SLWApr24

SIOUXLAND WOMAN

Marilyn EASTMAN

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

MONAHAN

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANE

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Siouxland Woman

Account Executives

Jill Foley 712-490-8506 |

Kaylee Langseth 712-574-0618 |

graphic designers

Ashley Carrison Makenzie Jorgenson

team of writers

Lydia Gleiser, Heather Jordan, Joanne Fox, Cheryl Wells, Michaela Feldmann, Lisa Croston

Shane Monahan Photography www.shanemonahanphotography.com

Editor

Heather Jordan |

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL MARKETING

Cory Johnson 605-951-3567 | cory@michelscom.com

REGIONAL MANAGER BLACK HILLS/GSM

Kevin Culhane 605-661-8509 | kevin@michelscom.com

chief of operations

Hanna Michels 605-760-4269 | hanna@michelscom.com

MarilynEASTMAN

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

BY: LYDIA GLEISER PHOTOGRAPHY BY: SHANE MONAHAN

As a young girl growing up in Madison, SD, Dr. Marilyn Eastman became inspired by the strongest and most loving woman she knew, her mother Alice. From a young age, Marilyn knew that her mother’s impoverished upbringing was the driving force that pushed Alice to become the first in her family to go to high school, college and become a dietician. Early on, Alice taught Marilyn essential values that have helped shape the successful woman that she has become: family, faith and work.

Marilyn’s upbringing not only instilled core values, but self-worth as well. Her mother and father provided her family with unconditional love and support to always work hard and give to others.

“I remember when I was nine years old, my father decided to buy a farm,” Marilyn recalls.

Watching and working on her family farm taught Marilyn the importance of teamwork, sacrifice and perseverance. It also helped her realize what she didn’t want to do with her life: stay at home and continue to work on the farm, a realization and appreciation that still sits with her today.

“My father was not only a farmer,” Marilyn shares, “but he was also a history professor.”

Unsure of what she wanted for a career but determined that she was going to go to college, Marilyn enrolled at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, SD where she triple majored in English, History and Psychology. There, she immersed herself in her academics and sorority life, earning Phi Beta Kappa honors.

It was during her senior year of college that she met her now husband, Dr. Paul Eastman. “One of my sorority sisters and his best friend had set us up on a blind date,” Marilyn remembers. “As they say, the rest was history and in June we will celebrate 35 years of marriage.”

Marilyn has always had a love of learning and a thirst for knowledge and after graduation, she went on to attend graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. “I decided that I wanted to get my master’s in business,” Marilyn says. “I was able to earn the full- ride Olin women’s fellowship to attend Washington University based off my high GMAT score.”

Marilyn saw how hard her parents had worked and although they both had jobs and the farm, her family didn’t have a lot of money. “Education is something that I never took anything for granted and I was ever appreciative of my earned scholarship,” Marilyn shares. “This scholarship was amazing because it covered the cost of my tuition, living expenses and books.”

During her MBA program, Marilyn pursued a Marketing emphasis. Upon graduation, her strong work ethic, positive attitude and high GPA resulted in her being the only student in her cohort to be offered full time employment with Proctor and Gamble (P&G) to work in Brand Management.

As a world-leader in marketing, P&G is considered one of the most prestigious companies to work for and although she and Paul were newly married, Marilyn relocated to Cincinnati, OH to start her career at P&G headquarters while Paul finished up medical school in Missouri.

During her time at Proctor and Gamble, Marilyn worked on global brands including Crisco Oil, Folgers Coffee and Pepto Bismol. “I absolutely loved working for P&G,” Marilyn says. “Being this young woman from South Dakota, it was really exciting to me to be a part of a huge corporation where I knew I would attain sound knowledge and understanding of brand management.”

I have always been a firm believer in god having a hand in your life.

Marilyn spent the next five years at P&G where she was able to travel the world developing markets for P&G brands, while also gaining a deep understanding of consumer engagement with products. She learned how to identify strengths within products, understand consumer needs and develop key marketing strategies.

“I was responsible for maintaining the image of my accounts and making sure that anything associated with or related to that brand also followed suit in the image that the brand portrayed or was trying to portray,” Marilyn shares. It was also during her position with Proctor and Gamble that Marilyn discovered a love of extensive research as part of her job required her to travel to California to conduct consumer research on new product initiatives.

“Pre- internet I traveled a lot to California to conduct specific research projects to help our team understand what consumers were thinking and what caused them to purchase the products that they chose,” Marilyn recalls. “The psychology aspect of my position was really intriguing to me as the team I worked with had to carefully craft statements and images that would appeal to potential customers.”

While employed with P&G, Marilyn also worked on a global vitamin initiative and a potential stomach remedy, but it was the deeper meaning behind the products that P&G sold that taught Marilyn a valuable lesson that she now shares with her current business students.

“One thing that I teach my students today is the importance of developing products that have a meaningful advantage to the consumer,” Marilyn shares. “P&G taught me that it’s not just about having the best advertisement or having the funniest post. It truly is about understanding the business strategy and strengths of the product, having knowledge of the consumer’s needs and then finding a way to marry both to come up with a meaningful concept.”

After Paul finished his residency, both Marilyn and Paul wanted to move closer to family and start their own family. Marilyn wanted to move away from the corporate industry and Paul wanted to eventually build a practice. This decision brought them to Sioux City, IA where they saw opportunity and fell in love with the community.

“After moving to Sioux City, about two weeks later I found out I was pregnant with our first son,” Marilyn remembers.

Once settled in Sioux City, Marilyn reached out to Doug Livermore who worked at Morningside University teaching marketing. “At the time, I was used to working 60-70 hours a week for P&G,” Marilyn says. “Even though I was pregnant, I couldn’t not work. I like to stay busy so I began to teach as an adjunct professor at Morningside University, and then started teaching there full-time until I was pregnant with our second son.”

