each child and uninterru is funded non-profit ntly ; mixe most pted blocks school, St. of work time d-age students from ly from tuition dolla Croix As the Ame rs. The scho . all over the rican Mon area cities ol attracts metro, thou tesso such its website, the teacher, ri Society (AMS) desc St. Paul, and as Stillwater, Woodbur gh most come from learning trian child, and ribes on Hudson, Wisc y, Lake Elmo envi gle. The class onsin. , Afton, to encourag room is prep ronment create a e independ The ared Jun by ence, freed the teacher sense of orde ior om r. St. Croix Mon High Plan use of what The child, through indiv within limits and a tessori Scho the environm and would idual choice, herself, inter cap its junio ol will remain small, ent offers makes unde says Rydicki, to acting with termined level r high enrollment guidance is the teacher develop himself or at a certain, . The needed. not exceed when supp ort and/or 150, Rydicki school’s total enrollme as-yetsays. nt would As Rylicki likes Curriculum children wher to say, the education plans for the al approach purposeful e they are.” junior high academic is, “Meet program [that include a “hands on, with a stron Multi-age g emphasis ] is interdisci grou on arts,” write method, acco pings are a hallm s Jodi Kent science, math, humaniti plinary, ark of the , who rding to AMS in es, a letter that and the is a board Montessori , in which youn funds for build has been sent to area member and parent, ger children foun ing renovatio learn of the school’s ns. She also dations seeking Adolescent is the chair Expansion Task Force. person WWW.STILL WATERLIVIN

G.NET 17

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My brother used to say that Montessori school is great for all kids, but that not every parent could handle Montessori. Not sure what he meant, but the group running that school seem to be very much on the right track. Maybe that new principal at SAHS could incorporate a few of the Montessori lessons into the public school. Keep up the good work, Larry M. OPH

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NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE VALLEY

Having Fun with Classical Music

olling into their ninth season of various themes and collaborators at the Stillwater Music Festival, Brooklyn Rider is feeling great about the music. “As in years past, we will be presenting performances for string quartet alone as well as collaborations with some remarkable guest artists. We think this is going to be an incredibly fun season” says Colin. The festival offers a platform for the quartet – three of whose members have Minnesota roots – to work with old friends and new partners in a familiar setting. Events take place right here in the neighborhood, with the Historic Courthouse serving as the principal concert home. Previous festival collaborations have included Béla Fleck, kamancheh master Kayhan Kalhor, pipa virtuoso Wu Man and clarinetist-composer Evan Ziporyn, among many other “dearest musical friends,” as Brooklyn Rider violist Nicholas Cords calls them. This summer’s programs include a concert on the theme of “celebrating the natural world,” which includes works by composers as diverse as Haydn and John Cage, in addition to U.S. premieres of works by Brooklyn-based guitarist-composer Kyle Sanna and Swedish composer Tobias Broström.

8 STILLWATER LIVING AUGUST 2014

Photo by Sara Small

mainstreet

Also on the program is a Colin Jacobsen arrangement of the folk song “Little Birdie” in tribute to the late folk-music legend Pete Seeger. The Haydn piece, the G minor String Quartet Op. 74 No. 3 “The Rider,” is what Brooklyn Rider recently performed as a curtain-raiser at the Ojai Festival for the Jeremy Denk-Steven Stucky work The Classical Style: An Opera (of Sorts). “We absolutely fell in love with this work when gave its premiere in Sweden this past April, and we can’t wait to bring its beguiling and atmospheric Nordic sensibilities to all of you.” Says Nicholas. This summer’s Stillwater Festival finale, on August 28, revolves around the theme of text and music closely intertwined. The concert will include Janácek’s String Quartet No. 1 “Kreutzer Sonata” (after Tolstoy) and Colin Jacobsen’s “Exit” from Chalk and Soot (based on a text by Kandinsky), plus music by singer-songwriters Gabriel Kahane and Aoife O’Donovan, who will be there to perform with Brooklyn Rider.

August 25,26 & 28 www.stillwatermusicfestival.com

Photo courtesy of the Washigto County Historical Society

Doubleday’s Game As Intended

Take your practice to the water! Introducing Stand Up Paddleboard Yoga Workshops! 402 N. Main St. Isaac Staples Sawmill studiooneyoga.com • 651-280-7155

Wisconsin’s Dunn County has been kind enough to dispatch their executive director, Matt Carter, for an enthrawling afternoon spent in review of America’s pastime. The event is entitled Base Ball: As it was Meant to be Played. Mr. Carter intends to focus his talk on the rules of the game of Base Ball from 1860 written by Henry Chadwick. He will discuss some of the similarities of the sport from that time to today. We won’t focus our entire afternoon on similarities as there are a number of noteworthy changes to the game such as the batter is out if the ball is caught on the fly OR the first bounce, pitching was done underhanded, no ball or strikes called but a batter still can strike out if he swings and cleanly misses the ball three times and foul balls were not considered strikes. This free event is perfectly suited to be held at the Hay Lake School Museum just south of Scandia, at the corner of Olinda Trail and Old Marine Trail. Sunday August 24, 2014 2:00 PM 651-433-4014.

