November/December 2020

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

Move in a pandemic?

Yes you can!

PAGE 24

Tax breaks you still have time to take PAGE 16

5 ways to (safely) celebrate the holidays PAGE 18

MEET

MARY ANNE

KOWALSKI

Fluff y pumpkin pancakes PAGE 14

Her warmth and enthusiasm for family and community have set the tone for her namesake stores since 1983.

PAGE 20

Contents

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

20

ON THE COVER Mary Anne Kowalski and her markets have been treating customers like family for 37 years. Photos

by Tracy Walsh

FROM THE EDITOR

IN THE KITCHEN

HOUSING FEATURE

8 Keeping it positive, the Minnesota way.

14 Treat your family to the delicious fall flavors of Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes.

24 Find out why this could be a good time for making a change.

MY TURN 10 For a 92-year-old Woodbury resident, life is about growth and service.

FINANCE 16 You’ve still got time to make donations — and get a tax break.

MEMORIES

CELEBRATE

12 Have we gone too far in keeping children safe from harm?

18 5 ways to connect with family and friends over the holidays.

6 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

ALSO INSIDE:

28 30 32

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Minnesota Good Age | November/December 2020 | 7

FROM THE EDITOR Volume 39 / Issue 8

Stay positive

BY KATHY CHILDERS

N PUBLISHER Janis Hall / jhall@mngoodage.com

CO-PUBLISHER AND SALES MANAGER Terry Gahan / tgahan@mngoodage.com

EDITOR Kathy Childers mngoodageeditor@mngoodage.com

CONTRIBUTORS Ed Dykhuizen, Carol Hall, Justin Halverson, Julie Kendrick, Gerri Mack, Dave Nimmer, Rachel Riesgraf, Sheryl Stillman, Tracy Walsh

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Valerie Moe

ART DIRECTOR Dani Cunningham

CIRCULATION Marlo Johnson / distribution@mngoodage.com

o one, it seems, can escape the unrelenting challenges of COVID-19. It feels like we’re in a constant state of fear trying to stay safe and adopt the proper (and changing) protocols.

So we isolate, and that makes it difficult to feel connected to our fellow humans.

But we’re Minnesotans! We can do this. We’re tough and resilient. The long and frigid winters we endure have been the perfect training ground for getting through the unprecedented restrictions of the pandemic. And when we need a human connection or a little boost of encouragement, we need only look to our community for inspiration, as you’ll discover in this issue.

Our cover star, Mary Anne Kowalski, and her namesake markets have been nourishing and nurturing us for decades with their carefully curated foods and warm, inviting markets. Masks and a pandemic haven’t changed that. Kowalski’s own perseverance and optimism is reflected in how each of her grocery stores serves the Twin Cities and suburbs (Super (Market) Hero, p. 20).

Columnist Dave Nimmer introduces us to the energetic Dean Shepersky (My Turn, p. 10), a senior housing resident who keeps his focus on the moment and how he can be of service.

If you’re fighting the blues as you think about the upcoming holidays, this will cheer you up: five clever ideas for safely connecting with your friends and family that promise to make the holidays special. Read about party ideas, cookie decorating and more (Celebrate, p. 18).

Minnesota Good Age hasn’t escaped the challenges of the coronavirus. Recently Minnesota Premier Publications, its parent company, made the very difficult decision to stop publishing it, along with sister publications Southwest Journal and Minnesota Parent. This is the last issue of the two magazines. Southwest Journal will close at the end of the year. But we’re going to remain positive: The magazine is for sale, and we’re not giving up hope on finding a buyer.

It’s been an incredible journey for the magazine and my great privilege to serve you. I hope we’ll meet again very soon!

37,000 copies of Minnesota Good Age are distributed to homes and businesses metro-wide.

Minnesota Good Age (ISSN 2333-3197) is published monthly by Minnesota Premier Publications.

Minnesota Good Age, 1115 Hennepin Ave. Minneapolis, MN 55403 © 2020 Minnesota Premier Publications, Inc.

8 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

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MY TURN

A bright light in trying times

BY DAVE NIMMER

I

f I ever needed an example of how an old man should handle a pandemic with youthful vigor, I need only look to my former next-door neighbor Dean Shepersky. The 92-year-old Korean War veteran lived in Evergreen Countryhomes in Woodbury, and now he’s a half mile away in the Stonecrest senior living community.

He’s not only survived the 8-month virus ordeal, he’s thrived. Sure, he’s been hunkered down, but he’s also linked in, wired up and speaking out. He’s gregarious by nature and abiding in faith. From this spring to fall, he’s been meeting his family on Zoom, baking rhubarb pie and banana bread, emailing his friends and passing out homemade cookies to his neighbors.

Remarkably, he’s managed to do this in the wake of his wife’s death in December 2018. He and Dorie, a registered nurse, were married for 67 years.

They raised four children and followed the exploits of eight grandchildren scattered across the country.

He’s now head of the household and not even tempted to feel sorry for himself.

“I’ve got a frying pan and a microwave,” he said, “and a daughter who can help me with the grocery shopping.

The truth is I’ve been blessed. I had decades with Dorie, and we travelled to more than 40 countries. We flew to the East and West Coasts to visit our extended family and watched the grandkids get off to good starts. And Dorie died quickly and peacefully.”

