Zest June 2015

Zest For 50+ living

JUNE 2015

FREE!

Volunteering

as a way of living

Joanne Willmert shares her time and talents to make Hutchinson a better place to live, work and visit

Dean Urdahl’s book tells stories of three soldiers in the Civil War David Laraway shares practice of Zen Buddhism Tips to help loved ones prepare for retirement

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Excellence in hearing Care

Every Day!

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June Manannah Daze: June 6

Everyday Services:

Manannah offers volleyball and horseshoe tournaments, tractor pulls and a street dance. A parade on Saturday is followed by a pageant, where men dress in drag to compete for the title of “Miss” Manannah.

Hearing evaluations — no charge, no pressure Hearing aid service — all brands New hearing aids in all price ranges

Water Carnival: June 15-21

Satisfaction or your money back — more than 90% success rate

The annual Hutchinson summer celebration includes a boat parade, canoe races, carnival midway, Miss Hutchinson pageant, kiddie parade, outdoor concerts and various sporting events.

Eden Valley’s Valley Daze: June 18-21 Eden Valley celebrates every June with a parade, carnival, live music, food stands, a tug-of-war tournament and an annual youth fishing contest.

Tom Eggimann

Karl Benson

Owner/Hearing Instrument Specialist

Hearing Instrument Specialist

Pam Pulkrabek

HUTCH HEARING AID 320-587-7557

LITCHFIELD HEARING AID 320-593-0333

903 Hwy. 15 S., Hutchinson

517 N Sibley Ave., Litchfield

(Frontage Road next to The Coffee Company)

Glencoe Days Celebration: June 19-20

Office Manager

Glencoe’s celebration includes live music, great food, and fireworks, will be at Oak Leaf Park. The celebration’s annual parade will be on Saturday.

Tournament of Duty: June 27 The third annual Tournament of Duty, a fundraiser to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, will be June 27 at Island Pine Golf Club in Atwater. The event will include a golf scramble and bean bag toss tournament. Golf scramble will have a shotgun start at 11 a.m. Cost is $250 for a four-member team or $300 to sponsor a Wounded Warrior Project alumnus to play on your team. Bean bag tournament registration is $40 per two-member team. Costs includes game fees, cart rental, food and donation to Wounded Warrior Project. For information, call 320-5932846, or go to http://tournamentofduty.com.

1-800-628-9165 • hutchhearing.com

Prairie Senior Cottages

July Christian author to visit Kimball: July 13

When a comfortable, stress-free environment is combined with trained caregivers, people with Alzheimer’s Disease or related memory disorders experience a better quality of life.

Lauraine Snelling, Christian author of historical novels, including “Daughters of Blessing” series, the “Red River of the North” series and a new book “A Harvest of Hope” will give a talk at Kimball United Methodist Church (across from Kimball High School) at 10 a.m. July 13. Her books will be available for sale and refreshments served.

Prairie Senior Cottages features • 24-Hour On-site Caregivers • Secured Building • Nutritious Family Style Meals • Specialized Programming • RN Supervision & Case Management • Medication Supervision • Daily Personal Hygiene • Personal Laundry • Housekeeping • Personal Transportation • Professional Management

Minnesota author to visit Eden Valley: July Rhonda Fochs, author of “Minnesota’s Lost Towns: Northern Edition,” “Minnesota’s Lost Towns: Northern Edition II” and now, “Minnesota’s Lost Towns: Central Edition,” will give a talk at Eden Valley Area Library, 305 State St. N., at 7 p.m. July 16. Her books will be available for purchase and refreshments will be served.

Prairie Senior Cottages, LLC

www.prairieseniorcottages.com

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N02183

Built on Preserving Dignity

For more information, call John Peterson.

Hutchinson: 320-587-5508 Alexandria: 320-763-8244 Willmar: 320-235-6022 New Ulm: 507-359-3420

Have a calendar item to submit? To be included in this free listing, send information about the event, including the time, date, place, cost, a contact person’s name and phone number. Email information to Juliana Thill at thill@independentreview.net or call 320-593-4808 or 320-234-4172.