Soil Matters... Beer, Wine, Soda & Cheese Making Supplies Full Grain Room Hydroponic & Organic Gardening Supplies Locally Owned & Operated Wine or Beer making classes are held every 3rd Thursday at the shop starting at approx 7:00 pm. These classes are currently free. Please call to reserve a spot for yourself or your group. This is a great socializing event for groups or an individual. Call 651-351-2988.

Still-H20.com

1266 W. Frontage Rd

Valley Ridge Mall

651-351-2822

WWW.STILLWATERLIVING.NET 9

Best Damn Bluegrass in the Country When was the last time you were able to check out three of the area’s best Bluegrass acts in one show? The annual Washington County Bluegrass Festival fuses community, the great outdoors and local musicians the Saturday following Labor Day. The good people of Washington County Parks see this event as a way of celebrating a successful summer season and also a way to give thanks to everyone who supports our beautiful and robust park system. One again this festival can proudly boast the backdrop of Lake Elmo Park Reserve, an awesome 2,200-acre patch right here in Lake Elmo. It’s a great place to recreate, camp, enjoy nature or rock out to the best Bluegrass concert of the summer – er post summer.

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AUGUST 2014

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The Bluegrass Festival is free for annual park permit holders and available to all visitors for the price of a daily or annual permit ($5/day or $25/annual). The musical line-up starts off hot, right out of the gate with Blue Hazard. Their web site tells us that “Blue Hazard’s sound merges traditional hard driving bluegrass with popular acoustic music. Recently, Hazard has begun writing much more of their material. Blue Hazard was on the cutting edge in merging different genres with their traditional bluegrass roots before all of the “cool kids” started doing it. Blue Hazard is like salt and pepper: substance and spice that delight your senses.” Brian Wiklund, who you’ve read about in these pages, leads The Barley Jacks who sing original vocals and play jaw–dropping instrumentals in a spirit of excitement and fun. Their web site tells us that “ they are masters of the fiddle, guitar, bass and drum who meld their divergent backgrounds of blues and bluegrass, classical and Celtic, R & B and bebop to inspire each other and create something entirely new. Front–man and fiddler Brian Wicklund is joined by Joe Cruz–guitar, Kevin Rowe–bass, and Joel

Arpin–percussion. Virtuosity, magic and a little danger combine to make every performance unique. The first thing an audience notices is how much fun the Barley Jacks have when they perform. These Minnesota–based veterans of years in the musical trenches enjoy making music together so much that they sometimes giggle like little kids completely lost in a moment of play” what fun. The festival rounds out with a performance by Monroe Crossing. Their online presence says they “dazzle audiences with an electrifying blend of classic bluegrass, bluegrass gospel, and heartfelt originals. Their airtight harmonies, razor sharp arrangements, and on-stage rapport make them audience favorites across the United States and Canada.”

FREE Lake Elmo Park Reserve Saturday, September 6, 2014 New TIme! 2:00 to 6:00PM South Picnic Shelter

WWW.STILLWATERLIVING.NET 11

Foodies on the Trolley The Foodies On Foot folks have been offering area food lovers a little dash of history, epicurean wonders and fellowship for years now. It makes perfect sense that they would look to other quality Stillwater offerings to compliment their already great experience. Each month Foodies On Foot join forces with Lift Bridge Brewery for a Craft Beer Progressive Dinner. This culinary event includes a narrated Stillwater Trolley tour of historic Stillwater, private tour of Lift Bridge Brewery with beer tastings along with a fourcourse dinner in beautiful Stillwater, MN where each restaurant will prepare and serve a mouth-watering course with a specific Lift Bridge Beer. And to top that off, one of the Lift Bridge “guys” will join us for dinner and explain the food and beer pairings. This event is held the once per month April through October.. Groups taking advantage of this fun experience have been Girls Night Out, Date Night, Corporate Team-Building Event, Birthday Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Family Reunions. Give it a try, and remember that “people who love to eat are always the best people.”

Call 1-855-2Foodies www.FoodiesOnFootMN.com

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We’ve been voted BEST veterinary clinic two years in a row!

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Big Trucks, Big Fun Family Event

Join the Stillwater Area Public Schools Early Childhood team for the annual Big Truck Event where children get to explore the inside and outside of large vehicles. From fire trucks to garbage trucks, there will be huge variety to explore.