▲ Life enrichment, for himself and others, keeps Woodbury resident Dean Shepersky focused on how he can be of service.

Photo courtesy of Renee Vaughan

Over the course of his life, Shepersky has developed an alphabet of survival skills: courage, devotion, enthusiasm, faith and gratitude. As a kid growing up in South Dakota, he carried newspapers, swept floors and pulled the hooves from pig carcasses at an Armour packing plant.

As an adult, Shepersky joined the Marine Corps near the end of World War II, got out and went to South Dakota State College. He earned a degree in pharmacy, joined ROTC and volunteered to go to Korea. He was a combat medic there, and earned a Bronze Star for valor in ground combat. After the war, he became a partner in a pharmacy and

10 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

joined the Army Reserves. He served 31 years and retired as a lieutenant colonel.

Dean and Dorie first set up housekeeping in Huron, South Dakota. They moved to Minnesota with their family in 1968, and he worked for several downtown Minneapolis pharmacies. He learned to manage unruly customers as well as fill prescriptions. He had the street savvy and professional skills to do both.

By the time I met Shepersky, Korea was a distant memory, and he had long ago retired from his job as pharmacist and store manager at the downtown Walgreens where I had stopped for coffee when I was a police reporter.

Over the course of his life, Shepersky has developed an alphabet of survival skills: courage, devotion, enthusiasm, faith and gratitude.

In the townhome association, however, he was very active and put the touch on me to join him as a volunteer painter.

“You don’t have to do that much,” he told me, “because we just touch up trim. We call ourselves the Rembrandt Committee. You’ll have fun.” A week later I had a brush in one hand and sandpaper in the other. I did not have that much fun painting, but I did enjoy working next to him.

Shepersky has dropped the paintbrush and picked up a DVD course from the University of Notre Dame on the development of Western civilization. He’s listening to college professors while I’m watching reruns of Blue Bloods.

It’s clear to me that Dean Shepersky has accumulated what I see as wisdom over the decades. He knows enough to know he’s not in charge. So he says a prayer, asks for strength and courage, and lights his “little candle. And I’ll share it,” he says, “wherever I am.”

I think I see the light.

Dave Nimmer had a long career as a reporter, editor and professor. Now retired, he has no business card, but plenty to do.

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MEMORIES

Playing it safe

BY CAROL HALL

W

hen I was a kid, mothers turned their children loose in the morning and commanded: “Go outside and play, and don’t come home ‘til supper!”

I found plenty to keep me busy.

Riding down a hill on my bicycle — hands flying in the air, feet clamped on the handlebars — was great fun. Sitting on the handlebars with my older sister doing the pedaling was even more fun!

Because I lived in a small town in Minnesota, and we had a 5-acre yard that had once been a farmer’s grove, many trees there were perfect for climbing. On a warm summer day, my friend Janet and I would be scaling the elm behind our house or one of a pair of crabapple trees.

Climbing and biking were important to me because I was a total washout at team games, feeling the sting of always being chosen last. Yet my favorite activities were fraught with the danger of a serious fall.

In the ’40s and early ’50s, no precautions were taken (helmets were unheard of).

We simply went out and did these things — and worse.

Our playground slippery slides were high up and lacked guard rails. Winter saw us lying on our stomachs on a Flexible Flyer sled, zooming headfirst down snow-covered hills.

Not surprisingly, boys seemed to take more chances than girls. I remember one who built a “chug,” a hot-rod-looking vehicle sans brakes that could send you careening down a steep hill with no way

to stop. Another boy and his twin brother invented “rockets” that flew skyward and loudly exploded, terrifying our neighborhood. (They both went on to become engineers!). One kid spent hours playing on the roof of his family’s garage.

Hunting was huge in my part of Minnesota. Two guys who were players on our football team would go into the countryside and shoot tin cans with their dads’ hunting rifles for target practice to reduce pre-game tension. And some really nasty little boys played with slingshots.

My folks worried about us, of course.

I was continually warned to be careful: “Grab hold of strong branches that won’t break when you climb trees.”

“Stop being a daredevil with your bike, or we’ll take it away.”

But I wasn’t forbidden to do these unsafe activities. Even the folks of the neighbor kid who played on the garage roof seemed unconcerned, saying, “He’ll come down when he gets tired of being up there.”

My parents and their peers had weathered the Great Depression. Their lives had been filled with danger and risk. They raised their children with the understanding that things could, one way or another, go wrong, and problems may arise that they expected us to solve.

And so I learned just how far I could climb up a tree and still get back down safely. I came to realize the bicycle antics could be performed only on dry pavement and if I wanted the thrill of

12 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

the tall slippery metal slide, I’d better wear heavy pants to protect from a butt burn sliding down.

Perhaps my parents were too lenient.

But I wonder if some of the accidents that inevitably occurred and the pain and stitches that resulted were actually beneficial. They were toughening me for the bumpy road of life that lie ahead.

Modern parenting seems to have turned to the opposite extreme. Many parents today limit their kids’ unsupervised outdoor play, fearing they might hurt themselves. Some schools have even abandoned the classic schoolyard game of dodgeball.

And parents are accommodating their children’s fears: The child who is afraid of

My folks worried about us, of course.

I was continually warned to be careful. riding the school bus is driven to school rather than given the opportunity to learn to overcome the fear.

