September 2015

SEPTEMBER 2015

HISTORICAL DISCOVERIES 6 Minnesota sites to tour with (or without) the grandkids Page 20

BATTLE FOR THE STATE FAIR Page 14

RIGHT-SIZE YOUR GARDEN Page 24

PLUS!

LOCAL GRANDPARENTS — — LIKE LYNDA MCDONNELL (PICTURED WITH GRANDSON, GABE) — SHARE THEIR WISDOM Page 31

HOUSING RESOURCES Page 43

Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 5

Contents 20

Historic Minnesota

So it's your day to take the grandkids?

Explore one of our state's many historic sites for a fun, educational day!

36

31

Grandparenting wisdom

Joy redefined

Support your grandkids by setting aside funds to cover the enormous cost of college.

Who needs grandkids? Not me, thought Lavern Bardy.

But then she became one and a whole new world opened up.

→→On the cover Names and ages: Lynda McDonnell, 65, and her 6-year-old grandson, Gabe, play at Countryside Park in Edina.

City: McDonnell lives in Minneapolis. Gabe, who lives with his family in Eden Prairie, spent a week at “Grammy Camp” this summer.

Other grandchildren: Miriam, 2, Eden Prairie, and Eve, 1, Minneapolis Profession: Writer and teacher Hobbies: Hiking, swimming, reading, cooking, singing in a choir Grandparenting advice: Spend time getting to know your grandchild's nature and exploring the things that interest him/her. Enjoying each other doesn't require a lot of money. Like any friendship, it requires time, commitment and a deep appreciation for the art of discovery.

Cover photo by Tracy Walsh Photography / tracywalshphoto.com

43 Housing Resources 6 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

My Turn 10 StoryCorps interviews preserve families' precious oral histories.

Minnesota grandmas and grandpas share their tips for enjoying this new phase of life.

40

Why you should open a 529

Good Start

44 Can’t-Miss Calendar

Memories 12 Photos recall the bygone era of 'storm coats' and beauty queens.

This Month in MN History 14 Minneapolis and St. Paul battled for years over the site of the state fair.

Good Health House Call 16 Aches and pains are normal, but not when they don't go away.

Caregiving 18 Kinship caregivers can find a variety of resources in Minnesota.

Good Living Housing 24 Right-size your garden with these three lovely, easy-care shrubs.

Finance 26 Grandparents: Here's what your kids wish you knew about money.

In the Kitchen 28 Enjoy flavors of fresh parsley, peas and walnuts in this easy pasta dish.

48 Brain Teasers

Volume 34 / Issue 9 Publisher Janis Hall jhall@mngoodage.com Co-Publisher and Sales Manager Terry Gahan 612-436-4360 tgahan@mngoodage.com Editor Sarah Dorison 612-436-4385 editor@mngoodage.com

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Contributors Rachel M. Anderson, Lavern Bardy, Carol Hall, Skip Johnson, Maura Keller, Kerry Ann Mendez, Dave Nimmer, Lauren Peck, Sheila Regan, Janet Salo, Dr. Michael Spilane, Lauren Walker Creative Director Dana Croatt Graphic Designers Valerie Moe Amanda Wadeson Client Services Zoe Gahan 612-436-4375 zgahan@mngoodage.com Lauren Walker 612-436-4383 lwalker@mngoodage.com Advertising 612-436-4360 ads@mngoodage.com Circulation Marlo Johnson distribution@mngoodage.com

50,000 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 © 2015 Minnesota Premier Publications, Inc. Subscriptions are $12 per year.

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Good Start / From the Editor / Sarah Dorison

Grand old time I’m not a grandparent.

Despite my position as editor of Minnesota Good Age, I’m in the thick of motherhood, not grandmotherhood. My son is 7.

But I, of course, had grandparents of my own, both beloved and distant.

And that means I’ve now both experienced and witnessed the love that blossoms between two generations divided by one.

And it’s really something to behold.

It’s amazing to see not just the new, unique love that grandparents discover for their grandchildren, but also the wonder and delight the children so easily feel for these revered, non-parental family members.

In this month’s magazine, our annual Grandparenting Issue, there’s an essay that so beautifully captures that love, I couldn’t resist publishing it.

Columnist Laverne Bardy starts out skeptical of the whole grandparenting gig.

She rolls her eyes at her friends, who ramble about their grandkids.

“I didn’t need grandchildren to feel complete. I wasn’t interested in changing diapers or comforting cries in the middle of the night.”

But Bardy, upon a single birthday, changes her mind.

“Then she came into the world. Shari Lynne. A tiny, velvety pink package, swaddled in a soft white receiving blanket. I could hardly catch my breath. I’d given birth to three children, but the wonder of it all seemed even more extraordinary than it had back then.”

What a rich experience grandparenting must be!

And, yet, if one is realistic about it, it’s also challenging and complicated.

So with this issue, we’re giving you tips for how to make the most of this time, including tips from sage local grandparents (including our dedicated grandmother Cover Star, Lynda McDonnell of Minneapolis), trips to take with grandkids, books to check out, smart investments you can make for future generations and even tips for grandparents who end up becoming caregivers for their progeny (kinship care).

I hope you enjoy this issue — and every minute of your grandparenting time, too.

Sarah Dorison, Editor 8 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

Good Start / My Turn / Dave Nimmer

Capturing true grit →→StoryCorps interviews help preserve history

Lisa also yearned to know more about her grandparents: “I have many questions about the personality traits that bind me to theirs. I still want to have learned what wisdom, philosophy or skills they would have wished to pass on to their grandchildren.”

I had a conversation with an old friend of mine the other day, at the request of his daughter-in-law.

I asked him some soulful questions and he gave me his thoughtful answers.

And the recorded results — part of the nationwide oral-history program known as StoryCorps — will become part of an archive at The American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.

I loved interviewing Lake Benton native Kenn Kopitzke, former Department of Transportation engineer, retired guy, curmudgeon, former mayor of Afton, carpenter, craftsman, carriage builder, sleigh driver, cancer survivor and fellow churchgoer at Memorial Lutheran Church of Afton. (We sit in the pew on the lefthand side; I like to think of it as the sinners’ section.)

‘Authentic and pure’ The idea to interview Kenn came from Lisa Kopitzke, a big fan of TED Talks, online videos that present a great idea in 18 minutes or less.

The talk that caught Lisa’s attention was by Dave Isay, a radio producer and founder of StoryCorps, which has collected and saved more than 50,000 interviews.

Isay believes in preserving the voices of a family’s elders.

“You’re hearing something authentic and pure,” he said. “It’s simply an act of generosity and love.”

Weathering life’s challenges The interview with Kenn should be left for his family to hear, but I’ll share a couple of moments: He told me, for instance, that the calcification of his spine, which severely limited his mobility, came upon him at age 15.

“Until then,” he said, “I was a good athlete. I had that coordination and, yes, grace.”

In high school, he took up the baritone horn, played in the band and, as he recalls it, produced a clear, sweet sound.

He also kept his spirit and added plenty of spunk to go with it. Don’t worry much about what people think of you, he advised his grandsons, Connery, 3, and Kieran, 6.

Just do the right thing, what you know you ought to do.

Lisa said: “Kenn and I have both had a traumatically based childhood, and we have a gritty quality that was born from the ashes. I hope to instill into my boys that spirited fire-in-the-belly that Kenn is so well known and respected for.”

10 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

Unanswered questions My talk with Kenn was a real conversation, one I sure wish somebody would’ve had with my mother, who died of ovarian cancer at the age of 49, when I was 21.