A recent trip to Rwanda where Marilyn and her husband spent an hour with Mountain Gorillas in the wild

Marilyn and her husband hiking to the top of Angel’s Landing in Zion National Park

After the birth of her second son, Paul’s business expanded and Marilyn decided to take some time off work. During the next eight years, Marilyn and Paul had one more son and she devoted her time to giving back to the Siouxland Community. She frequently volunteered to be on numerous boards that supported the Siouxland area.

“I have always been a firm believer in God having a hand in your life,” Marilyn shares. “At the time our youngest son was about five years old, I got a call from Briar Cliff University, and they needed a business teacher to fill in for a teacher going on sabbatical. Pretty quickly, my temporary teaching position turned into a full-time teaching position in their business department where she taught a variety of classes including economics, marketing, compensation, business management and business strategy.

Two and a half years later, Marilyn received her doctorate from the University of South Dakota, and at that same time, Doug Livermore planned to retire from Morningside University, again, reinforcing Marilyn’s strong belief that God has a hand in your life. “Doug and I never lost touch, and I felt the timing was perfect along with his support, to apply for his position,” Marilyn says.

Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

During her time at Briar Cliff University, Marilyn built an international program called SIFE (now Enactus) where business students created businessoriented volunteer projects and then presented their work at regional and national competitions.

This successful program taught Marilyn the power of working with young students and she continued to work for Briar Cliff for the next 11 years.

At the end of Marilyn’s time with Briar Cliff, she spent some time really reflecting on her life and where she felt most fulfilled, and she found it was working with students and helping them to discover who they are and their place in the world.

“I really reinforced to myself that I wanted to continue working with college students and I decided to pursue my doctoral degree,” Marilyn shares. “At the time I was 47 and I set a goal to get it completed in three years, full steam ahead.”

For almost ten years now, Marilyn has been teaching at Morningside University leaving her impactful mark in the business and marketing department. She has since helped to co-found the Connie Wimer Women’s Leadership program, mentoring young women leaders attending Morningside. She also founded and still is director of the Business School’s Honors Program where bright students looking for additional challenges have opportunities to network with CEO’s, travel, and conduct their own individual honors research thesis. Marilyn also spent a year researching how to create a new marketing major for Morningside students that has value and practicality. Since creating this program, Marilyn has launched and relaunched components of the program that includes additional coursework in data analysis, and digital and social media skill sets that are now vital for students looking to graduate with a marketing degree.

“For me, I love working with these students and helping them be able to chase their dreams because anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” Marilyn shares. Supporting students in every way possible is something that Marilyn prides herself on all while still teaching classes.

Marilyn laughs as she shares that working with college students helps her to feel young, but more importantly it is a way that she can give back to the supportive community that she immediately fell in love with many years ago.

Ever positive and appreciative, Marilyn shares that she feels very blessed and grateful for the life she has been given and the ability she has to mentor and give back to others. “Always pay it forward and live by your family values,” Marilyn happily says. “That way, your life will feel full. My life is full.”

Marilyn is a professor of Business and Marketing at Morningside University in Sioux City, IA, and also serves as the Director of the Business Honors Program.

Marilyn’s first boss at P&G, Chip Bergh, went on to become the CEO of Levi Strauss.

Marilyn loves to be outdoors where she enjoys hiking, golfing and traveling. She also loves to read any genre from faith based to travel stories and historical fiction to business books.

Marilyn and Paul are proud parents to three sons and one lovable dog. Joseph is a soil conservationist, Ben graduates from USD Medical School in May, and will train in Child Neurology, Jack is a financial analyst, and Beau (named for Lambeau Field), is their fur baby. Marilyn values time spent with her family and her parents who are still living in Sioux Falls, SD.

Marilyn is on sabbatical currently, and on a journey to learn more about understanding humanity.

Marilyn accompanying Morningside University students during a May Term trip to Costa Rica

Cheering on their beloved Green Bay Packers with (from left to right), son Ben, Marilyn, husband Paul, son Jack, future daughter-in-law, Emily Oberle, and son, Joseph

Biking near Marilyn’s cabin in the Black Hills on the Mickelson Trail

Marilyn pictured with Morningside Student Advertising Agency Seniors at the Honor Cord Ceremony

Marilyn pictured with the two biggest female influences in her life including her mother-in-law (left) and her mom (right)

SIOUX CITY

Foodies

Life is too short to eat boring food.

All of us at Siouxland Woman know that food is the ingredient that brings us together! In the coming months, we will be featuring the best foodie spots in Siouxland!

Want to feature your foodie spot?

We’d love to have you!

Email ads@michelscom.com for more information!

QUEEN for a day

THANK YOU FOR YOUR NOMINATIONS!

We are blown away by all of the beautiful, thoughtful nominations; we’ve got some pretty phenomenal women in Siouxland! We can’t wait to ‘crown’ a winner in May’s issue!

“Not only is she my best friend, but she is also a terrific mother and a caring wife.”

“Her selflessness knows no bounds. She sacrifices tirelessly for the ones she loves, embodying the true essence of motherhood.”

“She has lent a helping hand and been a ray of sunshine in many people’s lives this past year. She deserves to have a special day for herself and be a ‘queen for a day.’”

“She is a provider, chauffeur, cook, cleaner, laundress, nurse and all that is involved with having a family. SHE DESERVES A BREAK!”

SIOUXLAND WOMAN

“She has been the most amazing mother I could ever ask for. She is a loving wife who works tirelessly at home taking care of our daughter and our dog all while working two jobs at once.”

“One figure stands out as the true monarch of love, sacrifice, and unwavering support – our beloved mom. As we contemplate the reasons why she deserves to be a queen for the day, a myriad of qualities come to light.”

“Her commitment to the realm of mentorship is another jewel in her crown.”

2023

Queen

Cheri Valkinburg

When Cheri Valkinburg was informed that she had won the 2023 Queen for A Day title, she was shocked. “I was so excited; I simply couldn’t believe it. I had no idea that Ivy nominated me,” Cheri admits. It was a truly humbling award to receive and a lot to take in.

Getting emotional, Cheri admits, “I had to sit down and get a grip. As a mom, I think we all feel like we aren’t doing as well as we could. We think there are so many things that could have been done differently if we had more patience or known what we know now. I never thought I would be awarded something like this.”