A happy home begins in the kitchen.. Stillwater • 1933 S. Greeley St. 651-275-0700

Woodbury • 1740 Weir Drive 651-600-3310

INeedANewKITCHEN.com

This event is perfect for preschoolers, but is open to any child. Who wouldn’t want to experience what it’s like to get behind the wheel of the big rig they see in our community? Families will also have the opportunity to hop on a school bus and take a quick ride to see what children experience as they go to school. Feel free to enjoy the playground, hop the train or check out the clubhouse. Bring a bike or a trike to decorate for the onsite parade where you can show off your handiwork. Have your face painted and make a fun craft project. No registration is required and this event is free! Saturday, August 16, 9:00 to 11:00AM 1111 Holcombe Street South 651-351-4000 www.stillwaterschools.org/ecfc WWW.STILLWATERLIVING.NET 13

mainstreet

Sign of the Season One sure sign of summer in Stillwater is the robust and friendly farmers market in the shadow of the Historic Court House. Many would say that the community fellowship is every bit as good for us as the food. Beverly Friendt oversees the market and she has been instrumental in insuring the high quality of vendors over the twenty years of its existence. The market is a social event every Saturday as customers shop, have coffee and a roll while visiting with their neighbors or the many vendors that they have known for years. This year we have twenty-two full time vendors, who are voted in at the annual spring meeting and six vendors that come and go. All vendors grow what they sell – ask them about their fields when you come to the market. Every week they have a drawing for a basket of items collected that morning from all vendors and from time to time a local band will play for the crowd - it’s a great market in a great location.

Beverly Friendt, Market Manager 651-704-9996

Northwoods golf experience, 5 minutes from the lift bridge!

316 White Eagle Trail • Hudson, WI 54016 • 1-888-465-3004 • 715-549-GOLF (4653) www.whiteeaglegolf.com 14 STILLWATER LIVING

AUGUST 2014

ask

the

energy efficiency

experts

Energy efficiency and building green in Minnesota If you’re like most homeowners, it’s rare you get an energy bill that surprises you because it’s lower than you were expecting. The reality is that energy costs are skyrocketing. Housing alone consumes 20 percent of America’s energy, according to the Sustainable Building Industry Council (SBIC). But we are not stuck in this downward spiral of big bills and overused resources – building or remodeling green can be a surprisingly simple solution to this gigantic problem. In fact, homeowners who choose to remodel green can lower their energy consumption by 30 to 50 percent. Braden Construction has a goal of energy efficiency; we know that doesn’t mean making sacrifices when it comes to

comforts and functionality. You just want to do so with less energy. Bottom line: you want to do more with less. From running your appliances to producing light to heating and cooling your home, there are few parts of your day that energy efficient practices won’t affect. Not only is it important to select energy-efficient products (i.e. EnergyStar rated appliances, LED bulbs), but investing in energy-efficient design strategies can bring efficiency levels even higher, meaning you’ll be saving even more in the long run. Oftentimes that initial investment quickly pays for itself in energy savings, plus, living in a home that is both sustainable and comfortable is something anyone can feel good about.

Andy Braden- Braden Construction 715-549-6099 info@bradenconstruction.com www.bradenconstruction.com

WWW.STILLWATERLIVING.NET 15

terra firma

By Claudia Morgan, photo by Laurie Schneider

Permaculture, A Functional Relationship

he term Permaculture has been popping up more frequently in the media and most people I've recently surveyed have no real understanding of what it actually means. Many people believe that it's a way of integrating edible plants with decorative plants in the landscape. Others think of it as a symbiotic relationship between man and plants. Both of these are true but the whole definition is far more complex and far-reaching. Wikipedia defines it as such; Permaculture is a branch of ecological design, ecological engineering, environmental design, construction and Integrated Water Resources Management that develops sustainable architecture, regenerative and self-maintained habitat and agricultural systems modeled from natural ecosystems.[1][2] The term permaculture (as a systematic method) was first coined by Australians Bill Mollison and David Holmgren in 1978. The word permaculture originally referred to "permanent agriculture" [3] but was expanded to stand also for "permanent culture," as it was seen that social aspects were integral to a truly sustainable system as inspired by Masanobu Fukuoka's natural farming philosophy. The 'fatherâ&#x20AC;? of permaculture, Bill Mollison writes that "it is a philosophy of working with rather than against nature; of protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless labor and of looking at