I have only a limited recollection of her, of the triumphs and the trials in her life. I would love to know what my mother wished to pass on to me — given her background as a piano child prodigy, a graduate of a conservatory of music who wound up as a piano teacher who played the organ on Sundays at the Presbyterian Church.

Was she disappointed in how things turned out? What did she think of me at 21?

Kris and Lisa Kopitzke’s boys won’t have to wonder about their paternal grandfather and what he thought. It’s all recorded and now a part of history in the nation’s archives, under the title “Kenn Kopitzke: True Grit.”

To hear the interview, go to storycorps.me/interviews/kennkopitzke-true-grit.

Dave Nimmer has had a long career as a reporter, editor and professor.

Send comments or questions to dnimmer@ mngoodage.com.

Good Start / Memories / By Carol Hall “Storm coat” is what we Minnesotans dubbed this overcoat with a belt and fake fur lapel that was so popular in the 1940s and ’50s.

And it wasn’t just for men. I had one myself when I was 15.

I next noticed the standard caption used for married women: “Mrs. Oscar Getchell of St. Paul shows off her pride and joy — a huge Boston fern.” “Mrs. Jack Gleason of Webster, Wis., poses with 4-foot-high beans grown from seeds.”

Only one married woman, who’d been murdered by her husband, is identified with her first name.

Then I was struck at how automobile shapes have evolved: A “fat” Buick with fins and the ritzy Lincoln Continental with the spare tire “hump” typify the 1950s; those small, round, kiddie-carlooking sedans and coupes, the ’40s.

Fur lapels and beauty queens →→Historic photos showcase curious trends

Does anyone remember the 'storm coat?'

I was reminded of it, oddly enough, while perusing Strange Days, Dangerous Nights: Photos from the Speed Graphic Era. The coffee table-size book is a compilation of black and white photographs

A 1964 photo of the (then) new West Side Flats industrial park shows several long, sleek, late-model sedans with heavy grillwork parked along the streets.

Getting even more off track, I spotted cheesecake: A standard publicity stunt during that entire era had attractive young women dubbed “beauty queens.”

Press photographers obliged — one supposes competed for the assignment — to snap their photos. Covering a “bathing beauty” contest in 1948 during a regional convention of the American

published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press and St. Paul Dispatch from the 1940s through the

Taxicab Association, the Pioneer Press-

1960s, when the Speed Graphic camera was used exclusively.

Dispatch photographer captured three

I intended to write about the gore then commonly shown in news photos of car accidents and murders.

But as I turned pages, I kept coming across wintertime shots of men in storm coats

comely contestants clad in swimsuits and heels being ogled by a “contest judge from Chicago.” Squatting on the

in various newsworthy locations and situations — walking a picket line, a bar patron

floor, close in, for the best possible

surveying a dead body on the floor of the bar, a detective booking an “exotic dancer”

look, the man obviously is taking his

at the police station.

job very seriously!

12 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

→→Read the book Strange Days, Dangerous Nights: Photos from the Speed Graphic Era was published in 2004 by the Minnesota Historical Society. Author Larry Millett was a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press-St. Paul Dispatch from 1972 to 1984. He later became the newspaper’s first architecture critic.

I confess to having been a part of this phenomenon, myself. I competed in a beauty contest, complete with the requisite bathing suit and heels and parading across a platform, for — ironically — the Twin Cities Press Photographers Association. I was up for “Miss Photoflash” of 1959! Really!

I do intend to write on my original — serious — topic. Eventually. But all of this was just too much fun!

Carol Hall lives in Woodbury. She’s a longtime freelance writer, a University of Minnesota graduate and a former Northwest Airlines stewardess. Send comments and questions to chall@ mngoodage.com.

Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 13

Good Start / This Month in Minnesota History / By Lauren Peck

The Battle for the State Fair →→The Twin Cities compromised by settling on today’s Midway location

For more than 150 years, the Minnesota State Fair has been a staple of Minnesota life.

Today the state fair experience is irrevocably tied to its Midway location, but the route to that permanent home included years of wandering fairs, financial woes and

▲▲In 1890, Otto Norquist painted the Minnesota State Fair grandstand in St. Paul, where the current fair’s grandstand sits today. Image courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

intense rivalry between Minneapolis and St. Paul.

The first state fair, organized by the Minnesota State Agricultural Society, was held

had won the state fair forever. But when

in 1859 in Minneapolis. In its early years, the location changed, with state fairs held

the Agricultural Society returned the

at Fort Snelling, Rochester, Red Wing, Winona and Owatonna.

fair to St. Paul in 1878, King was livid. He

But in 1871 when it settled at Kittsondale, a million-dollar stable and racetrack in St. Paul, Minneapolis members of the Agricultural Society balked. They feared St. Paul would become the fair’s permanent home.

Minneapolis leaders responded by holding the Hennepin County Fair two weeks before the state fair with popular New-York Tribune editor Horace Greeley as the official orator.

William S. King, a Minneapolis newspaper editor and Agricultural Society member, added to the insult by showing his thoroughbred cattle in Hennepin County — and then sending them to the Illinois state fair, bypassing St. Paul.

Minneapolis snagged the state fair for itself in 1877. With King at the helm, the state fair was a bevy of beer stands, sideshows and horse races, including a 20-mile race between a man and a woman rider that caused a stir.

With record attendance and a profit of more than $6,000, Minneapolis thought it 14 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

declared Minneapolis would hold its own fair the same week as the state fair.

And so it went: Thousands attended both fairs, but Minneapolis earned more than $30,000 while St. Paul produced only an $11 profit.

President Rutherford B. Hayes spoke at each fair and urged fairgoers to remember that they were “one great city.”

In 1880, the Agricultural Society moved its fair to Rochester rather than compete with Minneapolis. By the mid-1880s, the

→→History On-ASchtick! at the fair At the 2015 fair — Aug. 27 through Sept. 7 — the Minnesota Historical Society will present a new daily History On-A-Schtick! production at Schilling Amphitheater in the West End Market. For more information on this vaudevillian romp through Minnesota’s past, visit mnhs.org or visit the state fair.

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two cities began talks about finding a permanent location they could share.

Minneapolis was tired of an open-air

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exposition, and St. Paul no longer wanted to host a fair so far away.

When Ramsey County agreed to donate land at the Ramsey County Poor Farm at Como and Snelling avenues in Hamline Township — midway between

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the cities — both sides decided it was the best option.

In 1885, with money from the state

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legislature, St. Paul architect James Brodie went to work on the site, including constructing a main building with a 120-foot dome, which could be seen for miles. In September, more than 74,000 attendees flocked to the fair’s six-day run.

The Minnesota State Fair still calls the Midway home 130 years later, drawing 1.8 million fairgoers every year. While structures have changed, the grandstand, Machinery Hill, animal barns and agricultural buildings are still in the same locations today as their 19th-century counterparts.

Lauren Peck is a media relations and social media associate for the Minnesota Historical Society.

Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 15

Good Health / House Call / By Michael Spilane

Aches and pains explained →→Mysterious muscle conditions can strike older adults

If you spent a day painting the ceiling or perhaps walking around the State Fair for many hours, your muscles might ache.

And that would be normal.

But it’s a different matter if the muscles scream without any apparent reason, and the aches and stiffness don’t go away. There are many causes of chronic myalgia (muscle pain), but fibrositis and polymyalgia rheumatica are among the most common.

Fibrositisis isn’t an ‘itis’ Fibrositis is poorly named, since “itis” in medical jargon refers to inflammation, and no signs of inflammation are to be found in this condition. The alternative term, psychogenic rheumatism, is worse since it wrongly suggests, “It’s all in your head.”