An article that appeared in the May 2020 issue of The Atlantic, “The Anxious Child, and the Crisis of Modern Parenting,” reports on the rise of anxiety and depression in children who are overwhelmed by the here and now. The article suggests that modern parents who swoop in and shelter kids from harm and distress — thereby eliminating their anxiety — are doing their kids a disservice. Anxiety is a universal and necessary response to stress. It’s something children must actually experience and learn to tolerate in order to be prepared to deal with it later in life.

No one, of course, wants children to be harmed in their play. And I’m well aware of the dangers facing them in today’s uncertain world that are radically different from ours. But is too much being done in the name of safety? Are children being overprotected, leading to the issues described in the article?

Maybe our way had some merit after all.

Carol Hall lives in Woodbury. She’s a longtime freelance writer, a University of Minnesota graduate and a former Northwest Airlines stewardess.

Minnesota Good Age | November/December 2020 | 13

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IN THE KITCHEN

14 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

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Minnesota Good Age | November/December 2020 | 15

FINANCE

Maximize your 2020 charitable giving

BY JUSTIN HALVERSON

C

haritable giving is a wonderful way to support a favorite cause or organization close to your heart.

Though the year is coming to a close, there’s still time to maximize tax breaks for your gifts while benefiting your favorite charities. These are some of the new laws and strategies to help you do that.

The CARES Act The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) has incentives for charitable giving. The hope is to stimulate philanthropy throughout the country during a time when many nonprofit organizations are struggling to provide more services with fewer dollars.

The CARES Act provision allows for a deduction of up to $300, even if you don’t

itemize deductions. Keep in mind the gift must be a cash donation that goes directly to the charity. This is a nice way for people to give in a small way and still receive a tax benefit.

Bunching The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act increased the standard deduction, making a strategy called “bunching contributions” more popular. Here’s how it works: This year, you make a contribution that’s large enough to allow you to itemize your deductions when you file your tax return for 2020. Because your donation is large, you might not make a donation next year, or even the year after that. The idea is that the large donation, which represents your giving for two or more years,

allows you to itemize your deductions.

This could be a great strategy to achieve your philanthropic goals and help your tax situation. One way bunching is done is through a donor-advised fund (DAF). This vehicle is offered through a brokerage firm, bank or community foundation. With a DAF, you can make a contribution and decide later where your donation will go. A DAF also allows your money to grow tax-free, meaning you could give a larger contribution in the future.

Appreciated stock If you own stock for more than a year and itemize come tax time, you may get a bigger tax benefit if you donate appreciated stock to charity versus writing a check. Even if you don’t itemize, gifting the stock directly to charity helps you avoid paying long-term capital gains taxes on your profits. You can also utilize a donor-advised fund to gift the stock, making the process simple and easy. On the other hand, if you’re planning to give depreciated stock to charity, it makes more sense to sell the stock first and claim the loss on your tax return, and then donate the proceeds to charity.

Qualified Charitable Distributions A great planning tool if you’re age 70½ or older is to give money from an IRA directly to charity. This is called a “qualified charitable distribution” (QCD). This 16 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

is an option if you wish to lower the taxable balance of an IRA, or if you’re age 72 or older and you don’t need the money from your required minimum distributions (RMDs). Donating through a QCD is a good way to avoid paying taxes on the money you withdraw while helping a qualified charity. But the money must go directly from an IRA to a charity to Tubman Center MNP filler 12.indd ensure the distribution doesn’t count toward your taxable income for the year.

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Other assets There are tax benefits to giving assets like retirement accounts and life insurance policies to a charity. Giving assets that would normally have an income tax liability can be beneficial when leaving an inheritance.

If you donate tangible assets, like art and jewelry, you may also receive a tax deduction equal to the value of the asset donated.

Be sure to research the charity, though, because only donations to qualified charitable organizations are deductible.

Get help If you need help deciding which of these might work for you or developing a longterm strategy, talk to financial and tax professionals. They can help determine the best way for you to maximize a charitable gift while also minimizing potential tax implications.

Justin Halverson is a founding partner of Great Waters Financial and leads the Minnetonka, Minnesota office. He believes that by building a strong financial plan and having the discipline to adhere to it, a family can experience an enriching and secure retirement. Justin lives in Medina, Minnesota with his wife, Kim, and their six children — Kindle, Justin (LJ), Josiah, Jonathan, Jamen and Jeremiah.

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CELEBRATE

Let the celebrations begin

BY GERRI MACK

s we enter the final months of 2020, this most untypical of years will become even more so as families across the country navigate their ways safely through the upcoming holiday season. Following the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that gatherings be limited, many people may find themselves celebrating alone in front of computer screens, with extended family at a virtual arm’s length. So how can we feel festive when the traditional warmth of gathering with our loved ones has been put on hold? Try these fun ideas that will allow you to be alone yet together as you share the spirit of the season.

traditional family favorite recipes to the attendees prior to the virtual celebration.

Then coordinate dinner so everyone can be sharing in the meal at the same time.

If cooking an entire meal doesn’t seem feasible, then lean on some great local options that are available. Lunds & Byerlys offers an entire Thanksgiving meal for three to five people, and Kowalski’s Markets is cooking up a small turkey dinner for just two. Local caterers like Spirit of Asia Catering are offering smaller traditional meals cooked in a kosher kitchen. So even if you’re celebrating solo, you’ll still be able to enjoy next-day leftovers.