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plants and animals in all of their functions rather than treating any area as a single product system" Whew, pretty heady stuff! I prefer to break it down a bit and think of it as the functional relationships between all living organisms. It encompasses that mysterious, "web of life" and all the relationships that sustain us and our ecosystems. It's really a whole earth concept where symbiotic relationships not only exist for our survival but the betterment of the whole. Let's look at some practical applications to further understand how permaculture plays into our every day lives. We can start at the most basic concept of rain water. Many communities across the world are actively engaged in the management of water since it is becoming more scarce in may places. In places where rain is abundant (remember June?) we need to ask how we are managing run off and making the most of every drop. Is our soil permeable so it soaks in and replenishes the groundwater stores or does it get wasted, run into the rivers and streams and end up leaving our communities for places further south, taking with it some of the valuable topsoil and not so valuable chemicals we use on our lawns? We can capture some of it in rain barrels which is becoming more popular or we can improve our soils so that it soaks in and minimizes the run off. We are all so busy working and raising children and

taking care of business and family that these principles may not seem practical to add to our already full "To-Do" lists. The awareness of the importance of this concept exists and many leaders are taking the first steps to ensure that future generations will have adequate supplies. This is huge and a true benefit to all the living organisms including us! Another down to earth example is to consider the "lowly " dandelion. Does it really exist to thwart our efforts to have a perfect lawn and garden? Actually no....it has a variety of very useful and important attributes. Dandelions are likely the most highly maligned of all plants. Their bright yellow presence somehow signifies lazy homeowners when they are present in significant numbers in the spring. However, this amazing plant was revered up until a few centuries ago and was actually imported by Europeans to America to provide food for the bees in early spring. That, plus the fact that it is chock full of valuable nutrients made it a very popular plant to grow. It is also helpful in the treatment of many maladies and the very fact that it has a deep tap root indicates that is has a job to do in the landscape by breaking up disturbed and compacted soil. When you really look at all the positive attributes of the plant it is hard to comprehend how many chemicals have been used to kill it. No plant has warranted more use of toxic herbicides in our neighborhoods and parks. Merely digging them is a difficult and mostly useless exercise as a way to eradicate

them since they can regenerate from a tiny piece of root and that root is up to 10" long. What if we changed our attitudes about it and looked at dandelions with wonderment since they provide so many positives to our environment? Is that really such a stretch? To conclude, I’d like to suggest some sources to find out more about permaculture and see what aspects of it you can embrace and put into play in your lives. It’s about knowing that every living thing has a purpose and utilizing the principles to create a healthier and more sustainable environment. Bill Mollison’s book, “Introduction to Permaculture” is a good place to start and there are other practical guides to help us integrate some changes and enhance our worlds. “Gaia’s Garden” is another practical book to show where simple changes can lead to better outcomes in your home and garden. These are good first steps and can help put the word permaculture into a more personal perspective. Claudia Morgan has been in the green industry for over 20 years and is a certified Nursery and Landscape Professional. She co-owns Gardenside Landcaping.

A perfect blend of personal service and expertise.

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studio time

By Syndie Sorensen

Telling Stories With Bears Sue Rowe's Unique Inspiration On Display

n artist’s creation is an aggregate of many things – talent, training, inspiration, environment and life experience – that all play a part in the end result.

For Stillwater artist Sue Rowe, this culmination comes to fruition in the form of bears. Originally from the small town of Gurney in Northern Wisconsin, black bears were a regular part of Rowe’s youth. And for the past 17 years, those bears have found their way onto her drawing paper and canvases. Whether the bears are dancing in the moonlight or peeking through a window frame, they are telling a story about life that the viewer gets to determine for themselves. For Rowe, her bears are metaphor for life. “I can do anything with a bear that a human can do, and I don’t offend anyone,” says Rowe. “Bears can show any mood, age, movement.” Rowe received her B.F.A. with Honors from University of Wisconsin at River Falls in 1981 and worked in the model horse hobby industry for 15 years creating model horse tack. But one day in 1997, she grew bored with miniature leather bridals and went exploring the wares at American Gothic Antiques where she and her husband, Todd, have been selling antiques since they moved to Stillwater. A hunting magazine from the 1920s with an illustrated grizzly bear drew her attention. After a few attempts, Roger, her first bear, appeared.

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“It was Roger who sneaked me into a parallel forest where I’m allowed to scribble at will,” says Rowe. Roger has been joined by Al, Beth, Mike, Sheila and countless other bears. Their stories become Rowe’s inspiration. Today, Rowe’s work can be found not only at American Gothic where she has a studio and sales space, but in galleries around the Midwest and at numerous art fairs in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Art fairs are one way for Rowe to make a living, but they also provide opportunities for her to meet interesting people. Her booth draws a mix of people and often triggers conversations and stories, and for Rowe, “it’s all about the story.” “What I most enjoy about art fairs, other than good sales, of course, is the interplay between artist, art, and art fair-goer,” says Rowe. This September, Rowe and her bears will be found locally at art fairs in Marine on St. Croix and Hudson. Both fairs, the 41st Annual Marine Art Fair and the Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival are part of ArtReach St. Croix’s Take Me to the River, a collaborative celebration of art “along every bend in the river.” At the Marine Art Fair on September 20 and 21, artists and craftsmen will fill the historic town square, parks and streets of Marine on St. Croix with artistic creations. The fair’s