The aches and stiffness of muscles in fibrositis primarily involve the upper arms, the neck and shoulders, the upper back and the hip girdle; but “all over” aching is more often the rule than the exception.

Fibrositis most often has its onset in middle age, and is one problem that doesn’t increase in incidence with advancing age. The condition characteristically is chronic, with the symptoms lasting for years and even decades.

Despite years of aches, a person with fibrositis remains generally healthy with no weight loss, disability or organ damage.

A physician often finds tender “trigger points” in the

Treatment of fibrositis begins with reassurance that more serious problems aren’t responsible for the symptoms.

Medications seldom help. In fact, failure to respond to anti-

muscles, but a physical examination is otherwise unre-

inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen is helpful in

markable. Blood tests, X-rays and tissue biopsies reveal no

differentiating fibrositis from other ailments.

abnormalities. The cause of fibrositis is unknown, but a widely accepted theory postulates an imbalance of nervous-

Polymyalgia comes on quickly

system activity that results in excess muscle and tendon

Polymyalgia rheumatica is a serious disease that almost exclu-

tension: The muscles don’t relax when not in use.

sively affects older adults. And it strikes with a fair frequency.

People with fibrositis most often have ongoing stress in their

Aches, stiffness and weakness of the muscles are the major

lives. Symptoms of the ailment tend to wax and wane with the

symptoms. The trouble usually starts in the upper arms,

stress and conflict experienced.

shoulders and neck, and often migrates to include the upper

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A blood test showing elevated levels of inflammation (a sedimentation-rate test) can be a clue in diagnosing this disease, but the test can also be abnormal when other conditions involving

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Since there’s no definitive test, a doctor relies heavily on findings from the medical history and physical examination, and on a patient’s response to treatment.

Most experts believe polymyalgia rheumatica is caused by inflammation of small vessels that supply blood to the muscles. What incites the inflammation is unknown, just as it’s unknown why the illness strikes only older adults.

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Good Health / Caregiving / By Janet Salo respecting cultural/family traditions.

Kinship care keeps families together.

Fortunately, Minnesota offers an array of help and resources for kinship caregivers.

Here’s how you can find help in your kinship journey: ⊲⊲ Attend the Kinship Caregiver Resource Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 10 at Peace Lutheran Church, 4512 France Ave. N., Robbinsdale. Childcare during the event is available by RSVP. Refreshments will be served. Presentations will include Third-Party Custody and Legal Options and Practical Parenting for Children Who Have Been Exposed to Trauma.

Kinship care 101 →→Grandparents and others who are raising children can tap into a rich array of local resources

Did you know that extended friends, families and kinship caregivers care for more than 2.7 million children in the U.S.?

That’s an 18 percent increase during the past 10 years. In Minnesota, according to the 2010 Census, more than 90,000 children live with — and are cared for by — relatives or friends.

Kinship care is typically defined as the raising of children by grandparents, great-grandparents, other relatives or close family friends.

Kinship care has been around forever. Many of us know someone who is, or was, a kinship caregiver.

Kinship caregivers may be suddenly caring for a child after a parent unexpectedly dies, or when a parent is incarcerated. In contrast, some caregivers may slowly take over the care of a child while a parent is dealing with a mental-health condition.

A child may also come into kinship care when child protection officials become involved and a kinship caregiver becomes a relative foster-care provider.

Kinship care helps children and their caregivers maintain close family bonds and connections — especially with siblings — and provides stability to children while also 18 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

⊲⊲ Join the Kinship Support and Education Group held on the first Saturday of the month, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church. Please RSVP if childcare is needed. ⊲⊲ Call the Kinship Warmline (877917-4640 or 651-917-4640), which connects caregivers with legal options, financial and educational supports, workshops and more.

To RSVP for the Kinship Caregiver Resource Fair, support groups or for additional support and information, call the warmline or write warmline@lssmn.org.

Janet Salo is a family support specialist at Kinship Family Support Services, a program of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota. She’s also a member of the Twin Cities’ Metropolitan Caregiver Service Collaborative (caregivercollaborative.org).

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Good Living / Travel

Magical history tour Need a place to explore with your kids or grandkids? Try one of these 6 Minnesota sites!

Story By Maura Keller / Photos by the Minnesota Historical Society Kids have long been captivated by historical roleplaying and hands-on exhibits from bygone eras.

Seeing a blacksmith perform his trade or experiencing the lifestyles of Minnesota’s earliest settlers can be an intriguing alternatives to the electronic distractions of modern life.

And Minnesota is teeming with historical adventures and archeological finds that can help make history come alive for young and old alike.

All no more than a few hours from the Twin Cities, these six historical sites are a perfect way to combine family fun with educational growth:

HISTORIC FORT SNELLING This 1820s military outpost is perhaps one of the most well-known historic sites in the Twin Cities. Costumed guides (pictured above) give visitors a firsthand understanding of frontier life in a beautifully restored stone fortress, complete with military drills and cannon firings.

Considered a National Historic Landmark, Fort Snelling also offers a series of signature events throughout the year, including World War II and Civil War weekends and a Fourth of July celebration — plenty to keep visitors of all ages intrigued and entertained.

Where: At Highways 5 and 55, near Minneapolis-St. Paul airport Cost: $11 for adults, $9 for seniors and college students, $6 for ages 6-17, free for ages 5 and younger Info: historicfortsnelling.org

20 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

FOREST HISTORY CENTER For decades, logging has played a significant role in Minnesota industry. This special destination celebrates forestry through handson exhibits, multimedia displays and simulators that reveal the natural history of the forests, timber harvesting and forest fires.

A recreated early 20th-century logging camp — complete with a floating cook shack— gives visitors an opportunity to experience what life was like back in the day.

Visitors can also explore an 1930s forest service patrolman’s cabin and climb a 100-foot-tall fire tower.

Where: Grand Rapids, about 3½ hours north of the Twin Cities Cost: $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and college students, $6 for ages 6–17, free for ages 5 and younger Info: sites.mnhs.org/historic-sites/forest-history-center

NORTH WEST COMPANY FUR POST

BIRCH COULEE BATTLEFIELD One of Minnesota’s lesser-known histor-

Explore a reconstructed 1804 trading post as well as an Ojibwe camp to learn how

ical gems, this site hosted one of the biggest

bartering and trading occurred between Native Americans and Europeans. Demon-

battles of the U.S.-Dakota War. Visitors

strations by costumed guides help you imagine life at an early 19 -century fur post.

can explore the former battlefield through

Nearly 1.5 miles of trails along the Snake River give visitors a chance to wander some

a self-guided trail, which showcases the

of the same routes used by early traders.

positions of the U.S. soldiers’ camp and

th

On Sept. 19 and 20, there will be a Fall Gathering: Festival of Voyaguer that will allow visitors to experience the fur post as it was more than 100 years ago. More than 250 reenactors will gather to immerse themselves — and those who come to visit — into the sights and sounds of this historic post’s past on the Snake River.

Visiors can shop for historic crafts, enjoy children’s activities and view “feats of strength and skill,” as contestants vie for the title of the best all-around voyageur. On the evening of Sept. 19, learn the steps of a lively country dance with live fiddle music.

Where: Pine City, about 1½ hours north of the Twin Cities Cost: $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and college students, $6 for ages 6–17, free for ages 5 and younger Info: sites.mnhs.org/historic-sites/north-west-company-fur-post

the Dakota during the battle in which U.S. soldiers found themselves surrounded.

Illustrations of the dramatic battle scenes detail the battle through both a U.S. soldier’s point of view and that of a Dakota warrior.