Here’s a sample from Cheri’s winning submission submitted by her daughter, Ivy: “Cheri is a visionary woman who empowers other women to reach their full potential as women in business and in their daily lives. As a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she spends her days leading by example on how to believe in yourself and let go of fear that holds you back. She leads by the Golden Rule and by her ability to overcome any obstacle in her way. “

In the heart of every cowboy,

IS A DREAM.

By: Heather Jordan

Every legend starts with a story.

From its humble beginnings in Hull, Iowa to 200+ restaurant locations in 15 states across the Midwest, Pizza Ranch has grown over the past 40 years with loyal customers and hard-working franchise owners. Striving to uphold the company’s mission and vision of giving every guest a legendary experience and vision of glorifying God by positively impacting the world, each Pizza Ranch location can trace its roots back to the very beginning of the story.

Back in 1981, 19-year-old Adrie Groeneweg had a dream. It was simple, and answered a basic question: Why does everyone have to drive out of town to get a pizza? With just six specialty and single topping pizza recipes developed around the kitchen table, Pizza Ranch was born.

“The biggest surprise to me when I started at Pizza Ranch, was that they are a Christian-based organization, I absolutely LOVE this!”

- Lori Warner, Sioux City Pizza Ranch, Operating Partner

About Pizza Ranch Sioux City

In addition to their legendary buffet and customer-first mindset, the Sioux City Pizza Ranch franchise located at Floyd Blvd. also prides itself on family, food, and fun.

From Pizza Ranch Favorites to the Country’s Best Chicken®, the famous buffet is full of savory flavors served by friendly ranch hands and enjoyed by all.

Find us in the center of Sioux City’s action, just miles from North, West, and East High Schools and roughly ten minutes from Briar Cliff University. Whether you’re having dinner with the kids or hosting a Community Impact event, our party rooms, FunZone Arcade, and flavorful variety ensure a legendary experience for everyone.

-

and I mention catering and the general response is, “I didn’t know you cater!”

“Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.”

- John Harrigan

Peanut Butter

Greek Salad with Chicken

+ Romaine lettuce + Cherry tomatoes + Cucumber

+ Red onion + Black olives + Cooked chicken breast

+ Feta cheese + Plain greek yogurt + Lemon juice

+ Olive oil + Garlic clove

Banana Smoothie

+ Bananas (frozen or ripe) + Milk (low-fat) + Vanilla yogurt (low-fat)

+ Peanut butter + Unsweetened + Ice cocoa powder

Cucumber Yogurt Dip

+ Plain yogurt (low-fat) + Cucumbers + Sour cream (low-fat)

+ Lemon juice + Dill + Garlic clove

+ Cherry tomatoes + Broccoli florets + Baby carrots

+ Cauliflower + Celery

Look and Live Your Best with Live Young Medical

By: Michaela Feldmann

How do I look my best? It’s a question many of us may ask ourselves. Whether it’s a bad hair day or a blemish that appeared overnight, trying to look your “best” can get frustrating.

“We’ve all been there, right? Where we just don’t feel our best,” says Dawn Bonham, Certified Nurse Practitioner and aesthetics and wellness specialist with Live Young Medical. “Of course, everyone is beautiful the way they are, but some people may be searching for help because they don’t feel their best.”

That’s where Dawn and her team at Live Young Medical come in. She’s been in the nursing field for over a decade. It was here that her love for helping

“I had so many patients who would tell me how cancer and the treatments had changed them in ways they were not happy about. Their hair was no longer thick. They had a decrease in energy and were always feeling fatigued.

I also had patients that were putting on weight at specific times in their lives and they were having so many problems losing it and couldn’t afford some of the treatments that are offered without insurance covering them.”

It was then that Dawn decided to do some research on how she could help people facing these same issues.

“I discovered so many ways to help them,” says Dawn. “Some of them are semi-permanent and others are permanent. That’s very important to me when I’m providing care to my patients. People come in with all kinds of concerns or issues throughout their lifetime, so I wanted to be able to provide all kinds of services.”

And that’s exactly what she did.

Currently, I offer services like Botox, dermal fillers, chemical peels, microneedling, microdermabrasion, Kybella, mesotherapy, hair loss restoration, peptide and vitamin therapies, and weight loss options,” Dawn shares.

Live Young Medical also addresses issues around sexual health, anti-aging and hormone issues. Dawn says soon they’re going to be adding a men’s line to address similar issues like hair loss, weight management, hormone therapy, sexual dysfunction and skin care as well as laser hair removal and fat transfer.

“One of the coolest skin care lines that we will be offering is professional grade and it promotes new, fresh skin cells by targeting your stem cells. It actually significantly improves the 15 top skin concerns like loss of firmness, fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone, dark spots, and more.”

They also provide a make-up line with over 30 years of proven results in helping care for the skin while providing a no-fade performance.

“I know I’ve said it, but I’m just so passionate in providing the best lines to our clients,” says Dawn. “We do the research to

ensure we are offering scientific-driven products to help with any issue clients are experiencing.”

So how do they figure out the best plan for you? Dawn says it starts with a “get to know you” session. Here Live Young Medical covers every area you might want to address, now or in the future. Then, they develop a customized plan with ways to help you achieve those final goals.

“If you are unhappy, I believe you should have the ability to work on those areas and I can help people do that. People in the Siouxland area deserve to have a place where they can bring their concerns and have a customized plan to meet and address their needs. We want to help them successfully reach their goals in how they want to look and feel.”

And Dawn says she has no plan to stop providing excellent care.

“One of my goals is to have a team comprised of guest relations, “Getting to Know” you consultants, nurses who will be trained and certified to do treatments, massage therapists, aestheticians and other positions that will add personal value to our clients and allow us to continue growing.”

Dawn says she really wants Live Young Medical to be a one stop place to have everyone’s needs met.