long-standing reputation for being outstanding makes it a must-attend event each year. “People love it enough to find a place to park and walk a distance,” says Rowe about the crowds that fill the quaint river town each year. The Marine Art Fair runs 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine. The following weekend, the Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival takes over Lakefront Park in Hudson. This collaboration between the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and The Phipps Center for the Arts features more than 80 juried artists, including Rowe, as well as family activities and live music. “They do a great job of getting the community involved,” says Rowe. “There are things to do, which is great.” She enjoys the music that fills the autumn air during the festival. “In addition to the amphitheater, they have hay bales with musicians in other areas including one by my booth.” The Spirit of the St. Croix Art Festival is held at Lakefront Park in Hudson on Saturday, September 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

In addition to Marine Art Fair and Spirit of the St. Croix, Take Me to the River will feature seven other art fairs and open studios over the course of two weekends including the Abnet Farm Art Show and Sale in Stillwater, Franconia Art & Artists Celebration, LeDuc Country Market & Arts in Hastings, Afton Art in the Park, Guillermo Cuellar & Friends: Fall Pottery Sale on the St. Croix Trail in Shafer and A Bend in the River art exhibition at ArtReach St. Croix in Stillwater. Additionally, visitors to the valley can visit one of the six artist designed benches that make up the Art Bench Trail at various locations in the St. Croix Valley. Information about specific dates and times as well as other art opportunities in the Valley can be found at www. TakeMeToTheRiver.info. When you see Rowe’s booth at the Marine Art Fair or Spirit of the St. Croix, be sure to stop and see what story her bears tell you. ArtReach St. Croix is pleased to connect you to these and other visual, literary and performing arts opportunities in the St. Croix Valley online at StCroixSplash.org Syndie Sorensen is a frequent contributor as program and marketing manager at ArtReach St. Croix

gardenside Start the growing season right! Spring & Fall Clean-ups Landscape Design/Build Private Garden Maintenance MONICA MOGREN, MLA CLAUDIA MORGAN, CNLP

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Weight Loss the Right Way A new, customized program that treats the ‘whole person.’ By Angelo Gentile Images by Laurie Schneider

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my Hollerud’s successful weight-loss journey began several years ago with a near-fatal car crash. On an August day in 2007, she was driving her Ford Expedition along I-694 near Century Avenue in White Bear Lake. Another motorist—a young male driver who was texting—was entering 694 from Century. He was so distracted by his texting that he crossed three lanes of traffic. He cut off Holerud, who was in the far left lane, smashed into her SUV and drove her into the ditch. Holerud’s vehicle bounced back up out of the ditch, and was hit again, several times, at freeway speeds, by the same motorist. Holerud’s SUV then flipped and rolled end-overend landing on the other side of the freeway on its wheels. Only to be rammed by a semi-trailer truck. The car accident left Holerud with a prolonged recovery to overcome major health and physical challenges, including back problems, a temporary brain injury and chronic headaches. Holerud, who lives in Oakdale and works in the banking industry, went through two years of physical therapy through HealthEast, her health-care provider. She ended up gaining 80 pounds because her physical movement was restricted and she could no longer exercise. Weight gain became a major health issue. She tried several weight-loss methods to no avail. She would lose some weight, at one time as much as 40 pounds, but would end up gaining it back. “I tried (losing weight) on my own but it just didn’t work,” Holerud recalls. Then, last December, she complained of a ringing in the ears, and it seemed “like I could hear my heart beat.” She said she and her husband were concerned that this was from her head injury and so she wanted to get this checked out. Because of her health problems, she had already been making regular visits to Dr. Jennifer Landers, who is a family physician and Site Medical Director at HealthEast’s Stillwater Clinic. The ringing in the ears turned out to be Tinnitus. Mayoclinic.org states that Tinnitus is a common problem, though it isn’t a condition itself — it’s a symptom of an underlying condition, such as age-related hearing loss, ear injury or a circulatory system disorder, and usually not a sign of something serious. But to get to that diagnosis, Landers conducted a thorough examination of Holerud: EKG (electrocardiogram), MRI, CT Scan, full blood work and so on. In that series of visits, Landers also found that Holerud had high blood pressure, a new condition for her, for which Landers prescribed blood pressure medication, Lisinopril. Landers also determined that Holerud had pre-diabetes. With all of these issues in mind: the added weight that wasn’t coming off, the high blood pressure and the pre-diabetes, Landers talked with Holerud about a new weight loss program that HealthEast was bringing to the Stillwater Clinic, in partnership with the medical provider’s Ways to Wellness program. “Dr. Landers said I’d be a perfect candidate for this new program,” Holerud says. “ I said ‘sounds good.’”