Where: Near Morton, about 2 hours southwest of the Twin Cities Cost: FREE Info: sites.mnhs.org/historic-sites/ birch-coulee-battlefield Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 21

Magical History Tour

JEFFERS PETROGLYPHS

→→Learn more

If you’ve always thought cave paintings were something to be found only in the Southwestern states, think again. Beautiful carvings here — made by Native Americans between 3,000 B.C. to 1,750 A.D. — captivate visitors from near and far. Found among

Additional information on these and other historical sites can be found at mnhs.org.

large rocks surrounded by wind-swept prairies, these petroglyphs depict many scenes as seen by ancient peoples. Plan to spend a few hours exploring the area and the many fascinating images that have stood the test of time.

A series of trails — both grass and paved — allow visitors to explore the scenic prairie. A roped trail lets you get up close to the petroglyphs without disturbing them. Each trail features informational displays that explain the history of the area. At the visitor center, you’ll find multimedia presentations, a children’s activity area and a series of educational exhibits.

Throughout the year, check out special events, including an American Indian Handicrafts Day, twilight tours and geological experiences that highlight the unique formations in the area.

Where: Near Comfrey, about 3½ hours southwest of the Twin Cities Cost: $7 for adults, $6 for seniors and college students, $5 for ages 6-17, free for ages 5 and younger Info: jefferspetroglyphs.com

LOWER SIOUX AGENCY HISTORIC SITE As the site of the first organized Native American attack in the 1862 U.S.-Dakota War, this destination offers a wealth of information about the battle that ensued on the grounds — and within the buildings — of the original Lower Sioux Agency, which was established by the U.S. government as an administrative center.

Visitors can learn about Native American life before reservations were established as well as the inner workings of the agency and its goal to change traditional Dakota ways of living. Self-guided tours allow visitors to explore a stunning 1861 stone warehouse and the Redwood Ferry crossing, where the Battle of Redwood Ferry took place. Combine this trip with the nearby Birch Coulee Battlefield for a rich double-header tour.

Where: Near Morton, about 2 hours southwest of the Twin Cities Cost: $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and college students, $4 for ages 6-12, free for ages 5 and younger Info: sites.mnhs.org/historic-sites/lower-sioux-agency

Maura Keller is a Plymouth-based contributing writer for many local and regional publications. When she’s not busy writing, Keller helps collect books for her 15-year-old daughter’s nonprofit, Read Indeed.

22 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

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Good Living / Housing / By Kerry Ann Mendez ⊳⊳ ‘Incrediball’ hydrangea, hardy even in Northern Minnesota’s USDA Zone 3, is a superhero in cold-climate zones.

It can reach 5 feet tall in 10 years and isn’t as prone to flopping as Annabelle varieties. Photo by Proven Winners ColorChoice

Where to begin?

Flowering shrubs play a huge role in the right-size garden. As we enter fall, check out these sensational summer flowering shrubs that continue to dazzle gardeners into October.

RIGHT-SIZE YOUR GARDEN

Hydrangeas

→→Replace fussy plants with easy-care shrubs

As a Zone 4 and 5 gardener, my winning

Although I’m not from Minnesota, I feel like I’ve been there from

Not all hydrangeas are created equal, especially if you live in Zones 6 or colder. votes go to panicle (paniculata) and smooth (arborescens) hydrangeas.

They’re drought tolerant and highly

the stories shared by a good friend who grew up outside of Minneapolis. I was

reliable bloomers, regardless of wicked

raised in northern New York State and currently live in Maine. So I’m well familiar

winter weather. Some of my favorites

with cold-climate gardening — its joys and frustrations.

in the paniculata group are ‘Quickfire,’

But there’s one common denominator for gardeners regardless of where we live — we’re all getting older!

For many of us, maintaining gardens and landscapes demands increasingly more energy and time (especially if your into collecting plants).

And that seems to go hand in hand with added aches and pains.

Now more than ever we need gardens that work harder for us than we do for them.

In addition to being 50 percent less maintenance — and providing color for up to three seasons — plants in our gardens must require less water and fertilizer, and be pollinator-friendly and distasteful to deer.

Is that too much to ask?

Absolutely not!

My most recent book, The Right-Size Flower Garden, takes this mission with easyto-follow steps for creating gorgeous, environmentally friendly gardens.

In the book, I highlight exceptional plants (perennials, flowering shrubs,

‘Little Quickfire,’ ‘Limelight,’ ‘Bobo,’ ‘Dharuma’ and ‘Fire Light.’

Superheroes on the arborescens team are ‘Incrediball,’ ‘Annabelle’ and Invincibelle Spirit II (an improvement over the first Invincible Spirit released a few years ago).

Both panicle and smooth hydrangeas bloom well in sun to part sun (smooth varieties can handle more shade).

Clethra Summersweet (clethra), a native shrub, not only has pretty pink or white bottle-

annuals, bulbs, conifers and more), plus timesaving design solutions and sustain-

brush flowers in July and August, but

able practices that will not only restore your joy for gardening, but also boost your

it also emits an intoxicating fragrance.

property value.

Its foliage turns a stunning yellow-gold

24 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

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although it's just as happy in welldrained (but not sandy) soil.

‘Sugartina’ (30 inches tall) and ‘Sixteen Candles’ (3 feet tall) are ideal shorter varieties. Birds, bees and butterflies are also big fans of summersweet. Deer dislike it, too.

Bush clover Bush clover (Lespedeza thunbergii) deserves more attention. This graceful shrub has a sweet weeping habit with violet purple or pink flowers that appear in late summer.

I planted mine along a retaining wall where it cascades over the edge.

‘Gibraltar’ and ‘Pink Fountains’

Come Home

both get 4 to 5 feet tall. There is a tiny version, ‘Yakushima,’ which grows to

to Auburn

only 12 to 18 inches tall.

In Minnesota, bush clover dies back to the ground in the winter, similar to butterfly bush. Bush clover is attrac-

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Happy gardening!

Kerry Ann Mendez is an award-winning author of gardening books. Sign up for her Perennially Yours e-newsletter at pyours.com.

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Good Living / Finance / By Skip Johnson

GRANDPARENT POINTERS

→→Here’s what your kids wish you knew

Congratulations, grandparents! Being a grandparent is

the savings can add up to hundreds, even thousands of dollars a year.

Enough stuff Every grandparent wants to spoil his or her grandkids, at least a little, and I don’t

incredibly special: You get an overall increase in cuddles and playtime — without the

want to stop you. But I do caution you

full-time commitment of dealing with every tantrum or diaper change.

against going overboard. Many parents

As a father of two young kids (with another due this month), I can tell you there’s

find themselves with more clothes than

something wonderful about watching your children get to know their grandparents.

their child can wear and more toys than

As a financial advisor, I can tell you raising a child is expensive!

they have time to play with.

The U.S Department of Agriculture calculates the cost every year, and a child born

A tip I often give grandparents is to

in 2014 will cost $245,340 from birth through age 17. You read that right; that eye-

take their gift budget and divide it in

popping total doesn’t cover the cost of college.

half. You can still spoil your grandkids,

Grandparents often want to help. And, while their hearts are in the right places,

but save the other half for long-term

they might not be helping in the best possible ways. With that in mind, here are a

goals like a mountain bike, a musical

few things many young parents wish their parents knew:

instrument or even a car, even though

Cost of childcare

that may be years down the road.

Minnesota is one of the most expensive states in the nation when it comes to

Support experiences

childcare. One year of care for an infant in a center costs almost as much as a car —

Extracurricular activities are impor-

$14,508, according to Childcare Aware.

tant for kids; they build confidence,

Home daycares are less expensive, but can still add up to $12,280 per year.

character and self-esteem. However,

Grandparents, if you’re retired or working part time, could you be a part-time

everything from hockey to dance class to

nanny? You might not realize the difference one or two days a week can make —

piano lessons comes at a cost.