Share a celebration meal

Watch a holiday movie or broadway play

No doubt food plays a major role in holiday gatherings — but so does the conversation around the table. To feel connected to both, distribute some

With teleparty.com, the option of crashing on the couch after a big meal and enjoying a classic movie with your loved ones is now possible! After a simple download,

everyone can stream content at the exact same time to multiple locations from Hulu, Netflix, Disney and HBO. (Note that a Netflix subscription is required for all participants.) Up to 50 family members can even share comments with the group during the screening.

And if the lights of Broadway are calling out to you, then make a virtual visit to broadwayhd.com. There you’ll find 300 (filmed) live performances, including 62 musicals. A free trial allows you to catch a show before the $8.99 monthly subscription fee kicks in. Family members need to synchronize the opening curtain because there isn’t a sharing feature, but you can use messaging apps like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp to share comments during the show.

Play a game The world of gaming had cyberplay down to a science even before 2020, so it’s no surprise that there are a multitude of options available for virtual play. Head over to jackboxgames.com and hop on a videoconferencing service like Zoom or Google Hangouts. Then use the screen sharing option to start playing games like Fibbage and Trivia Murder Party. If you’re looking for free fun, The Houseparty app has games like Uno for up to eight people. Also free is virtual Scrabble and Monopoly (pogo.com), where you play together via the screen.

Of course, traditional favorites like charades, 20 Questions or Two Truths

18 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

WAYS TO CONNECT Zoom – The option of choice for most virtual meetings, Zoom can easily be installed on Windows and Mac devices. The service is free for 40 minutes but requires at least one member to buy into a contract (billed monthly or annually) for unlimited access. Closed captioning and virtual backgrounds are standard features.

Google Hangouts – Anyone with a Google Account can create an online meeting and invite up to 100 participants for free, but the meetings are limited to one hour. After that, an $8 fee per participant is required for 300 hours. Closed captioning and screen sharing are available.

High Fidelity – In its early development form, this new platform is audio-only and represents each participant as a colored dot. It's a clever alternative for people who don’t want to be on video. Since it’s free, it could be a good option for those revelers who choose to open the celebration on one of the platforms above until time runs out and then move to audio-only for the rest of the gathering.

Skype – Created in 2003, this free service predates all the others.

The platform has all the same features as Zoom and Google Hangouts, but it serves up an additional advantage of allowing members into a meeting without requiring them to download the app. Good for those who are less tech-savvy.

Facetime – This one is free and offers many, if not all, of the standard features but only works if everyone has Apple devices.

Write a Letter – Amy Lieberman, president of Estate Matters, a Minneapolis business that helps people with age- and transitionrelated issues, suggests going old school: Compose a letter to a loved one that will arrive by Thanksgiving.

Sometimes the act of holding a letter, photo, article or even a cartoon sent by a caring person can bring repeated joy long after the season has passed.

and a Lie can be played just using Zoom or other videochat options without any external applications. Consider designating a host, or someone who can act as the emcee, to coordinate input from your virtual players.

Invite a virtual guest One key to a successful celebration is to have an engaging guest. With some online services, you can still invite the life of the party, albeit virtually. At thebash. com, there is a multitude of entertainers who offer magic tricks, tarot card readings and even background harp music.

Looking to have a Sinatra impersonator at the party? A comedian to perform a stand-up routine? An artist to draw caricatures? It might not be what your family celebrations have been in the past, but it will certainly make this one memorable.

Hold a cookie contest Line up the frosting and sprinkles, and vote for the guest with the most creative cookie decorating skills. Partygoers can create their own or, for those bakingchallenged members, order a complete cookie decorating kit — including eight sugar cookies, frosting and decorations — from edibleimpressions.net for $26.

Through video chat, decorating can happen in real time or prior to the party.

Everyone gets one vote. As an added incentive, suggest a $5-per-person prize to the winner (sent via venmo.com) that can be donated to the charity of their choice. Sweetness all around!

Gerri Mack has been writing feature articles for various regional publications for more than 20 years. After raising her daughters in Minneapolis, she and her 60-something husband followed them to Denver where they currently live and play in the snow.

Minnesota Good Age | November/December 2020 | 19

Photos by Tracy Walsh Photography

Super (market) Hero FOR 37 YEARS, MARY ANNE KOWALSKI AND HER NAMESAKE STORES HAVE NOURISHED OUR COMMUNITY WITH GOOD FOOD AND STRONG VALUES. THE PANDEMIC HASN’T CHANGED THAT.

I

magine you’re rolling a grocery cart down the aisle of your local Kowalski’s Market, searching for that one rare ingredient you need to complete a dish – Maldon salt, organic rosemary or perhaps one perfect persimmon. As you hunt, an attractive, white-haired woman appears at your side. “I’m Mary Anne Kowalski,” she says. “Can I help you find what you’re looking for?”

Amazing as it always is for shoppers, this scenario occurs fairly frequently at any of the 10 Kowalski’s Markets in the Twin Cities. Kowalski, the owner, and her daughter, Kris Kowalski Christiansen, who is CEO, make it a point to travel together to store locations each week.