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Holerud is just one example—albeit one of the more dramatic examples—of the variety of individuals who have been helped by HealthEast’s program.

Helping the ‘Whole Person’ Landers, of HealthEast’s Stillwater Clinic, succinctly says of the program, “Our goal is to help people attain better health.” She adds, “There are no before and after photos that are taken of participants, it’s not about that,” referring to other, non-medical based weight loss programs that saturate the marketplace, don’t really focus on a person’s overall health and mostly offer quick weight-loss “solutions.” The HealthEast program, Landers says, is in fact a scientificallybased program. Landers and the other physicians who see participants in the weight loss program have special training in nutritional and medical weight loss and weight management and are members of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians. In addition to Landers, Stillwater Clinic’s physician lineup includes Dr. Sarah Aldrich and Dr. Christopher Restad. All three are family medicine physicians. Amy Hollerud and Sarah Aldrich, MD

“I’m a 100 percent happy customer” Holerud joined the program even before it was officially launched at the Stillwater Clinic last January. The outcome has been a rousing success. To date, Holerud has lost 55 pounds, she no longer needs to take Lisinopril for high blood pressure and all of her vitals, such as blood pressure, sugar levels and so on, are all fine. She visits Dr. Landers once a month and she works with a Ways to Wellness Trainer twice a week to improve strength training, which started in May. She sees the trainer twice a week now at HealthEast’s Woodbury location, because it’s closer to Holerud’s home. “I’m a 100 percent happy customer,” says Holerud. She says she especially likes the thorough, well-rounded approach to her weight-loss program and raves about the mobile app Loseit. com, which tracks all elements of her program and progress: food, exercise, etc. As Lose It’s website states, the app “is designed with one goal to help you lose weight in a healthy, sustainable way…a simple, easy-to-use program that helps you stay in your calorie budget.”

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The program itself is an affiliate of Medical Bariatrics of America (MBA), which has enrolled more than 12,000 patients. Moreover, of those more than 12,000 patients, 97.7 percent lost medicallysignificant weight by their first month visit. These results surpass any other clinical results currently available, according to HealthEast. In addition, HealthEast’s program uses a three-phase approach of active weight loss, maintenance and relapse prevention. 8Finally, and probably most important to note, the program focuses on a person’s overall health and is customized to each individual participant, says Beth Dierkhising, a HealthEast Ways to Wellness nutrition and fitness specialist. Dierkhising is a registered dietician and certified personal trainer for Ways to Wellness, which is centered out of HealthEast’s Woodwinds campus in Woodbury and has existed for nine years. “It truly is an all-encompassing wellness program that focuses on lifestyle changes, nutrition, fitness, and health and wellness coaching,” Dierkhising says. “We hit on every aspect of wellness with people…nutrition, exercise, mind-body wellness. We look at the person as a whole, and we tailor the program based on their needs, some of which might be based on what some of their obstacles to weight loss have been in the past.” Landers says those who choose the program are seeking help for a variety of reasons: obesity, diabetes and pre-diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, recovery from a sports injury and so on. In addition, though most of those in the program are HealthEast patients, participants don’t have to be members of HealthEast to enroll. The program is open to the public.

How it Works To get started, those interested in the program attend a group presentation of about six to eight people (see sidebar), and then also meet individually with one of the program’s staff members. Then individuals come back in a month or so to meet individually with a HealthEast physician to do an assessment and create a customized approach, which could include a variety of elements: an exercise strategy, nutrition information and counseling, wellness coaching, medication and so on. All of this consulting and training is done in Stillwater Clinic’s sleek, patient-friendly facility that provides inviting, cozy patient suites and a high-end, high-tech workout area that includes treadmills, Elliptical and Pilates trainers and other equipment. As Dierkhising notes, this program is especially geared for those individuals “who look for and want private sessions, not in a busy gym in front of everyone. This is personal and private, they like that.” So far, over the few months the program has been up and running at the Stillwater Clinic, it has enrolled about 50 to 60 participants, with about 10 enrollees per week visiting the clinic in various stages of their individualized programs. Participants are mostly from the area: Stillwater, Woodbury, White Bear Lake, Oakdale, Lake Elmo and other communities in the St. Croix River Valley area. Though most of the program’s participants are women, there are several men who are also enrolled, Dierkhising says. The age range is a wide one, and includes participants from about age 30 through age 80. As Landers and Dierkhising note, the program is truly a wholistic one, and is definitely not intended as a quick fix to a weight problem. As the program’s patient handbook points out, “Our program at HealthEast Stillwater Clinic doesn’t teach dieting…we want to teach you lifelong realistic everyday changes” to deal with a lifelong issue and, ultimately, live a healthier life. Angelo Gentile is a Minneapolis editor and writer.