“We plan to offer IV hydration, scalp facials for all hair types including extensions and wedding specials starting ten months prior to the big day to get clients wedding day ready. I also want to extend our space to offer more services in a spa-like environment. We want everyone at Live Young Medical to feel like family and we want everyone to always look their best.”

Bre Baldwin Marketing Director

MANAGING THE ‘CREEP’: HOW STRESS CAN IMPACT YOUR LIFE

By: Michaela Feldmann

It’s something we’ve all experienced at some point in our lives.

Stress can creep up on us, causing us to feel overwhelmed and life to feel chaotic.

“Stress and anxiety are big things right now, especially after the pandemic,” says Cindi Prather, Mental Health Therapist at Heartland Counseling Services. “I always emphasize to people that you are not alone in how you are feeling. I think that’s the first and most important thing to recognize.”

So, what is stress and how does it differ from anxiety? Cindi says stress is that worry or mental tension we experience because of a situation. Anxiety is that feeling or fear, dread or uneasiness.

“Many of us will either experience what I call ‘good or bad stress’ in our lives. The good stressors are things like holidays or a wedding. Bad stress can be brought on by a major change in your life that you didn’t want like a death, or a change in job or relationship,” Cindi shares.

When we have a lot of stress, that’s when Cindi says things can go bad.

“It can cause problems that go beyond just the feeling. People can feel stress in a physical way, too like upset stomach, headaches, a sense of tension, uneasiness or nervousness that won’t go away. If it’s not addressed, those problems just keep growing. As it becomes more of an issue, you’ll have more bodily issues,” Cindi warns.

It also leads into your mental state. When people really stressed, they might feel a loss of control or hopelessness.

“Most of us are basically ‘safe’ in our worlds. But when that stress just continues to rise and rise, a lot of people express that they don’t feel safe anymore.”

Finding what works for you is the most important thing.

That’s why Cindi emphasizes the importance of getting help.

“There are so many resources out there for people. You can meet with a therapist like those of us at Heartland Counseling Services. Or, it can be as simple as just talking to the people around you – your family or friends. If you are that support person, check up on your friends and family. Ask them how they are and make sure they’re doing OK.”

It’s also important to figure out the skills or techniques that work for you to lower your stress.

“It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Cindi. “Every person is different, so therefore so are the things that work for them. However, there are some things I tell my clients to do.”

First: Breathe. While it may seem simple, it can make the world of difference.

“I love this technique because we are doing it anyway. It’s something we can take with us everywhere we go. There so many different techniques to breathing. My favorite is to think of it like walking into a house and someone is making your favorite food. Breathe in like you would breathe in that aroma. Then exhale as if you were blowing on that food to cool it down. Another is to take deep breaths for four seconds, holding it for four seconds and then breathing out for four more,” Cindi explains.

CINDI PRATHER LIMHP

Cindi Prather graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with her master’s degree in counseling in 2005. She also has a Master of Divinity degree. She was a pastor in several communities in Nebraska before going back to school for her counseling degree. She has worked in community mental health and substance abuse and addictions. She works with all ages from very young children to older adults. She is trained in Parent Child Interactive Therapy (PCIT), Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and other therapeutic modalities. Her passion is meeting clients where they are and working with them to reach their goals. She joined the Heartland team in November 2020.

Another tactic is to create a list of what is going well in your life.

“When we are stressed and overwhelmed, it can feel catastrophic, and a lot of people can get caught up thinking all these things are going to happen and that there’s no end in sight. It’s important to make a list of what is going well or what you are thankful for in these moments. It can be as simple as the sun is shining or you got to spend time with someone you care about.”

Cindi also encourages people to think of times in the past when they have had stressors or obstacles and they overcame them. Finally, focus on the moment – being mindful of where you are. “Finding what works for you is the most important thing. Know that stress is something we all deal with and you’re not alone in feeling that way,” Cindi states.

If you need help please visit

heartlandcounselingservices.org

PO Box 355, South Sioux City, NE 68776

1201 Arbor Dr., South Sioux City, NE 68776 402-494-3337

221 W. Douglas St., O’Neill, NE 68763 402-336-2800

938 E. Zero St., Brown County Clinic, Ainsworth, NE 69210

402-336-2800

Outdoor Living SPACES

I go to Nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put together.

– John Burroughs

As the promise of warmer weather and longer days approaches, homeowners eagerly anticipate their time outdoors. In the Midwest, especially after months of snow and cold, there’s an undeniable urge to embrace the great outdoors.

A well-crafted outdoor area serves as an extension of your home, offering an expanded living space where you can entertain guests, bond with family and friends or simply unwind with a podcast, book or a glass of wine. Thanks to advancements in technology and durability, homeowners now have the opportunity to create fully functional outdoor rooms that can withstand even the harshest weather conditions.

Kathy Sorbe, lead designer and owner of The Elements in Storm Lake, emphasizes that the durability and functionality of outdoor living furniture, appliances and accessories present homeowners with endless possibilities to craft stylish and affordable outdoor living spaces that will stand up to all the weather a Midwest summer can dish out.

“Outdoor spaces have become an integral part of our lives,” says Sorbe. “They serve as multifunctional areas that allow us to embrace the beauty of nature to the fullest,” says Sorbe. “Today’s outdoor furniture incorporates state-of-the-art materials and expert craftsmanship, employing materials like aluminum, iron and teak along with innovative foam that doesn’t soak up and hold water as well as fade-proof upholstery that dries quickly even after a downpour!”

Premium outdoor furniture from The Elements in Storm Lake is crafted to withstand the elements without compromising on luxury, comfort and style. Elevate your deck or patio and create a space that rivals the sophistication and convenience inside your home. It’s not too early to start thinking about summer!

From formal to paper plates, outdoor dining spaces can accommodate any event. And with more and more homeowners installing outdoor kitchens, you can do an entire meal without the need to tidy up inside after the party.

Design Team applies the same principles outdoors as they do in your home, and one rule they don’t ignore is the need for a coffee table. The Design Team likes coffee tables with an added fire feature.

These modern designs stand in stark contrast to the conventional folding lawn chairs of the past. There are no pinched fingers or rust … only comfort and quality.