26 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

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What a gift for your grandchild!

College savings In 18 years, a four-year degree at a top private college could cost a halfmillion dollars, according to Forbes.

Saving for higher education can be a daunting task.

I recommend a 529 plan, which lets money grow tax-deferred. The money won’t be taxed as long as it’s used to pay for approved educational expenses, like tuition, fees, books, supplies and room and board. Parents (or grandparents) can set up an account any time — even before a child is born.

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Good Living / In the Kitchen

Pasta fresca!

PEA AND PARSLEY PESTO WITH PASTA 2 cups frozen peas (one 10-ounce bag) 1 cup packed fresh parsley leaves 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted (see sidebar) 2/3 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving 3 garlic cloves, smashed and peeled 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil Coarse salt and ground pepper 12 ounces pasta

⊲⊲Cook 1 cup peas according to package instructions. ⊲⊲Combine cooked peas, parsley, walnuts, Parmesan, garlic and 1 tablespoon water in a food processor. ⊲⊲Pulse until a paste forms. With the machine running, slowly add oil, processing until blended. ⊲⊲Season with salt and pepper. ⊲⊲Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, according to package instructions, adding 1 cup of peas about 30 seconds before the end of cooking. ⊲⊲Reserve 1 cup pasta water; drain the pasta and peas. ⊲⊲Return the pasta and peas to the pot and toss with 3/4 cup pesto (reserve the remainder for another use). Then toss with enough pasta water to create a sauce that coats the pasta. ⊲⊲Serve pasta with more Parmesan.

Tip: Freeze extra pesto in ice-cube trays for up to three months; thaw before using.

Source: marthastewart.com

28 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

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TOASTED WALNUTS For this pesto recipe, which requires a small quantity of nuts, you can easily toast the walnuts on the stovetop: ⊲⊲Heat shelled walnuts in a dry, heavy skillet over medium heat, stirring constantly, for about 1 to 2 minutes or until the nuts are a rich golden brown and smell toasted. ⊲⊲Move the walnuts to a plate or bowl to cool and sprinkle with optional salt.

Hint: Don’t chop or mince the walnut halves before toasting.

If you’re toasting large quantities (2 cups or more), use the oven: ⊲⊲Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. ⊲⊲Arrange walnuts on a cookie sheet in a single layer. ⊲⊲Bake 8 to 10 minutes, checking frequently.

Sources: food.com and walnuts.org

Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 29

ART THE

OF GRANDPARENTING Twin Cities grandparents share what they’ve learned through caring for grandkids Story and photos By Sheila Regan

G

randparenting is a second chance to experience those moments of pure joy that young people bring to your life.

In some ways, grandparents get all the delights of

parenting, without quite as much of the challenges and difficulties of being the mom or dad.

But what makes a good grandparent?

We checked in with some Twin Cities rockstar grandmas and grandpas about the do’s and don’t’s of being a good grandparent.

Here’s what they had to say.

Top: Velia Esparza of Lauderdale watches three of her grandchildren fulltime during the week while her daughter and son-in-law are at work. Middle: Lynda McDonnell, a Minneapolis grandmother of three, plays with her 6-year-old grandson, Gabe, at Jim Lupient Water Park in Minneapolis. Bottom: Dennis Debe of Minneapolis is a full-time personal-care assistant for his grandson, Seth.

Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 31

THE ART OF GRANDPARENTING

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A lot of kids have plenty of toys; it’s the playing that’s the gift from the grandparents.

— Lynda McDonnell, a Minneapolis grandmother of three

Give the parents a break If you’re lucky enough to live near your grandchildren, you can do your children, their spouses and yourself a big favor by providing some form of child care.

While that might look different depending on circumstances, you can be sure that it’ll be a win-win situation: You’ll provide respite for the parents, plus extra grandkid time for you.

Lynda McDonnell of Minneapolis, who has three grandchildren, ages 6, 2 32 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age St. Paul Public Schools GA 0115 V6.indd 1

12/5/14 1:27 PM

and 1, spends one afternoon a week with two of her grandchildren who live in Eden Prairie.

“I realized that afternoon with my kids is a break for my daughter-in-law,” McDonnell said. That might free her up to go see a friend, run errands or just work out in the garden.

In addition, McDonnell and her husband, Steve, will take the kids on a weekend night, so their son and his wife can go out for a date.

Don’t give too much advice

Focus less on ‘stuff’

“Always wait to be asked first,”

“Time is how you build any relationship,”

McDonnell said. While you may want

McDonnell said. "Our society is so much

to speak up if you have a concern about

about consuming things; creating things

a child’s safety or wellbeing, don’t be

is so important.”

too quick to jump in. “I think with

McDonnell and her husband don’t

“A lot of kids have plenty of toys; it’s the playing that’s the gift from the grandparents,” she said.

Talk often Velia Esparza of Lauderdale, who

advice — wait until you’re asked,” she

spend a lot of money on presents.

watches three of her grandchildren

said. “You can tell stories about how

Instead, they place importance on doing

fulltime during the week while her

you did it.”

activities with the children. That might

daughter and son-in-law are at work,

be making drawings with sidewalk

talks to her daughter two or three times

chalk, playing with cardboard boxes or

a day, just to check in about anything

other types of creative play.

that might have come up.

Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 33

THE ART OF GRANDPARENTING In fact, they bought her a phone for better during-the-day communication. In the evening, she prepares

“I try to teach him colors and writing,” she said.

He already knows his numbers up to

Really talk to your grandkids That can get tricky for Dennis Debe of

food for the whole family, which

25. Now her goal is for him to write his

Minneapolis, a full-time personal-care

provide another opportunity to talk

name when he gets to school.

assistant for his 17-year-old grandson,

about what happened during the day.

Seth, who doesn’t speak but uses some

Set a schedule, routines Give grandchildren some sway

Melony Michaels, who lives in Plym-

“I let them choose what they want to

outh, has cared for a thousand foster

do,” Esparza said of her grandchildren.

children over the course of her life

“They get more excited about it.”

— and some of those kids now have

If the kids are tired, they might decide to just read or take a nap. Otherwise, the

children of their own.

Two of her foster daughters still call

kids can often come up with fun activi-

her “mom.” Michaels’ two grandchil-

ties on their own.

dren are the children of one of those

“If they want to go out for ice cream, I say, ‘OK, but you have to pick up your toys first,’” Esparza said.

close-to-her-heart foster daughters.

She spends time at least once a week with Stella, a toddler.

They have their routine. They walk

Teach when you can Esparza prides herself on teaching her grandchildren reading, counting and even how to crotchet. She works with her youngest, Santiago, on pre-kindergarten skills in the afternoon.

Need even more advice on how to navigate the surprisingly tricky waters of grandparenting?

Check these out: ⊲⊲ The American Grandparents Association at grandparents.com offers a variety of free articles on senior living as well as grandparenting. ⊲⊲ AARP features articles on grandparenting trends and tips at aarp.org/relationships/friends-family.

34 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

Seth has a few sign-language signs he’s able to use, which leads to interaction.

Debe’s other grandchild, Cecelia, can be shy to talk at times. But Debe, 66, has found that sharing a meal can facilitate a conversation.

“I’ve discovered that when you’re sitting there facing her over food is when she talks,” Debe said. “Just like anyone else, I guess.”

Respect parents’ rules

Michaels’ dog, pick tomatoes, go to the

“You have to support the parent whatever

park and often bake cookies.

you are trying to do,” Debe said. “I’m not

“When they come to grandma’s house, it’s special,” Michaels said.

as good as I should be about that.”