Nutrition and fitness specialist Beth Dierkhising works with a patient.

A Healthier Approach to Weight Loss HealthEast’s Stillwater Clinic has a new weight loss program that is designed to help you lose weight and live a healthier life. The approach includes: • A focus on a person’s overall health • A tailored or customized program for each individual participant • An all-encompassing wellness program that focuses on lifestyle changes, nutrition, medication, fitness, and health and wellness coaching, not dieting • A three-phase approach of active weight loss, maintenance and relapse prevention • Private personalized sessions and training Find out More—Free Seminars: Learn more about this program by attending a free seminar on the third Wednesday of every month from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the HealthEast Stillwater Clinic. You will meet the clinic’s team, learn about the program, get answers to questions and find out if it is right for you. Additional Resources: • HealthEast Stillwater Clinic: 651-471-5622 • Website: http://www.healtheast.org clinics/stillwater/about/weight-loss program.html • Mobile app for maintaining and tracking your progress: Loseit.com

Dog Days of

Summer

We’ve taken some liberties with the phrase “Dog Days of Summer” in this piece. We’re not focused on the heat of summer or the Dog Star being too close to the sun, we are focused on the glory of dogs – for that matter this piece could have been aptly named “Dog Days” because every day is a dog day. Man’s best friend is a grand companion, always happy to see us and ready to offer unconditional affection. So many service providers around town have their “best friend” at the office or shop with them that we’ve grown accustom to seeing their dog at work. Laurie Schneider interviewed a handful of canines and offers the following… Interviews & photos by Laurie Schneider Illustrations by Nick King Strong

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Jennifer Saliture Bella, Junior & Biggie Marine Café What is your favorite game or pastime? Paddle kayaking, swimming and retrieving. Where’s your favorite place to go? Swimming with my human around Crunchberry Island behind the General Store in Marine on St Croix. What kind of sandwich do you like best? Panini with roasted red pepper pesto and all the veggies. Do you have a job? Many What is your breed? English Coon hound (Junior), English Pointer (Biggy) and Chesapeake/Pit (Belly). What are you best at, or what is your best quality? Talking to animals and making art. Do you know any good tricks? Opening the door with my nose and frolicking all the way through Jackson Meadow, William O'Brian State Park on the way to Big Marine Lake (Bella and Junior). Where were you born? Milwaukee Do you like to travel, and if so, where have you been that’s fun? Southern California in winter. Do you have any advice? The happy hours rock in So-Cal!

Jim Brandon Toby Kitchens of Stillwater What is your favorite game or pastime? Jim: I love baseball. Toby: Playing tug of war. Where’s your favorite place to go? Jim: North shore/Lake Superior. Toby: Next door neighbors kennel. What kind of sandwich do you like best? Jim: Gyro at Phil's Tara Hideaway. Toby: P/B and J. Do you have a job? Jim: Kitchen/bath remodeling. Toby: Stores mascot. What is your breed? Jim: Proud to be an American. Toby: Bischon/Shi Tzu What are you best at, or what is your best quality? Jim: Being a "dumb" dad ?? Toby: Sleeping Do you know any good tricks? Jim: Spin a basketball on one finger. Toby: Shake, roll over and play dead. Do you have a favorite animal? Jim: Rescue dog named Skylar. Toby: Rescue dog named Bentley. Where were you born? Jim: Souix Falls SD. Toby: Hudson WI Do you like to travel, and if so, where have you been that’s fun? Jim: Zihautnejo Mexico, Toby: Dog park, Woodbury, MN Do you have any advice? Jim: Work hard, play often. Toby: Play often, sleep more. WWW.STILLWATERLIVING.NET 25

Doc John Baillie Joso Cedar Pet Clinic What is your favorite game or pastime? John: Golf, boating, fishing. Joso: People petting me. Where’s your favorite place to go? John: St. Croix River. Joso: Anywhere with Peg (my other owner). Do you have a job? John: Veterinarian. Joso: Greeter and mascot at Cedar Pet Clinic, Lake Elmo. What is your breed? John: American (four grandparents born in Scotland). Joso: Golden Retriever What are you best at, or what is your best quality? John: Veterinary medicine. Joso: Greeting people and pets. Do you have a favorite animal? John: The one I am seeing at any one minute at Cedar Pet Clinic. Joso: All of them. Do you like to travel, and if so, where have you been that’s fun? John: BWCA, England, Washington DC, Chicago. Joso: I like to ride in the car but not in the boat.