“Advancements in fabric and frame materials have revolutionized outdoor furniture, making it more comfortable and functional than ever,” says Rick Baker, a member of The Elements’ Design Team in Storm Lake. “We work with several companies that prioritize durability, longevity and style … your outdoor living space needs to be just as comfortable as the inside of your home.”

Baker underscores the importance of considering both visible and invisible elements when selecting outdoor furniture.

“We’re particularly fond of OW Lee’s cushions crafted with water-resistant foam, which doesn’t allow the rain to soak into the foam,” says Baker. “Sunbrella fabric, renowned for its fade-proof, stainresistant and mildew-resistant properties, ensures easy maintenance and dry bottoms.”

With a plethora of fabric options available, the Design Team can tailor pieces and spaces to precisely match homeowners’ vision and style.

“We love incorporating neutral colors outdoors,” says Sorbe. “Timeless and classic, neutral tones allow the beauty of the surroundings to stand out.”

Sorbe advises against prioritizing price alone when investing in outdoor furniture.

“Some may opt for cheaper alternatives assuming outdoor furniture won’t last,” says Sorbe. “But investing in quality pieces ensures enjoyment for years to come. And you won’t even have to head to the neighbor’s yard after a big wind.”

Quality outdoor furniture, Sorbe asserts, is designed to withstand the elements without compromising comfort or style. The Elements proudly features furniture lines from incredible brands like OW Lee, Lexington, and Tommy Bahama for Lexington.

The Monterra collection from O.W. Lee has a large footprint, but outdoor spaces can accommodate large pieces of furniture. Big in size, the only thing that outsizes these pieces is the comfort.

The

O.W. Lee’s Aris collection is a Design Team favorite. Sleek, modern and completely customizable with frame finishes and thousands of high-performance fabrics, these sturdy pieces are just as comfortable – maybe even more comfortable – than the furnishings inside your home.

“We’re committed to offering furniture that thrives outdoors,” says Sorbe. “Our selections eliminate the need to dash outside during rainstorms or stow away heavy pieces during winter. They’re built to endure even in harsh conditions like saltwater exposure.”

The Design Team advises homeowners to scrutinize warranties, as they often serve as indicators of quality. For example, OW Lee offers a 20year guarantee on the frame so homeowners can buy with confidence knowing these pieces are sturdy and worth the investment.

Homeowners don’t even need to forgo modern conveniences while enjoying their outdoor spaces.

Speakers, lamps and televisions are increasingly common additions, while outdoor kitchens now boast specialty equipment like refrigerators, sinks, bars and even pizza ovens.

“We see a growing collection of outdoor furniture and accessories each year,” says Baker. “Coffee tables, side tables, servers and even beds are making their outdoor debut.”

Approaching outdoor projects with the same attention to detail as indoor spaces, the Design Team ensures that fundamental elements are considered. As outdoor furniture lines expand, accessory companies offer products specifically designed for outdoor use.

“A well-appointed outdoor space shouldn’t feel incomplete,” says Baker. “Just as a living room needs a coffee table, so does a deck or patio. It adds the perfect finishing touch.”

Sorbe champions the role of the coffee table as an anchor for outdoor rooms.

“A coffee table provides a focal point for the outdoor space, offering a convenient spot for drinks or snacks,” she explains. “It encourages homeowners to make the most of their outdoor sanctuary. And don’t worry about chilly nights or lack of ambiance … we love tables that include a fire feature.”

Sorbe extols the allure of fire pits, which effortlessly enhance an outdoor space without the hassle of wood or smoke. The Elements offers fire pits in various sizes and styles, providing the perfect focal point for gatherings.

To elevate outdoor spaces further, the Design Team incorporates accessories, mirroring indoor design principles.

“The more finished an outdoor space feels, the more likely homeowners will use it,” says Sorbe. “Weather-proof accessories add sophistication, sculptures lend drama and outdoor pillows add a layer of comfort that’s important. Lanterns with outdoor candles infuse an outdoor room with warmth and coziness, creating an inviting space that – at least for the summer – may be your favorite spot in your home.”

Pots and greenery are incredible additions to finish your outdoor space. Spring pots – of all sizes and colors – are arriving soon. For those homeowners without a green thumb, The Elements’ permanent florals and greenery can tolerate the wind and won’t fade to blue in the sun, and they never even need water.

Shade also plays a pivotal role in outdoor comfort. Sorbe and her team favor pergolas for their architectural charm and sun-shielding capabilities.

“Pergolas add visual interest to both the house and outdoor space,” explains Sorbe. “Whether adorned with greenery or colorful fabrics, they define the space while providing a break from the sun.”

A well-designed outdoor space not only expands usable square footage but also enhances property value. When thoughtfully furnished, it may even surpass indoor rooms in terms of utility and enjoyment.

To discover more about crafting your dream outdoor space with The Elements’ Design Team, schedule a consultation, visit the showroom in Storm Lake or explore some past projects at elementsbyksorbe.com. And be sure to stay up to date by following them on Facebook and Instagram.

1701

Weatherproof cantina lights add the perfect amount of light and a bit of a European flare to your outdoor space.

Composite, weatherproof pots with permanent olive trees flank the entrance of this award-winning home from the Des Moines HBA Home Show.

Outdoor candles in the lanterns create a welcoming approach and are even on timers for convenience.

At Mallett Bees, we believe that honey is perfect straight from the hive. We produce our own honey ensuring that it's 100% pure and raw.

Our bees love the wildflowers of the Loess Hills and surrounding area throughout the Missouri River Valley.

Caramel Apple Hamatashen

SIOUXLAND

Watermelon Breeze 20 oz. only, Red Bull drink Watermelon & mint with a splash of cream

Raspberry Flip

Iced Vanilla Bean Latte

A creamy vanilla latte with a scoop of Blue Bunny Vanilla Bean ice cream

Flaky pastry filled with caramel apple filling and topped with whipped cream & caramel drizzle.