Zest

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CONTENTS

Senior Spotlight:

For 50+ living

Hutchinson native David Laraway returns to share the practice of Zen Buddhism

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JUNE 2015 Vol. 6 No. 4

PUBLISHED BY Litchfield Independent Review P.O. Box 307, Litchfield, MN 55355 320-693-3266 Hutchinson Leader 170 Shady Ridge Road NW, Suite 100 Hutchinson, MN 55350 320-587-5000

EDITOR Juliana Thill thill@independentreview.net 320-593-4808 Litchfield office 320-234-4172 Hutchinson office

story: Joanne Willmert, 10 Cover right, and her daughter, Carrie,

plant flowers in downtown Hutchinson — one of the many ways Willmert volunteers to help make the city appeal to people

PUBLISHER Brent Schacherer schacherer@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4143

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Claudia Broman, Kay Johnson

the news: 7 In Legislator, author and former

history teacher Dean Urdahl writes a new book that follows people in three regiments during the Civil War

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kevin True true@hutchinsonleader.com 320-234-4141 SUBSCRIPTION OR ADDRESS CHANGE Michelle Magnuson 320-234-4142 magnuson@hutchinsonleader.com PRINTED BY Crow River Press 170 Shady Ridge Road NW Hutchinson, MN 55350 Zest is published monthly by the Litchfield Independent Review and Hutchinson Leader newspapers. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the publisher.

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Money matters: Learn ways you can ensure loved ones are prepared for their retirement years

9

Medicare: Federal program helps people with limited income pay costs associated with Medicare prescription drug coverage

14 Recipes: Celebrate summer by eating Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches with Blue Cheese Coleslaw; Strawberry, Spinach and Cottage Cheese Salad; and Strawberry Cheesecake Bars JUNE 2015 | ZEST

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A WARM WELCOME

F

or Joanne “Joey” Willmert, helping others comes naturally. She has owned and operated The Village Shop on Main Street in Hutchinson for four decades. Through those years, has given her time, talent and treasure for the betterment of the community.

It’s a part of who she is, and is one of the reasons why the Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Office selected her earlier this year as Volunteer of the Year. She’s a quiet leader and volunteer, going about her work without seeking recognition or praise. This silent — albeit generous — contributor to the community has found her way into our magazine and on our cover.

Also in the magazine, read a review of author Dean Urdahl’s new book. And read about how Hutchinson native David Laraway has embraced Zen Buddhism.

Last month, I wrote about the anticipation leading up to meeting my British pen pal of 35 years.

The moment arrived on May 14.

Gillian Hardie and I have been writing letters to each other since late 1980, early 1981. And on Christmas Day 2014, she sent me a message to say she and her husband, Jonathan, were coming to America.

They arranged the trip in part to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary and in part so Gillian and I could meet. They spent five days in New York City before flying to Minnesota for five days.

When I spotted her at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, I almost couldn’t believe she was real. It was a dream come true to stand face to face.

I heard her voice for the first time, hugged her for the first time, and laughed with her for the first time. We wiped away tears and held hands. It was a moment we have waited for and written about for decades.

Never having met, I didn’t know how we would get along. Yet, it was like we were old friends catching up where we had left off.

After years of reading her letters and looking at her

photos, I just couldn’t stop gazing at her sitting across from me. She was even more beautiful in person. To have her looking at me with her big blue eyes and speaking in her British accent as she talked about her family was mesmerizing.

Our time together was fun, as well as a constant learning experience.

We talked about politics, religion, education, and the royal family, as Juliana Thill well as compared notes on health Editor care, schools and the weather.

We marveled at the fact that Gillian and Jonathan are bigger coffee drinkers than tea connoisseurs, and our kids found the differences in words amusing, such as trolley instead of cart, biscuit instead of cookie.

During their visit, we spent time in Litchfield, Forest City, Hutchinson and even stopped in Darwin. The British might have Big Ben in England, but we have the Twine Ball in Minnesota. They have castles; we have the stockade. We also visited the Twin Cities so they could meet more family, and we did a little sight-seeing, including a guided tour of the Capitol led by Rep. Dean Urdahl.

As with any momentous occasion, time went by too quickly.

For many years, I had envisioned what it would be like to meet Gillian. However, I had never given any thought as to how hard it would be to say goodbye to her, to let go of her when I finally had her near me. More tears were shed that day and the next. And the next.

Now it’s our turn to visit Gillian and Jonathan.

Someday, when we can save enough money to make the trip, I hope my husband and I — and even the kids — can travel to England and experience what the Hardies’ lives are like in the United Kingdom.

Until then, we will continue with our tradition of writing letters and sharing photographs, and our friendship will grow stronger through the written word.

Gillian and Jonathan Hardie of North Yorkshire, England, visited Minnesota in May. At left, Gillian and I sit at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport after a tearful meeting and look over letters we wrote to each other years ago.

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SENIOR SPOTLIGHT

Hutchinson native David Laraway returns to share the practice of Zen Buddhism

Letting his true self manifest

By Kay Johnson CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A

fter a 30-year absence from living in Hutchinson, native David Laraway has returned to share the gospel, so to speak, of Buddhism.