When he was a young father, he

“They don’t have the same rules. They

remembers having to set down guidelines

get to be spoiled a little bit.”

with his own parents about how they

Michaels enjoys having a regular time with her granddaughter at least

→→Resources

vocal sounds.

talked to his kids about toilet training.

“As a grandparent, you’re not as

once a week, so she can feel she’s a part

involved in discipline,” he said. “You are

of her life, not “just a visitor.”

not the person that has to invoke the sentence; it makes it a little easier.”

Remember your own health “It’s literally exhausting,” Michaels of the art of grandparenting. “I can hardly keep on my feet. The minute Stella comes, I am 100 percent at Stella attention.”

When her neighbors ask her how she does it, Michaels responds that she’s in the best shape of her life. She takes vitamins, eats well and power walks every day.

Sheila Regan lives in Minneapolis. She writes for City Pages, Vita.mn, MN Artists and TC Daily Planet. She also teaches theater for children.

Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 35

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36 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

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hen it comes to passing your legacy on to your children and grandchil-

dren — in a financial way — one of the most traditional gifts has long been U.S. Savings Bonds.

Your children — today’s parents — likely had grandparents who would go to the bank to buy U.S. Savings Bonds for their grandkids’ birthdays and holiday gifts.

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529s aren't just for parents Alternative to bonds

Here’s what you need to know about 529s:

Robert Stern, program manager for the Minnesota College

⊲⊲ They’re affordable You can open an account with as

Savings Plan, the state’s official 529 plan, said the move has

little as $25 and there’s no annual limit of what you can

encouraged older investors to explore savings alternatives —

contribute. For employers offering payroll deduction,

such as the Minnesota College Savings Plan.

the minimum contribution is just $15. In August 2014,

“The generation that grew up buying U.S. Savings Bonds

the Minnesota College Savings Plan was amended to

in paper form can no longer buy them that way; and they’re

allow for a contribution of up to $350,000 per account

often uncomfortable making transactions online,” he said.

holder; new investment options were added, too.

“But when they invest in our plan, they can still get that

⊲⊲ Anyone can open an account A parent, grandparent,

more comfortable, face-to-face interaction with the person

friend or relative at any income level can open an

who is setting up their account.”

account for any beneficiary, and anyone can contribute

Bonds and 529s are dramatically different in terms of

to the account, too.

how they work: 529 plans, named after section 529 of IRS

⊲⊲ Control of the account The account owner designates

Tax Code, are tax-advantaged plans designed to encourage

the beneficiary and controls the funds in the account

saving for future college costs.

They’re typically sponsored by states, state agencies or educational institutions.

Most states sponsor at least one type of 529 plan. In the U.S., there are two types of 529 plans — pre-paid tuition

regardless of the age of the beneficiary. ⊲⊲ Tax advantages Any earnings on the funds in your 529 account are free from federal and state income taxes when used for qualified higher-education expenses. ⊲⊲ School choice Funds may be used at any qualified

plans (which involve the purchase of units or credits) and

college, university, career, vocational or trade school or

college savings plans. (Minnesota doesn’t offer a pre-paid

other postsecondary educational institution eligible to

plan.)

participate in a student aid program administered by the

College savings plans can include bonds, savings

U.S. Department of Education. This includes virtually

accounts, stocks and mutual funds, ranging from conserva-

all accredited public, nonprofit and proprietary postsec-

tive to aggressive in terms of risk.

ondary institutions in the U.S. and a few sites abroad.

Money grows inside a 529 plan tax deferred and can be withdrawn tax-free as long as it's used for education expenses.

Bonds, meanwhile, are like loaning the city, government agency or corporation money for a promised interest rate or yield. Bonds have a standard rate of return: You’ll get a higher yield based on how much risk the bond carries.

Though bond money can be used for college expenses, 529s have the advantage of speaking directly to the modern challenge facing college students of the future — hefty tuition costs.

Average annual tuition for University of Minnesota students now stands at $13,620. State schools are asking $7,681, while private institutions in Minnesota typically charge $34,000 per year.

The Minnesota College Savings Plan has an office in Bloomington and can help seniors set up 529 plans in person, over the phone or online.

38 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

→→Resources Minnesota College Saving Plan: Call 952830-3127 to meet in person or over the phone with a tuition-financing consultant. Offices are at 8000 Norman Center Drive, Suite 650, Bloomington. Visit mnsaves.org for more information.

Minnesota Department of Higher Education: Check out tuition and fees at various Minnesota colleges at ohe.state.mn.us.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission: Learn more about 529s at sec.gov/investor/pubs/intro529.htm.

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Rachel M. Anderson is a publicist for Minnesota College Savings Plan. Sarah Dorison and Skip Johnson contributed to this article.

Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 39

Be a randmother Why would I want to do that

By Laverne Bardy

F

or years I smiled, tolerantly, as friends rambled on about

Then she came into the world.

their grandchildren. I bit my lower lip and endured

Shari Lynne. A tiny, velvety pink package, swaddled in a soft

endless reports on their intelligence, creativity and reac-

tions to Barney and potty training.

I couldn’t relate. I didn’t have grandchildren, and that was fine.

My life was full. I didn’t need grandchildren to feel complete.

I wasn’t interested in changing diapers or comforting cries

white receiving blanket. I could hardly catch my breath.

I’d given birth to three children, but the wonder of it all seemed even more extraordinary than it had back then.

All I could think was that my baby had had a baby. My son — my flesh and blood — had joined with his wife to create a

in the middle of the night. I was past the age of mashing ripe

miracle and I, in some unobtrusive way, was an important and

bananas, wiping tiny fingerprints from mirrors and aspirating

necessary component.

noses. And, I certainly had better things to do than knit a layette.

40 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

A new love

tunnels. We made circles on the ceiling with flashlight in a pitch-

My heart had never known such fullness. I had a baby to play

dark room, and played hide-and-seek behind the armchair, under

with and I could, I hoped, be a positive role model. I wandered,

the bed and in the closet.

gleefully, through infant and toy departments, purchasing

I reread stories so often I memorized them. I removed my

baby things. I held innocent people captive and showed them

coffee table from my living room to make more space for toys

baby pictures.

and for play.

The depth of my love grew in proportion to Shari’s response

After he’d been bathed and tucked into bed, I looked around at

to me. And before long, I’d fallen madly in love with a pint-

the clutter. Being a neat-freak by nature, my instinctive reaction

sized person with her very own mind and personality.

was one of emotional discomfort. Suddenly, a change of thinking

Soon Shari was old enough to join me on outings to pet

put everything into perspective: Dylon didn’t care that Mema’s

shops, parks and bookstores. She sat her in a high chair in a

house was messy. He wouldn’t even remember it. Nor would he

Chinese restaurant and smiled as she dipped crispy “nu-nuz”

someday thank her for her great housekeeping skills.

into duck sauce and ate wontons with her fingers. She held my finger tightly as we walked through malls eating ice cream.

Present at the birth A second grandchild came along; a beautiful boy. My son bestowed upon me the privilege of being present during his wife’s agonizing labor, as he wiped her brow and cried.

I was honored to be invited into the hospital nursery moments after Dylon James’ entrance into the world. The nurse placed him gently on his back under warm lights. His tiny arms thrashed helplessly as she performed necessary, but invasive procedures on his defenseless tiny body.

I winced and imagined what he must be

More than likely he would recall only warm

Dylon didn’t care that Mema’s house was messy. He wouldn’t even remember it.

Nor would he someday thank her for her great housekeeping skills. More than likely he would recall only warm feelings of our time together.

feeling after the trauma of being pulled

feelings of our time together.