Caramel Butterscotch Cooler

Lemon Zest Donut

WELCOME TO THE WHEELHOUSE BAR AND GRILL

The Wheelhouse is a family friendly Bar and Grill that aims to serve the quality food for a good value. We offer great burgers and sandwiches as well as our great pizza and wings that we have perfected at our Townhouse Pizza locations.

With 20 beers on tap and several more in bottles and cans, we have a beer for every taste. We also have a full liquor bar for those wanting mixed drinks.

With 42 TV’s spaced throughout the Bar and Grill, you will always be able to catch your game. We have DirectTV and feature the NFL Direct Ticket, NHL Full Ice, MLB Extra Innings, the Longhorn Network and the Big 10 Network for all the sports action.

adjective The measured ease of walking to an amenity in a community. in

walkability Lisa Croston

Broker/Owner of CENTURY 21 ProLink Managing Broker of Sioux City & Le Mars offices 712.251.5214

Licensed in IA, NE & SD

walkability

siouxland

The National Association of REALTORS® recently released the latest edition of its Community & Transportation Preferences Survey, a poll taken every two to three years of residents in the 50-largest metropolitan areas to gauge partialities regarding their home’s type and location, in addition to community attributes they find desirable. The survey found that coming out of the coronavirus pandemic, the demand for living in a "walkable" community remains robust.

Siouxland may not be included in the top 50 metros, but our communities and neighborhoods do have "walk scores."

The website Walkscore.com measures the walkability, transit, and bike scores of any address. For each address, Walk Score analyzes hundreds of walking routes to nearby amenities such as grocery stores, banks, restaurants, and schools using a numerical score between 0-100.

Walk Scores of 90-100 are awarded to destinations deemed “Walker's Paradise” where daily errands don't

According to walkscore.com, Sioux City has an average Walk Score of 40;

Sioux City has minimal public transportation and does not have many bike lanes. The most walkable Sioux City neighborhoods are Downtown, Rose Hill and Prospect Hill.

51106 is considered "car dependent.”

Dakota Dunes is described as “somewhat” bike-able.

South Sioux City, Nebraska scored a 78 and is described as “very walkable,” most errands can be accomplished on foot.

Le Mars, Iowa: Walk Score 84; Bike score 50.

I first heard of the walk score measurement almost 10 years ago. Back then, it did not seem important to community growth. However, today according to the same NAR survey,

• People living in walkable communities are more likely to be very satisfied with their quality of life.

• 35% of Gen Z and 33% of Millennial respondents who indicated that they are very or somewhat interested in living in a walkable community said that they are willing to “pay a lot more” to live in a walkable community versus 24% of overall respondents favoring walkable communities.

As our communities grow, new developments may want to consider walkability as well as bike-ability. To find out the Walk Score for your neighborhood, go to walkscore.com.

https://www.nar.realtor/reports/nar-community-andtransportation-preferences-surveys

to our Senior All Star Teams competing in Orlando at the 2024 USASF Dance Worlds!

24 athletes from 5678! Dance Studio will be attending. 6,000 athletes and 23 countries will be competing. 605-242-5678

208

PROVES LEARNING IS life-long

By: Joanne Fox

“Often, we hesitate to go to places on our own,”

Owens acknowledged. “While I have been to the Hong Kong Market, I only select items I know how to use, so I asked Peggy if she would provide a tour of the store for our Lifelong Learners.”

She added, “As a small group, the visit would be fun and memorable providing opportunities to prepare and share new foods.”

Remember trying out a wok? Microwave? Air fryer? How about sous vide?

Learning is lifelong in so many ways and that’s best illustrated through the Institute for Lifelong Learning at Western Iowa Tech Community College in April.

For example, you don’t have to travel far to experience the Far East.

According to Lifelong Learning Coordinator Sue Owens, the Institute explored the Farmers Market in Sioux City and participants met the vendors for tips on shopping and cooking.

On April 17 at 2 p.m., Siouxland businesswoman Peggy La will offer a tour of Hong Kong Market, 501 W. 7th St., Sioux City.

The Institute is offering a Ladies’ Night that will feature Minerva’s Executive Chef Torrey Brown for an enlightening night of cooking on April 17 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Chef Brown will explain and demonstrate different cooking methods – grilling, air frying, and sous vide, a cooking technique that involves vacuum-sealing food in a bag and cooking it in a precisely regulated water bath, Owens explained.

“In a small group setting like this, people ask questions that I would not have thought of,” she said. “And ... we will enjoy tasting some of the results.”

Chef Torrey Brown

You will have to travel a bit to experience the Big Apple.

The Institute is hosting a trip to New York City for five days and four nights, April 22 – 26, to explore the city and attend two Broadway shows – “A Beautiful Noise, the Neil Diamond Musical” and “Six (The Six Wives of Henry VIII).”

“We will see many of the New York City sights you read about in books and see in movies,” Owens pointed out. “We will have a local tour guide to show us the sights and Dr. Juline Albert and I will be along to make sure everyone has a great trip.”

Closer to Home is a Digital Photography class on Saturdays beginning April 6 through May 11 from 10 a.m. to noon with members of the Sioux City Camera Club. The first class will cover photography basics and the rest focus on specific types of photography with the opportunity to share one’s best work during the last session. Different members of the Camera Club will share their favorite techniques and help answer participant questions. The class will include time to practice different techniques using one’s camera.

Photos by Gary Gilbert

It may be surprising to know that hearing loss can be related to our mental and physical health. Dr. Adrian Aylor, audiologist with ENT Consultants, is here to share five interesting facts about hearing loss and your health.

5 FACTS

to know about Hearing Loss

605-217-HEAR (4320) or 877-777-5997

101 Tower Rd., Ste. 120 Dakota Dunes, SD 57049

4301 Sergeant Rd., Ste. 215 Sioux City, IA 51106

www.entconsultants.net

Dr. Adrian Aylor

1

2

Hearing loss is linked to higher rates of depression.

When you have hearing loss, it can make social interactions more challenging, which may result in participating in less social engagements, bad moods, or depression (Lin & Albert, 2014). This can further result in a reduced quality of life.