“We look at produce, talk to employees, check out displays and have lunch with the manager,” said Kowalski,. “I don’t intrude on people who are busy shopping, but if a person seems to be looking for something, I will ask if I can help.”

UNPRECEDENTED TIMES During the pandemic, Kowalski, 75, and her team have been busier than ever, while shoppers have gained a new appreciation for the importance of these stores

BY JULIE KENDRICK to the community. “I always thought of medical professionals and first responders as essential, but here we are,” she said.

“Sometimes Kris and I look at each other and we have to laugh – ‘We’re essential?’

We’ve always thought we had a responsibility to the customer to be the best we can be, but this is something new.”

Kowalski’s Markets remained open even during a statewide shutdown this spring. They’ve responded with alacrity to the new reality, including the installation of plexiglass shields, the reorganization of store traffic and the redesign of checkout areas. As the first designated civic business in the state (a business that is run using democratic principles) and a founding member of the Midwest Active Citizenship Initiative, Kowalski’s is staying strong by relying on its governing principles: human capacity, active citizenship, democratic practices, political competence and institutional efficacy (see “Governing Principles” box, p. 22).

THE FIRST STORE As the organization enters into a new era, its owner reflected on the journey that began in 1983, when she and her husband,

Jim, opened their first store on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, near where they were living. At the time they bought the store, Jim was working in the corporate office at Red Owl, a longtime regional grocery chain. “We bought the store with our life savings and a loan from a friend,” she recalled. The couple divided duties in the new venture. “Jim knew the grocery business very well, so he handled all of that.

I took on the people side of things, plus the finances and bookkeeping.” To staff the store, she hired friends of her then16-year-old daughter, who was attending Derham Hall High School (now CretinDerham Hall). “We had a whole store full of 16-year-olds, which was beautiful until they got a little older and all wanted to have the night off to go to prom,” she said, laughing. “I think Jim and I ran the registers that evening.”

The couple realized it would be impossible to compete with discount stores like Cub, so they sought ways to make Kowalski’s unique. Step one was a physical overhaul. “First, we removed all the overhead fluorescent lighting,” she said.

“Lighting is the key to feeling comfortable.”

Minnesota Good Age | November/December 2020 | 21

FRESHEST, CLOSEST, NEWEST, BEST They began to upgrade their product offerings, beginning with the purchase of a small St. Paul bakery she had shopped at while growing up. “We hired a deli director and got a kitchen production facility so we could make our own products,” she said.

Some of those first products remain popular today, even though not many people know their histories. Grandma Betty’s Chip Dip is named for – you guessed it – a recipe that belonged to Jim’s mother. And the buttercream frosting used on baked goods is the same recipe that Mary Anne’s mother used.

Kowalski’s sources all its own meat and seafood, visiting every production facility in person. It also has a commitment to seeking out smaller local food makers.

“Curt’s Salsa, for example, was something I picked up at a store near our cabin, and it was so good I just had to carry it in the stores,” she said.

LOSING HER PARTNER Jim Kowalski (pictured below with Mary Anne in 2003) was a "charismatic person, so easy to talk to and very well-loved," said Mary Anne. She admired his unique vision. “I called him ‘the magic man,’ because he could completely transform a physical space – he would just ‘see’ it in

this advice to others who have lost a spouse or partner: Talk more and be better prepared. “We had done our financial planning, and we used to joke about each one wanting to ‘go’ first,” she said. “But we didn’t talk enough about what we each wanted for the future. I wished I had asked him what he would have done with the stores if I had died first, and he could have asked me the same question.” Still, she has soldiered on, opening three stores since Jim’s death. “I’m sure some people thought he was the catalyst, and I know I’ve had to prove that I can do this, especially to our employee base. But I realized I love this business, and I had every confidence in the world that I could run it.”

“She has endured more loss in her life than most people,” said Kris, “and she continues to live an extraordinary life.

She has made me laugh through life’s ups and downs, which has been one of her greatest healing gifts. She is simply the bravest woman I know, and I am the luckiest daughter in the world.”

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS The store’s commitment to the community continues. Kowalski’s Markets has partnered with Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities to provide family meals during the pandemic. Kowalski’s 4 Kids is a private, nonprofit foundation that provides

GOVERNING PRINCIPLES

Kowalski’s is focused on civic organizing and civic policy making for everyone in the organization, and all employees are referred to as “Active Citizens.” In fact, the first question asked in every job interview they conduct is, “What does democracy mean to you?”

Their guiding principles that follow are intended to keep everyone focused on doing the right thing, in the right way, for the right reasons.

Human capacity: Every individual has the capacity to know what is good, to grow in that knowledge, to govern for the common good and to be a co-producer of justice in the world.

Democratic practices: Rule by “the people” is the best system of human governance.

Active citizenship: An active citizen is a governing member.

In a democracy, citizens are obligated to govern for the good of the whole.

Political competence: All stakeholders are responsible to develop the political competence to define problems, produce solutions and establish common agreements in light of civic principles and standards while achieving business goals.

Institutional efficacy: Institutions are obligated to sustain the democratic values of our society.

program funding, educational opportunities and family support. More than

young people, providing them countless

his eyes, from the ground up,” she said. He

$2 million dollars already has been donated

had an innate sense of how things should

to local charities through the Groceries for

opportunities to grow and lead,” said Sue

look and how they should be.