For a moment, my heart ached. I wished I’d had such insight when my children were growing up. Back then I thought that being a good wife and mother meant doing everything perfectly — daily dusting and vacuuming, cooking gourmet meals, polishing white Stride Rite baby shoes, combing neat parts and Shirley Temple curls, ironing fresh creases in toddler overalls — all things I now realize were of no real importance.

Third time’s a charm My third grandchild arrived.

Steven Wayne just lies in his crib or sits propped up in his car seat, looking like a bobble-head doll and Humpty Dumpty rolled into one. Compliant, affable, trusting, help-

from the warmth and security of the womb and placed on a

less, he’s totally at the mercy of those who love him (and knock

hard surface. He looked vulnerable and robbed of protection,

themselves out to meet his needs). And all they ask for in return

certainty and dignity.

is a smile and an occasional burp.

I concerned myself over whether I had enough love left to give this precious bundle. Then he looked into my eyes and grinned

Housekeeping: Dismissed!

Recently Dylon stayed with me for several days while his parents took a much-deserved vacation. We threw a ball, and we pushed toy trucks along the floor. We went down sliding boards, sat on swings, built sand castles and crawled through makeshift

from ear to ear and my concerns vanished.

I like to think that grandchildren are our children’s way of thanking us.

Laverne Bardy is a New Jersey-based freelance writer, author and blogger at huffingtonpost.com/laverne-h-bardy.

Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 41

Good reads for grandkids

By Sarah Dorison

Reading is one of the best ways to spend time with grandchildren, don’t you think?

But you don’t have to settle for the same old stories over and over. These new books are ideal for grandparents and kids alike.

They explore life’s challenges, Minnesota’s north woods, the joy of playtime with grandma and the importance of passing recipes down to future generations.

families throughout the ages and their

LLAMA LLAMA GRAM NORTH WOODS GIRL AND GRANDPA

adventures in creating a whipped-cream

It’s an exciting day for Llama Llama; he’s

City scratchboard artist, this immer-

dish known as blackberry fool. One

going to visit Gram and Grandpa Llama

sive book is a work of art — as well as

could easily build a day around this book,

and spend the night! His first night away

an homage to woodsy grandmothers,

including reading the story, talking

from home — and from Mama. And that

who are more interested in walking in

about history, shopping for blackberries

isn't easy. Fortunately, Grandpa Llama

the woods and growing tomatoes than

and whipping up a homemade dish.

has a wonderful solution and soon Llama

baking cookies and pies.

A FINE DESSERT This gorgeously illustrated tale follows

By Emily Jenkins Illustrated by Sophie Blackall Ages 4–8 $17.99

Due out in October from a new Twin Cities author and an amazing Iowa

Llama’s having sweet dreams.

By Anna Dewdney Ages 3–5 $17.99

By Aimee Bissonette Illustrated by Claudia McGehee Age 3–7 $16.95

GRAND-MA-MA STORIES There’s no love quite like a grandmother’s love — lighthearted, unconditional and constant.

GigiK, a retired English and history teacher and a grandmother to 12, celebrates the special role grandmothers play in her Grand-ma-MA Stories book series.

Using singsong-style rhymes, she honors the joy that grandmothers — and even grandmother figures for kids who biological grandmothers aren’t around — can bring.

In Grand-ma-MA and Her Grand-grand-Kids, she explains how wonderful and different grandmothers can be; in Grand-ma-MA’s Adventures With Her Grand-Grand Girls, she embraces the fun of getting girly with granddaughters. In Grand-ma-MA and Her Grand-grand Boys, she shows a grandmother enjoying a day with boys that has “nothing to do with any brand-new toys.”

By GigiK / Ages 3–5 / $19.99 42 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

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Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 43

September Can’t-Miss Calendar

Ongoing

Minnesota State Fair →→Explore Minnesota’s finest art, industry, agriculture and horticulture, plus carnival rides, games, live music and food vendors.

When: Through Sept. 7.

Where: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, St. Paul Cost: Senior days with $8 admission include a Seniors & Kids Day on Aug. 31 and Seniors Day on Sept. 3.

Advanced tickets start at $10. Daily gate admission is $13 for ages 13–64; $11 for ages 5–12 and 65 and older; and free for ages 4 and younger.

Info: mnstatefair.org

Renaissance Festival →→King Henry and his court invite one and all to his 16th-century European village, featuring 12 stages of musicians, magicians, jugglers and mimes, including more than 500 engaging memorable characters.

When: Weekends through Oct. 4, plus Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day) and Friday, Oct. 2 Where: Rural Shakopee Cost: $22.95; $13.95 for ages 5 to 12.

Advanced tickets are $11.50–$19.95.

Buy online or at local stores to avoid lines at the event.

Info: renaissancefest.com

Sept. 4–6 Sept. 19

Wild Rice Festival →→Celebrate wild rice — including Minnesota’s harvest season and Native American culture — at this 12th-annual festival. Enjoy activities, educational presentations, engaging exhibits and food, including wild rice soup, fry bread, Indian tacos, yogurt/ wild rice parfaits and buffalo dogs. Food trucks will be on site as well from noon to 4 p.m. See Native American drumming, dancing, singing, flute making and music, storytelling and traditional wild-ricing methods. View historical vignettes, including a replica tipi with representative artifacts of traditional Dakotah life as well as honeyextraction techniques and an apple-cider pressing.

When: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sept. 19 Where: Harriet Alexander Nature Center, Roseville Cost: FREE Info: wildricefestival.org

44 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

Shadow Visitors: A Minnesota Adventure →→This unique musical production features Indonesian music and dance, shadow puppets and famous and infamous Minnesota characters such as Paul Bunyan, Gov. Mark Dayton and Prince. Two nonprofit local performance companies, Sumunar Indonesian Music and Dance and Green T Productions, collaborated to create this 2014 Knight Arts Challenge St. Paul winner.

When: 8 p.m. Sept. 4–6 Where: Como Dockside Pavilion, St. Paul Cost: $5–$10 Info: comodockside.com

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Can’t-Miss Calendar Sept. 8–13

Sept. 12–Oct. 18

Cinderella

To Kill a Mockingbird

→→Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 2013 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical kicks off the Broadway on Hennepin season. More than just a pretty face, this Cinderella is a contemporary figure living in a fairytale setting. This show is appropriate for ages 5 and older.

→→Set in the Deep South, this timeless story based on Harper Lee’s beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is told through the eyes of Scout, the feisty young daughter of lawyer Atticus Finch.

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26th Annual Pumpkin Patch Festival

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Sept. 11–13

Taste of Greece →→Sample authentic Greek food and handmade desserts, and enjoy live music, dancing, church tours, a Greek boutique, Greek wine tastings and a kids’ area with inflatables at this 27thannual fund-raiser festival.

When: Sept. 11–13 Where: St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church, Minneapolis, Cost: Admission is free.

Food tickets are $1 each.

Info: mplsgreekfest.org

Weekends & MEA

Sept. 26th–Oct. 31st MEA: Oct. 15th–16th Saturdays & MEA 11am–5pm Sundays 12pm–5pm

When: Sept. 8–13 Where: Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis Cost: Seats start at $39.

Info: cinderellaonbroadway.com or hennepintheatretrust.org

Sept. 11–Oct. 4

The Farnsworth Invention →→This compelling new play from Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing and The Newsroom, follows two visionaries as they race against each other (circa 1929) to complete the same worldchanging invention, the television.