Ordained as the Rev. Bennet, he recently gave an overview of Buddhist teachings at the Hutchinson Event Center, talking about Buddha’s Four Noble Truths, the Law of Karma, and the teachings of anatta (no-self) and anicca impermanence). Laraway also provided instruction in the Serene Reflection Meditation, the Soto Zen form of Buddhist meditation.

“Zen meditation is letting go of the egocentric self to let your true self manifest,” he said.

Laraway connected with Buddhism as an adult. He came to it in a roundabout way.

After graduating from Hutchinson High School in 1970, he joined the Coast Guard. Laraway was honorably discharged and headed to the University of Minnesota-

(62+/ Disabled)

Minneapolis where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English.

Laraway worked as an editor at the University of Minnesota and for Mary Ellen Enterprises. By 1984, he moved to Microsoft Press in Bellevue, Wash., where he worked as an editor.

“Computers were so new, and the Press was formed to publish books to help people learn how to use their software,” Laraway said.

Laraway retired at age 43.

“I had an intense work life, long hours,” he said. “I was tired out.”

Finding life’s purpose At this point, Laraway said he had experienced many of the benchmarks of a success- David Laraway ful life, but found himself searching for more.

“I was not satisfied,” he said. “Something was missing.”

Divorced in 1985, Laraway’s world shifted. It was a time of deep sorrow and loss. Later that year, he read the book “The Snow Leopard,” by Peter Mathiessen. The book introduced Laraway to the practice of Zen Buddhism.

Intrigued, he wanted to learn more. He attended a talk about the Buddha’s Four Nobel Truths, which was “a lifechanging event,” he said. “It seems happenstance, but I was meant to go to that talk.”

Laraway began training. “I experienced such gratitude and joy finding this practice,” he said.

After 17 years as an ardent lay trainee, he was accepted by the Rev. Master Koshin as his monastic disciple.

Laraway spent 12 years living as a monk at North Cascades Buddhist Priory near McKenna, Wash. The life of a monk agreed with Laraway. It was a structured routine of meditation, services and work. He was ordained in 2003.

Each year, Laraway returned to Hutchinson to visit family. He observed there was no opportunity in the area for a Buddhist practice.

“A longing grew in me to make an offering of this practice,” he said.

It became a reality in November when Laraway returned to Hutchinson. Renovations are underway on a house about 4 1/2 miles northeast of Hutchinson that will eventually become Laraway’s home and Buddhist temple.

“This is a wonderful practice, wonderful spiritual training,” he said. “It really is. It’s not easy, but the rewards are very great.”

Kay Johnson is a staff writer at the Hutchinson Leader.

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IN THE NEWS

Urdahl’s new book tells stories of Civil War soldiers ‘Three Paths to Glory’ follows people in three regiments

By Claudia Broman CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I

n 1861, Minnesota Gov. Alexander Ramsey answered President Abraham Lincoln’s initial call for volunteer Union troops at the outset of the American Civil War with an offer of 1,000 Minnesota men.

As with other facts in his new novel, “Three Paths to Glory,” author Dean Urdahl makes this one relevant and educates readers about history spanning from the beginning of the Civil War to the winter of 1863.

A Republican legislator from Dean Urdahl the Grove City area, Urdahl said he was inspired to write the book by his interest in the Civil War and his co-chairman-

ship of the Minnesota Civil War Commemorative Task Force. In “Three Paths to Glory,” Urdahl follows the stories of people in three regiments — Clinton Cilley, a math professor-turned-leader in the 2nd Minnesota; Jimmy Dunn, a young man who joins the 5th Minnesota once he turns of age; and Sam Davis, who plays an important role in the 1st Tennessee.

“I’ve tried to depict the lives of common soldiers and uncommon valor that followed them throughout the conflict,” Urdahl states in the book’s foreward.

Readers move with the troops as they use inadequate guns, march in dense fog, and rejoice after sturdy victories or recover after disappointing losses.

“Three Paths to Glory,” is the first volume of a two-part American Civil War series. Urdahl plans to write a sequel that will cover 1864 to the end of the war in 1865.

Claudia Broman is a freelance writer living in Litchfield.

“Three Paths to Glory,” by Dean Urdahl, is available in Litchfield at the G.A.R. Hall, 308 Marshall Ave. N., and at Cricket Meadow Tea, 113 N. Sibley Ave.; and on Amazon.com.