Good Causes (GFGC) program. Through

Moores, Kowalski’s Markets nutritionist

a 25-year partnership with Second Harvest

and the founder and director of Roots for

Jim died suddenly at age 67 in 2013, after accepting a friend’s offer to make

Heartland’s Food Shelf, day-old products

an impromptu fishing trip to Canada.

are given to those in need. Customer dona-

A licensed pilot, he was on land,

tions of the five-cent reusable bag refund

attempting to bring an amphibious plane

goes to Great River Greening, a nonprofit

onto the shoreline, when he fell into a

that works to conserve and restore local

rotating plane propeller.

land and water resources.

Seven years later, Mary Anne offered

“Mary Anne is a true champion of

22 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

the Home Team, a nonprofit that mentors youth about food. “She encourages younger staff members to step forward and share ideas within the company, and she has a deep commitment to programs that nurture young families and teens.”

▲ Mary Anne Kowalski (right) and her daughter, Chris Kowalski Christiansen, who is CEO of the business, regularly visit their stores to meet with employees and greet customers. Photo by Tracy Walsh Photography

In the meantime, she has no plans to

WHAT’S NEXT Kowalski, who now lives in North Oaks, described herself as being semi-retired. She usually vacations January through March.

But this year? “We’ll see what happens,” she said. When not working, she loves spending

retire. “We’ve just signed a lease to put a store in Rosedale Center, and we’re considering a location in Southdale Center, too,” she said. “I just never see myself as retiring, unless something happens to me. I want to keep fighting the

time with her two grandchildren and two

good fight to remain relevant in this new

step-grandchildren, especially at the family

era of retail giants and tech disruption.”

cabin near Osceola, Wisconsin, about an hour from the Twin Cities. “I love my pontoon,” she said. “It’s one of my favorite things in the world.”

Julie Kendrick is a contributing writer for many local and national publications.

She lives in Minneapolis. Follow her on Twitter @KendrickWorks.

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Good Age | November/December 2020 | 23

HOUSING

Moving in a pandemic

Why now may be the ideal time to transition to a senior community

BY SHERYL STILLMAN

W

ith another Minnesota winter approaching and a pandemic that continues to curtail normal activities of daily living, many people may be asking themselves whether now is the right time to downsize and move into a senior living community. The mere idea of shoveling snow is reason enough to sell your belongings and begin a more carefree lifestyle. But can moving be done safely in the wake of the coronavirus?

Here’s how to make this transition and why this year may prove to be a good time to move.

Top reasons for moving When Jean Hood’s husband, Rob, began experiencing health issues last year, they decided it was time to stop being snowbirds and start talking seriously about

living closer to family. In a whirlwind of activity, they sold their home in just a few days, reserved a two-bedroom apartment at Savage Senior Living at Fen Pointe and packed for a move-in date of March 16, 2020 — a date which would become Day 1 of a COVID-19 lockdown.

“We were obviously unprepared to move in a pandemic,” Hood said. “Being in quarantine and rushing movers and family members out before noon was stressful, but everyone was accommodating, making sure we stayed positive during the whole thing.” Like so many others, Hood’s family hasn’t been able to come back to visit indoors since they left that afternoon. But she feels connected to others. “The staff have been amazing in finding activities that keep people together while maintaining social distancing.”

24 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

In 2015, a Varsity Branding study (Project Looking Glass II) revealed the top three reasons for moving to a senior living community: a change in a partner’s health, a change in your own health and wanting freedom from home maintenance and repairs. In 2020, senior housing specialists in the Twin Cities are hearing “fear of isolation” as the primary driver.

Three months into the pandemic, Mahryam Daniels couldn’t wait to sell her home and move into Knollwood Place Apartments, an independent living community. “I was excited for the newness, social interaction and connections with making new friends,” said Daniels. She’s found the staff to be nothing short of kind, welcoming and respectful while making resident and employee safety a priority.

10 Questions When Considering a Move

There are many resources, compassionate caregivers and services to help ease one into this next phase.

Get help moving

level townhome for sale and pack up the essentials for her new one-plus-bedroom Once the decision to move has been apartment. “This service was so helpful,” made, the process of downsizing itself said Page. “They came in, asked quescan be overwhelming. Enter professional tions, packed up everything — including senior move managers, who specialize in hanging pictures on my walls.” helping older adults and families with a Senior move managers also coordinate variety of services. and manage professional moving compaThese resources are available to not nies on behalf of their clients. Wroebel only help you select the best living situstated that the most noticeable differation for your specific needs but also to ences in moving since COVID-19 are assist up to move-in day, from creating the requirement to wear masks and the a safe layout to unpacking and stocking restrictions on the number of people who the fridge. The biggest roles these can enter a facility together. For families experts may play, though, are those of or individuals who may prefer to pack mediator and companion in maintaining and move on their own, Wroebel and peace in the family and being a partner throughout the entire moving experience. others offer a few tips: Start early, work your way through the kitchen first and Laurie Wrobel, owner of Clutter 911, pack as you go. joked that one of the advantages of hiring From a safety perspective, be sure to help who can serve as a neutral third have sanitizer, gloves and disinfectant party is not having to argue with loved easily accessible when you enter your ones over who will get the “27 empty new abode. Lastly, contact your new Cool Whip containers.” She and other building and the moving company to specialists note that the hardest part is understand the most up-to-date safety letting go of things that no longer have policies and procedures. value. There are often stories connected with them that the person likes to share, whether they save it or discard it in some fashion. “I can be that non-judgmental person, asking questions and engaging the person throughout the process, without all the family history.”