When: Weekends Sept. 11–Oct. 4 Where: Theatre in the Round, Minneapolis Cost: $22 Info: theatreintheround.org

Sept. 12 Visit Our Website For Special Events, Activities, Daily Schedule and Admission Fee

Minneapolis Monarch Festival →→Celebrate the Monarch butterfly’s amazing 2,300-mile migration from Minnesota to the mountains of Michoacan, Mexico.

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46 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age Nelson Farm MNP 0915 V4.indd 3

8/19/15 10:09 AM

When: 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sept. 12 Where: Lake Nokomis at 50th Street and Lake Nokomis Parkway Cost: FREE Info: monarchfestival.org

When: Sept. 12–Oct. 18 Where: Guthrie Theater, Wurtele Thrust Stage, Minneapolis Cost: $15–$74 Info: guthrietheater.org

Sept. 14

JazzMN →→Experience the music of Twin Cities’ finest jazz musicians as they perform a wildly diverse repertoire.

When: Sept. 14 with dinner at 5:30 p.m., followed by jazz at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Chanhassen Cost: $30. Add dinner for an additional $15.

Info: ChanhassenDT.com

Sept. 15

Sue Zelickson: Food for Thought →→Beloved for her Sue Z. Says column in Minnesota Monthly, food critic and philanthropist Sue Zelickson will speak at this third-annual event presented by A Lifetime of Learning Task Force.

When: 7 p.m. Sept. 15. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Seating is limited.

Where: Armstrong High School, Plymouth Cost: FREE Info: alifetimeoflearning.org

Starts Sept. 18

Red House Live →→The fifth season of this Landmark Center series caters to fans of folk, Americana, blues and country music.

Performances, hosted by Larry Englund from KFAI Radio, will be preceded by a cocktail hour including complimentary refreshments from Great Waters Brewing Company, plus a cash bar.

When: 8 p.m. Sept. 18 (Archie Fisher), Oct. 23 (Charlie Parr), Nov. 20 (The Cactus Blossoms) and Dec. 18 (Davina and the Vagabonds) Where: Landmark Center, St. Paul Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door or $70 for the entire four-concert series Info: landmarkcenter.org/redhouse.html

A Home for every Aging HeArt Sept. 18–19

St. Paul Oktoberfest

Mission: To provide a loving and permanent home for dogs that are deemed “un-adoptable” because of age and health, and would otherwise be unnecessarily euthanized

→→Enjoy a variety of tapped beers and bratwurst at this 15th-annual event.

When: Sept. 18–19 Where: Rice Park, St. Paul Cost: FREE Info: saintpauloktoberfest.org

Excelsior Apple Day

→→This popular Lake Minnetonka street festival, created in 1935, features live music, local art and food vendors.

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When: 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Sept. 19 Where: Downtown Excelsior Cost: FREE Info: tinyurl.com/appledayexcelsior

Sept. 19–20

Homes By Architects Tour →→This eighth-annual self-guided tour features 20 new and remodeled homes designed by members of the American Institute of Architects Minnesota.

When: Sept. 19–20 Where: Twin Cities Cost: Advance tickets may be purchased online for $15 until 2 p.m. on Sept. 18.

Tickets will also be available at homes during the tour for $20.

Info: homesbyarchitects.org

Sept. 24

Ballet Folklórico →→An internationally acclaimed dance company captures the rich traditions of the Mexican people, bringing to vivid life the pageantry of indigenous cultures.

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7/15/15 11:16 AM

When: Sept. 24 Where: Pantages Theatre, Minneapolis Cost: $32.50 to $48.50 Info: hennepintheatretrust.org

Sept. 26

Museum Day Live! →→Smithsonian magazine›s 11thannual event includes free admission to many museums nationwide, including more than 20 Minnesota museums, such as Historic Fort Snelling and the American Swedish Institute.

When: Sept. 26 Where: Go to smithsonianmag.com/ museumdaylive to see a list of participating Minnesota museums.

Cost: FREE. Info: smithsonianmag.com/museumday Minnesota Good Age / September 2015 / 47

Brain teasers Sudoku

Word Search LOVE NEVER GROWS OLD Affectionate Ancestor Beloved Caregiver Family Generosity Happiness

Loyalty Memories Patience Resourceful Special Spoil Supportive

Tradition Traveling Treats Unconditional Understanding Warmth Wisdom

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Break the code to reveal a quote from a famous person.

Each letter represents another letter.

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Word Scramble

W V S N

Complete the following three six-letter words using each given letter once.

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TRIVIA

Answers 48 / September 2015 / Minnesota Good Age

The best gift you can give a child isn’t found in a toy store.

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Trivia GRAND/PARENTS 1. What is the average age of a U.S. grandparent? (More than half are Baby Boomers.)

2. Which Oscar winner was raised believing his grandmother was his mother?

3. What percentage of U.S. kids are being raised by their grandmothers and grandfathers?

If I had known how wonderful it would be to have grandchildren I’d have had them first.

CRYTPOGRAM SUDOKU Aiding, Doting, Loving

WORD SCRAMBLE

You can get there. We can help.

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CROSSWORD

Answers

Crossword

ACROSS 1 Eggy dessert 11 La Salle of “ER” 15 Occurring at a constant temperature 16 Computer start-up?

17 Elementary sextet 18 Browning product 19 Older Pevensie sister in “The Chronicles of Narnia” series 20 Turned brown, maybe 22 Curling piece 26 Square 27 “Do wrong to __”: Shak.

30 Attended to bald spots on 33 Stop 34 University of Miami mascot Sebastian the __ 35 Climate Reality Project founder 36 __ moment 37 Flimflam 38 Slap target, informally

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39 Airline with the EuroBonus frequent flier program 40 Alpine parrot 41 Misses 42 Salon service 43 Names 44 Slap cause, maybe 45 Dr. Jones, to Dr. Marcus Brody 46 Mesoamerican crop 48 Column that won’t support anything 50 Involve deeply 53 DeMille specialties 57 It precedes one 58 Dept. of State employee 62 Secretary of Education Duncan 63 Like pen pals’ relationships 64 Hoot 65 High wind DOWN 1 Some reds, for short

2 Not worth __ 3 Roaring Twenties hairdos 4 Ones for the road?

5 1814 treaty site 6 It may be shaken or pulled 7 He outlived George by 46 years 8 Sacred syllables 9 Dumbarton denials 10 Snow Queen in “Frozen” 11 Wax theatrical 12 Drainage area 13 “Help” 14 Its capital was Xianyang 21 Bad way to go 23 Certain Honshu native 24 Words of emphasis 25 Moves stealthily 27 “Pink Friday” rapper 28 Baroque wind 29 Singer who had a 1959 hit with “I Loves You, Porgy” 31 “Dish it up!”

32 1974 hit sung entirely in Spanish 38 Foxier 42 “The Banquet of Cleopatra” painter 47 __ cards, used in ESP experiments 49 Dieter’s breakfast 51 Petitions 52 Beantown NHL nickname 54 “Look at me, __ helpless ...”: “Misty” lyric 55 Word spoken con affetto 56 Final crossing?

59 Party bowlful 60 Nation since 1948: Abbr.

61 Ed. group

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Flu Shots

Photo Deals

Take charge of your health by getting your flu shot at participating pharmacies. Medicare Part B and D plans are accepted (10 years of age or older).

Have rolls of film lying around? Do you want to make a gift out of a photograph you own? Come talk to a photo specialist today.

Sept. 8th

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1-800-WALGREENS (1-800-925-4733) • WALGREENS.COM

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With more than 3,600 courses and new ones being added every week, you could learn something new every day for the next several years from the comfort of your own living room!

These courses and video tutorials are FREE. Have your library card barcode handy and visit melsa.org/Lynda to link to a metro public library website.

Start learning something new today!

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