You are more likely to have hearing loss if you are diabetic.

A previous study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) showed that those with diabetes are twice as likely to experience hearing loss compared to those without diabetes. Even those with pre-diabetes are at a higher risk of hearing loss. It is believed that diabetes can damage nerve fibers and blood vessels of the inner ear.

Lifestyle behaviors can impact hearing.

3

4

Those with cardiovascular disease, obesity, other comorbid health conditions, or frequent exposure to loud noise may be at a higher risk of developing hearing loss. To do your part to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation in your auditory system, live a healthy lifestyle by eating well balanced meals, exercising regularly, not smoking, and minimizing exposure to hazardous noise levels.

Hearing loss can be related to other symptoms of tinnitus, dizziness, and instability.

If you have other symptoms like ringing or buzzing in your ears, dizziness, or vertigo, a hearing assessment can be very helpful during the evaluation process of your symptoms.

5

Hearing loss may increase your risk of developing dementia and cognitive decline.

The presence of hearing loss may increase your risk of developing dementia and cognitive decline as you age. The risk of developing dementia increases as hearing loss severity increases. If you notice you are not hearing well, do not delay getting your hearing evaluated to determine if you are a good candidate for hearing loss treatment and intervention, such as hearing aids.

References: Lin, F.R., Albert, M. (2014). “Hearing loss and dementia - who’s listening?” Aging and Mental Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine (accessed at www.ncbi. nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4075051). Lin, F.R., Metter, E.J., O’Brien, R.J., Resnick, S.M., Zonderman, A.B., & Ferrucci, L. (2011). Hearing loss and incident dementia. Archives of Neurology, 68(2), 214-220. doi:10.1001/archneurol.2010.362

RESIDENT PROFILE

LEWIS JR. john

John Lewis Jr. was born and raised in Jefferson, SD. He has three children including two daughters, Roxanne and Connie, one step-daughter, Christie, and his son, John. He married Helen Wendt in 1991, and was married for 23 years until Helen passed in 2014. John has eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

After John graduated from Jefferson High School, he worked at Prince Manufacturing, a small machine shop out of Sioux City, Iowa that manufactured hydraulic cylinders. After that, he went to work for Northwestern Bell as a telephone repair man. Northwestern Bell became AT & T during John’s tenure, and John spent his career of 30 years there before retiring at age 52 when AT & T split up.

John had a talent for fixing things, and in addition to performing repair work as his job, he also spent many weekends repairing vehicles and woodworking. His love was an old truck; a 1956 Ford F100 that he and his son were restoring together. His son John now has the truck and continues their labor of love to get it back on the road.

Camping and traveling were things that John enjoyed, and the Blacks Hills and Brandon, MO were two of his favorite spots.

John spent his childhood helping his family on their family farm in Jefferson, SD. As an adult, he continued to help on the farm when his father couldn’t.

When John started to require more care, his kids began looking for an assisted living facility. His parents were in StoneyBrook, so his family was familiar with the care and support provided. StoneyBrook checked all the boxes for him. According to John,

“The staff is awesome, and goes above and beyond to meet the needs of their residents.”

Life is Sweet in Stoneybrook Suites

OUR MISSION

We are a full-service assisted living community “To foster the well-being of each resident by nurturing the mind, body, and spirit while maintaining each resident’s enjoyment of independence and dignity in a secure and supportive environment. We invite you to come to StoneyBrook Suites, where our joy is in serving you.”

AMENITIES

• Coffee Shop

• Salon

• Walk-in Whirlpool Spa

• Centrally located meals and activities

SERVICES

• Caring, trusted, 24-hour staff

• Personal housekeeping

• Theater

• Courtyards

• Spacious suites all on one level

If you’re considering assisted living, we are here to help every step of the way.

Schedule a tour and see the quality of life available to you or your loved one.

• Three homestyle meals per day

• Professional medication administration and laundry

• On-site physical, restorative

• Scheduled daily social and and cognitive therapy exercise activities

• Wellness clinic

• Personal pendant system

• Assistance with activities of daily living

Dakota Dunes 605-242-0013

Brookings 605-692-1013

Huron 605-352-0014

Sioux Falls 605-373-0013

Watertown 605-882-0013

Administrator

Dakota Dunes 605-242-0013

Weight Loss Program

It can be challenging to lose weight despite making changes to your diet and increasing your physical activity. Using a medicated weight loss program may offer an effective weight loss strategy to help you look and feel your best. Check out our plan to get started:

Initial consult which includes:

• Full health assessment & history

• Reviewing intake forms

• Obtaining vital signs

• Height

• Weight

• Measurements

Labs: Will be done prior to starting medication as well as monitoring throughout use.

Labs include: CBC, BMP, HgbA1c ot fasting glucose, thyroid panel.

If you have these from your PCP within the last 6 months these can be used for baseline labs.

InBody Scan:

• This scan is a non-invasive body composition analysis that provides a detailed breakdown of your weight in terms of muscle, fat, and water. It’s a quick and easy way to see where you stand, and will help us to determine if changes need to be made to your specific plan.

• The first scan is FREE. After each scan will be free with the purchase of $20 product in Rexius Nutrition/Eat Fit Go. Scan is located inside Rexius Nutrition

4 weeks of Semaglutide or Tirzepatide and supplies needed for injection.

1:1 Consultation with Liddy Ruden, CPT (see below)

Monthly in person check in which includes: height, weight, obtaining refills, etc.

B12 shot once a month

Ongoing support

Why is nutrition key to your overall success on this program?

While we understand there might be a less detailed program out there, we believe providing nutrition and workout guidance throughout the duration of your medication will allow clients to see lifelong sustainability. When goal weights are achieved and medication is no longer needed, the learned nutrition will allow you to maintain your weight loss safely.

In your 1:1 consultations with our CPT, Liddy, you will go over:

• Current eating patterns (healthy/unhealthy)

• Activity levels

• Obstacles that might be hindering your success

• How to overcome bad relationships with food

• Putting together a plan that fits your lifestyle

What sets us aside from the other “quick fix” programs is we’re here for you. We make sure your program is going as planned with weekly check-ins and month end results. In the end, our goal in providing clients this program is to teach the importance of a healthy lifestyle while seeing success with the medication.