Jeff Admiral Robert Digby 45 Degrees What is your favorite game or pastime? Digby: Keep the sock away from my people. Where’s your favorite place to go? Digby: William O'Brien State Park What kind of sandwich do you like best? Digby: Oh... ummmm...the sandwich that is in front of me is the best one. Do you have a job? Digby: Definitely my most important job is to keep squirrels out of my yard. What is your breed? Digby: Tibetanese. Half Tibetan Terrier and half Havanese What are you best at, or what is your best quality? Digby: Giving my people the doe-eyes for any available treats. Do you know any good tricks? Digby: I'm getting pretty good at laying down. Do you have a favorite animal? Digby: Oh, wow...I really lke the cat that lives with me...but she really doesn't like me. Where were you born? Rogers, MN Do you like to travel, and if so, where have you been that’s fun? Digby: Well, I am getting better at traveling. Last summer I went to Jackson, WY...that was pretty fun. Really, I like to go anywhere my people go. Do you have any advice? Digby: Stay focused on the squirrels... eventually you will get one!

Carlota Estevez Choco Outing Lodge What is your favorite game or pastime? Carlota: Painting, drawing, swimming, walking. I like to play a game of Spanish cards called “Truco” and also Yatzee or Scrabble, but only if bad weather. Where’s your favorite place to go? Carlota: The river, the Boom site, because I can take Choco with me. Choco: Ditto. What kind of sandwich do you like best? Carlota: Ham-cheese grilled tramezzini, Venetian tea sandwiches. Choco: Left over grilled tenderloin beef, for sure. I also like to eat bananas and watermelon and other fruits and veggies. Do you have a job? Carlota: Innkeeper/manager. Choco: Petresident in charge of concierge-hosting duties; also pest control and secureity guard duties at The Outing Lodge. What is your breed? Carlota: 1/2 Italian, 1/2 Spanish, I was born in Argentina. Choco: Chocolate lab. What are you best at, or what is your best quality? Carlota: I am good at learning & teaching, for years I was a ( relatively good) philosophy teacher. As manager of The Outing Lodge, I like to think that my work at The Outing Lodge serves for the purpose of learning. I hope that we ( humans and – why not dogs?) learn from each other’s experiences and knowledge. I think I am a fairly ‘adaptable’ person. Choco: I am a super friendly and social dog. I'm great at making friends with other dogs and with people of all ages.– I am a really good at swimming.

Do you know any good tricks? Carlota: My ‘good tricks’ have to do also with understanding or classic literature and philosophy, my interest in art and painting, knowing many languages and basic ‘home economics’, such as cooking and elegant events managing. Choco: I am not a ‘trick’ kind of dog. I am a free spirit. I respond to basic commands in 4 different languages (French, Spanish, Italian and English).. ☺I do not like to be bossed around. Where were you born? Carlota: Rio Cuarto, Cordoba, Argentina Choco: Somerset, Wisconsin. Do you like to travel, and if so, where have you been that’s fun? Carlota: in North America, USA: Boston, New York, Washington, Carolinas, San Diego, Vegas, Orlando; in Canada: Montreal, Quebec, East Coast. Argentina ( many parts of the country ), Uruguay, Europe (Italy, France, England, Germany, Hungary ). Choco: Minnesota and Wisconsin, wherever there are wild parks and water! Do you have any advice? Many!, such as: “live every day as if it was the first and the last.” I also like the poem “ desiderata” and I’ve taken it as a good advice for me. The Greek philosophers’ writings are also full good advice, starting by Socrates’ s “know yourself” and “listen to your own voice”. The ten commandments are good advice. In general, for me, life is about meaning, about love and works of beauty, wisdom, justice and science. I try finding a reality in those areas and sharing that reality with others.. For me , meaning is in the essence of a good life ( with good art, friendship and everything else.) Choco: “Run to the water! …Love food, love nature, love the rain, the sun, the grass, love dogs, love humans! WWW.STILLWATERLIVING.NET 27

perspective DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS LOCATION? Win a dinner for two! Email the correct location to

PHOTO BY CURTIS DALE. IF YOU LIKE HIS WORK GO TO WWW.CURTISDALE.COM

inquiry@stillwaterliving.net by the end of this month. A lucky winner will be drawn from a pool of correct answers. Each month we will run a new Perspective, so don’t get discouraged if this one stumped you. Congratulations to last month’s winner, Justin Swanson of Stillwater. When your curiosity overwhelms you, visit curtisdale.com or facebook.com/CurtisDaleCreations each month to discover the location of this month’s picture.

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www.outinglodge.com • 651-439-9747 15 STILLWATER LIVING

OCTOBER 2005

Stillwater Music Festival 2014 th 9 Season

“Re-creating the 300-year-old form of the string quartet as a vital and creative 21st-century ensemble.” -NPR

AUGUST 25-28 • BROOKLYN RIDER With Special Guests GABRIEL KAHANE and AOIFE O’DONOVAN Photo by Sara Small

Tickets: stillwatermusicfestival.com