When Bev Page moved into Brookdale Senior Living in Edina during the pandemic, she and her family hired Gentle Transitions to prepare her three-

Welcoming new residents Having a sense of belonging and understanding expectations upfront helps newcomers adjust quickly to their new home, according to Cindy Ehlen, director of resident services at The Glenn in Minnetonka. “Once residents move in,” said Ehlen, “they love it here and see this as a new beginning rather than the end.”

After location, amenities and cost have been considered, Diane Lucas, director of marketing, communications and business development at Catholic Eldercare, suggests you focus on safety protocol. That should include how facilities are managing activities to keep residents engaged and what the policies are around visitation with family, friends and caregivers. Use these questions to learn how a facility is operating during the pandemic:

1 2 3 4

How many COVID-19 cases have you had in your community?

Is there a separate area for residents that test positive?

How would you handle another wave of COVID-19?

What types of communications do residents receive? Frequency?

Format (including Braille, etc.)?

5 6 7 8 9 10

How do you use technology to support residents?

What medical services are available?

How are meals handled?

What COVID training is provided to employees?

What is your pet policy?

What is your policy for visitors?

Linda Ulrich, director of sales and outreach at Savage, is a bit of a matchmaker with newcomers. Doris Lazarski, a recent widow, was more than a little nervous about what life would be like in her new environment when she moved to Savage in June 2020. “I had a feeling that Jean (Hood) and Doris were going to hit it off,” said Ulrich, “and they became BFFs (best friends forever) from the moment they met.” They’re now each other’s

Minnesota Good Age | November/December 2020 | 25

This [moving] service was so helpful. They came in, asked questions, packed up everything.

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26 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age Dr Fang Yu GA 0419 V6.indd 1

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▲ Hiring a moving service that specializes in working with seniors can make order out of chaos (top photo), packing your belongings and organizing your new home.

Photos courtesy of Clutter 911

emotional support and activities partner, making sure to get outside and take daily walks — six feet apart, of course.

Leaving a family home, pandemic or not, can be a difficult time in one’s life.

Thankfully, there are many resources, compassionate caregivers and services to help ease one into this next phase. For Lazarski and Hood, moving into a senior community was one of the best decisions they have made. Lazarski wishes she and her late husband could have made this move together, yet she’s enjoying life with Hood by her side. Not even the coronavirus can break the power of connecting.

Sheryl Stillman is a former retail executive turned consultant and freelance writer. Residing in Minnetonka, she is the proud mom of two and a cockapoo. Learn more at SherylOnline.com.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES For the most up-to-date pandemic safety guidelines, contact these organizations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov/coronavirus or call 800-232-4636.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: cms.gov or call 800-633-4227 (Medicare) or 877-486-2048 (Medicare TTY).

Minnesota Department of Health: health.state.mn.us, 651-201-5000, 888-345-0823 (For Minnesota callers outside the metro area, toll-free) Senior LinkAge: minnesotahelp.info, 800-333-2433

For a description of senior housing options: seniorliving.org/housing

To locate senior move management services: National Association of Senior & Specialty Move Managers (NASMM): nasmm.org MN Help: mnhelp.info

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HOUSING RESOURCES •MEMORY CARE •ASSISTED LIVING •INDEPENDENT HOUSING •LONG TERM CARE •NEW CONSTRUCTION BOOTH MANOR APARTMENTS

Conveniently located across from Loring Park, this 21-story high-rise, with 154 onebedroom apartments is designed for seniors 62 years of age or better, offering many services and amenities. It also combines the convenience of being near downtown with the serenity of the great outdoors.

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Lyngblomsten is a Christian nonprofit organization serving older adults and their families. A continuum of care offers: senior housing with services available, a full range of 24-hour skilled nursing options including short- and long-term care, and community services and resources.

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Our Independent, Assisted and Memory Care living community offers a quality lifestyle in a safe environment. We strive to make residents feel that they are part of the Southview family. Our highly-trained and compassionate staff provide fantastic living arrangements and unbeatable amenities tailored to your evolving needs.

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28 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

The South St. Paul HRA operates 296 one bedroom public housing apartments for residents aged 50+. Rent is based on tenant’s income. All utilities paid, smoke free, secured entrance, community room, resident activities, resident services, and on-site laundry facilities. Call today for an application!

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6/30/20 3:39| PM Minnesota Good Age | November/December 2020 29

CAN’T-MISS CALENDAR NOVEMBER / DECEMBER British Arrows Greatest Hits

→ A collection of the most inventive ads compiled from more than 40 years of British Arrows Awards will be shown online.

When: Dec. 24-Jan. 1 Where: The Walker Art Museum website Cost: $12 per household Info: tinyurl.com/british-ads

THROUGH DEC. 7

DEC. 2-6, 9-13

DEC. 24-JAN. 1

Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage (or vice versa), switch Medicare Advantage plans, switch Medicare Part D plans or buy a Part D plan.

→ This multimedia show mixes rock hits of the 1970s to today with stories and parodies of favorite yuletide songs.