The 2023-2024

is made up of the following members: Austyn Koedam, Merrie Ganschow, Rachel Bryan, Bailey Link, Kimberly Esquivel, Karlee Hughes, Sunny Byington, Madison Bell, Abby Wagner, and Angela Serrano.

These girls work hard to promote school spirit on and off the sidelines. The team cheers for both boys and girls basketball and recently traveled to Rapid City to support the boys basketball team on their journey to the state championship!

Our three seniors, Madison Bell, Karlee Hughes and Rachel Bryan, have led their team with passion and dedication. They have created relationships that surpass teammates and feel more like a family. It has been an honor to coach this group over the last few years and I am excited to see what the future holds for them!

- Melanie Yakel, Dakota Valley Head Cheer Coach

Basketball Cheer team

April is Cesarean Awareness Month

There are several different reasons why cesarean sections are performed. Though a cesarean section is a serious surgical procedure, the accessibility of a cesarean can literally save lives when mothers and babies are facing complications before or during labor. No matter how you bring them into the world, you are amazing!

When sending sympathy and celebrations of life, choose the bereavement specialists. Petal Pusher has been serving Siouxland for more than 25 years!

Express your condolences and find comfort in knowing you will be sending the best with an arrangement from Petal Pusher Sympathy Store.

4605 HAWTHORNE DR., SIOUX CITY, IA

Well-cared-for 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom ranch home with a 2-car garage and in-ground pool. Front yard and fenced in backyard have very nice landscaping and backyard is private. Entertain or relax with the heated saltwater in-ground pool, outdoor kitchen, patio and deck. Shed for pool supplies stays. Entering the home is the foyer with wood floor and coat closet. Sunken living room features vaulted ceiling, two skylights, wood fireplace with windows on each side and is carpeted. Dining area and kitchen also have wood floor. Door to deck off dining area. The kitchen has island with gas cooktop and oven, granite counters, and all appliances are included. Convenient laundry room off kitchen with door to garage, washer and dryer are included. The master bedroom has carpet, a cedar walk-in closet and

french doors to the 4-season room with LVP floor, vaulted ceiling, skylight, gas fireplace and door to pool. Master bathroom has double vanity with granite counter, linen cabinet, fun lights, a large shower and heated tile floor. There are two more bedrooms on the main level, each with carpet and double closets as well as a full bathroom with tub/shower combo. Lower level has two family rooms, plus a great place to watch football games or movie night in the media room with wood fireplace (projector and 120" screen stay), a den with closet, and a 3/4 bathroom. Lots of ways to use all these spaces! The water softener, water heater and humidifier are new. This home has a fun floor plan, lots of room to entertain or relax and has lots of updates!

"Barb Maxon is a consumate professional. She knows the Siouxland market and went above and beyond to help us purchase our new home. Barb has the experience, market knowledge and skills to help any home buyer or seller with their real estate needs."

- Pat and Marilyn, Dakota Dunes, SD

406 HIDDENWOOD HLW. WYNSTONE, SD $749,000

532 SANDSTONE CIR. DAKOTA DUNES, SD $550,000

2323 NEBRASKA ST. SIOUX CITY, IA $600,000

2600 GLEN ELLEN RD. SIOUX CITY, IA $900,000

27TH ANNUAL

JULY 19 12:00

You are the “key” to our success, and we can’t thank you enough for your support!

SIOUX CITY COUNTRY CLUB

SCAN TO REGISTER OR SPONSOR!

By: Joanne Fox

Jitters to move to Floyd River Flats in April

Jitters, a staple in Sioux City with its amazing donuts, entrées, and eclectic atmosphere, has attracted patrons for a quartercentury from the Tri-State area who are willing to patronize it wherever it does business.

A bit of history first.

It is “on the road” again, ready to move into Floyd River Flats around the third week in April.

Owner Sarah Kragthorpe, a Sioux City native, worked for an international bicycle manufacturer before returning to her roots to start Jitters.

“I had the opportunity to travel extensively with my work and loved visiting cafés wherever I went,” she said. “I tucked away ideas each time for starting my own business and eventually brought it to life with Jitters in 1999.”

Jitters first opened at the Indian Hills Shopping Center, then segued to the Floyd Hills Shopping Center on the boulevard with the same name in 2004. The business was the first to embrace the new strip mall, adding a drive-thru for customers.

Nearly concurrent with Jitters’ move to downtown in 2013 was the announcement of the business being named the first healthy Blue Zones restaurant in Sioux City.

“People think of us as a place for coffee and doughnuts, but two of our most popular items are our Veggie Wrap and Fluffy Omelet Breakfast Wraps,” Kragthorpe said.

And now, Jitters is on the move to a different home, the new Floyd River Flats, also in Downtown Sioux City.

Sarah Kragthorpe Owner/Operator

“Our current move is prompted by the fact that our lease on Virginia Street will be up at the end of April and the landlord will be taking over the space,” Kragthorpe explained. “I started the search for our new home last September with the help of KJ and Jennifer at Property Pros Group and am very excited to begin our new journey at Floyd River Flats.”

The former Ramada Inn, a 55-year-old building, was acquired by Floyd River Flats in the spring of 2022, to be remodeled and reopened as market-rate apartments and commercial space.

“I think our customers will be surprised to find that there will be an outdoor courtyard in the middle of the complex for all to enjoy,” Kragthorpe noted.

No worries that the “ray of Sunshine” will be lost in the move. Sunshine doughnuts were made at the Sunshine Food Markets in Siouxland for decades but came to a halt when the Indian Hills SuperValu closed. Kragthorpe tracked down the last machine and started leasing it in 2009, bringing the cake doughnuts back to popularity.

“But the best part of being associated with Jitters is seeing the smiles on people’s faces -- from 2 to 92 -when they come in,” Kragthorpe insisted. “That and knowing that what we offer makes them happy.”