→ The popular Sundays at Landmark event will be broadcast online this year.

MEDICARE OPEN ENROLLMENT ROCK & ROLL XMAS SPECTACULAR → During this period, you can switch from

When: Through Dec. 7 Where: Online Cost: Varies Info: medicare.gov

NOV. 15, 22, 23

TRANSATLANTIC CHAPTERS: AN EXPLORATION OF GERMANAMERICAN CONNECTIONS → The Germanic-American Institute is presenting the exhibit and film, Stars and Stripes Over the Rhine, along with related talks on the subject of American involvement in post-WWI and WWII Germany.

When: Exhibit: Nov. 15, 22; virtual talk Nov. 23; film available online any time Where: Exhibit: Online or at The Germanic-American Institute, St. Paul; virtual talks via Zoom; film via gai-mn. org/Chapters Cost: Free Info: gai-mn.org/Chapters

When: Dec. 2-6, 9-13 Where: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres Cost: $58; includes dinner Info: chanhassendt.com

DEC. 12

WOMEN’S ART FESTIVAL → This live virtual event will be an interactive webpage where customers can browse participating vendors, click to enter their live booths and interact with the vendors face-to-face through chat rooms.

There will also be musical performances and vendor demonstrations.

When: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Dec. 12 Where: Online Cost: Free Info: tinyurl.com/womens-art-fest

30 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

MINNESOTA BOYCHOIR HOLIDAY CONCERT When: Dec. 24-Jan. 1 Where: The Landmark Center website Cost: Free Info: landmarkcenter.org

DEC. 31

AN EVENING WITH ELLA → The Minnesota Jazz Orchestra’s Chamber Ensemble joins Courtney Burton in celebrating Ella Fitzgerald, the most popular female jazz singer in America for over 50 years. Face coverings will be required at all times and groups will be separated by empty seats.

When: Dec. 31 Where: Minnesota Masonic Heritage Center, Bloomington Cost: $34-$40 Info: masonicheritagecenter.org

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Good Age | November/December 2020 | 31 7/9/20 2:41 PM

Brain teasers SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH Festive Foodstuff

ASPARAGUS CABBAGE CASSEROLE CHICKEN CHOCOLATE CINNAMON CRANBERRY

PUMPKIN SAUSAGE SPINACH SQUASH TAMALE TENDERLOIN VINAIGRETTE

GINGERBREAD LATKE MERINGUE MUSHROOM PARSLEY POPOVER POTATO

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32 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

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1. Gingerbread houses can be traced back to the 1600s in what country?

2. Which president proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November?

CRYTPOGRAM The worst food you’ll ever eat will probably be prepared by a “cook” who calls himself a “chef.”

Years of Glory

3. As referenced in the song, “Here We Come A-Wassailing,” what is “wassail”?

Sources: pbs.org, history.com, dictionary.com

CROSSWORD

ANSWERS

SUDOKU AT M I N N E S OTA ’ S L E A D I N G P R OV I D E R O F S E N I O R H O U S I N G , C A R E & W E L L N E SS S E RV I C E S

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12/6/19Minnesota 10:41 AM

Good Age | November/December 2020 | 33

Crossword

ACROSS

1 Two-wheelers 6 Haunted house sound 10 Stick a fork in 14 Standing at attention, say 15 Oscar winner Paquin 16 Soft drink nut 17 Big burger chain, literally?

20 Yale student 21 Homes for bears 22 Con jobs 23 __ strength: ability to withstand stretching 25 On the briny 27 “I Can’t Help Myself” R&B group, literally?

32 Honors with a fancy party 35 “Wild Blue Yonder” mil. group 36 __ de Janeiro 37 Dutch cheese

38 Worker in a shaft 40 Curve in a road 41 Round Table title 42 Locker room powder 43 Walrus features 44 Many a sports car, literally?

48 Floor space calculation 49 Sticks around 53 Big rigs 56 Bowling targets 57 Animal doc 58 Exec’s dressy suit, literally?

62 One of 12 in a foot 63 Farm size unit 64 Confess 65 Classic grape soda 66 Hair colorings 67 Handy carryalls

34 | November/December 2020 | Minnesota Good Age

DOWN

1 Procreate 2 “Go, me!”

3 Enter, as data 4 Cardio readout 5 Small apartments 6 Wall calendar : nail :: shopping list : __ 7 Burden 8 “__ further discussion?”

9 Old horse 10 Airport porter 11 Forum wear 12 High school reunion attendee, briefly 13 Howls at the moon 18 Puppy’s cry 19 Make __: employ 24 Flower holder 25 Semicircular cathedral area 26 Lead actor or actress 28 Postal scale unit 29 “__ bien!”

30 Sty cry 31 Snow pea holders 32 Come clean, with “up” 33 Falco of “The Sopranos” 34 Butler’s quarters?

38 Female horse 39 “Casablanca” heroine 40 Town 42 Wasting few words 43 Sawbuck 45 Meditative martial art 46 Restaurant in an Arlo Guthrie hit 47 Fork prong 50 Discus or pole vault 51 Prompt, as a forgetful actor 52 Staircase divisions 53 “Wheel of Fortune” choice 54 German article 55 Kind of drawing: Abbr.

56 Dijon dad 59 Note-taking aid 60 Aloof 61 __ Jima