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MONEY MATTERS

Take steps to make sure loved ones are prepared for retirement years

W

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Four in 10 U.S. adults are caring for a loved one with significant health issues, according to the Pew Research Center.

your relative has been working with a qualified financial or tax adviser, the family team should consider meeting with him or her if a need arises. If outside tax, financial or legal help is needed, the team and your senior relative should discuss who those professionals should be, what their fees are and what you expect them to do.

Make and agree on a plan.

After all the information gathering and discussion is complete, make a plan — in writing, if possible — to review the senior’s wishes, set an action plan and assign responsibilities as necessary. As mentioned above, you should review this plan every year. And if problems emerge in any topic area from retirement to health issues, you’ll find guidance throughout the Practical Money Skills for Life website. (www.practicalmoney skills.com/personalfinance/) Bottom line: Asking older relatives about retirement, estate and longterm care preparations can be an uncomfortable conversation. Making a plan and initiating early conversations to involve the right people can ease the financial strain and stress on everyone involved.

Jason Alderman Senior director of financial education programs at Visa Inc.

hat if a sudden, debilitating illness, fraud or economic downturn affected your senior family member’s retirement, estate or long-term care issues?

Would you be prepared to take over?

If the answer is no, you’re not alone. According to 2013 research from the Pew Research Center, four in 10 U.S. adults are caring for a loved one with significant health issues.

Don’t wait for a crisis to initiate this conversation. Starting early can help you plan and even safeguard your own career and retirement planning. Here are some suggestions for starting the conversation: Identify the missing links.

Find information gaps you need to fill to help your senior relative plan for retirement. If key financial information — investment and banking accounts, legal documents or doctors’ contacts — is missing, list any and all unknowns to be researched and compiled.

Schedule a family financial meeting. Schedule a specific day and time and create an agenda that meets the needs of your senior relative. It is not always necessary to involve all direct family members in a preliminary discussion, but make sure that relevant individuals are aware of the meeting. After helping your senior relative assess his or her financial situation, make sure to identify next steps and responsibilities.

Locate important financial documents. Ask your senior relative to show you where his or her key documents and accounts are, such as retirement and pension information, checkbooks, investment statements, insurance policies and legal and estate data. Find out where incoming bills are kept in case you have to step in and help manage monthly bills.

Consider seeking financial counseling. Any number of reasons, from illness to fraud, may explain losing control of personal finances. If

Asking parents or older relatives about retirement, estate and long-term care preparations can be uncomfortable. However, initiating the conversation and making a plan can ease financial strain and stress on all involved.

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MEDICARE

Federal program helps people with limited income pay costs associated with Medicare prescription drug coverage

MHS

MELCHERT • HUBERT • SJODIN J

Dear Marci, I have some chronic health care conditions and have to take several prescription drugs to manage them. I spend a lot of money on Medicare prescription drug co-pays each month, and I’m struggling to keep up with these costs. My friend told me I should see if I can apply for the Extra Help program. What is the Extra Help program?

— Barbara Dear Barbara, Extra Help is a federal program that helps people with limited incomes to pay the costs associated with Medicare prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D). Extra Help is administered by the Social Security Administration. To qualify, you must meet income and asset guidelines that are determined by the federal government each year. If you are single in 2015, your monthly “Dear Marci” income must be below $1,471 is a service of the ($1,991 for couples), and your Medicare Rights assets must be up to $13,640 Center, the largest ($27,250 for couples) in order to independent qualify for Extra Help. source of Medicare To have Extra Help, you must information and get your prescription drug coverassistance in the age through Medicare Part D. You United States. For can get this coverage through a more information, stand-alone Part D plan that go online to www. works with Original Medicare, or medicarerights.org. through a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage. Extra Help does not work with other forms of prescription drug coverage, such as coverage from an employer. If you do not have a Part D plan, Extra Help gives you a Special Enrollment Period to enroll in a Part D plan outside of typical enrollment periods.

Depending on your income and assets, you might qualify for either full or partial Extra Help. With either program, you will never have to pay the full cost of your drugs as long as you take medications that are on your plan’s formulary — its list of covered drugs — and you buy them at a pharmacy in your plan’s network. You also can use a mail-order pharmacy with Extra Help. Extra Help can also assist with your monthly Part D premium and annual deductibles.

Apply for Extra Help through the Social Security Administration. You can call the National Hotline at 800772-1213, or visit your local Social Security office. You also can apply online at www.ssa.gov/medicare/prescriptionhelp/.

— Marci

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PHOTOS BY JULIANA THILL

Joanne “Joey” Clay Willmert leads other volunteers in planting flowers in Hutchinson’s downtown flower pots on a crisp May morning. The flower pot project is a joint effort between the city of Hutchinson and the Hutchinson Downtown Association, which Willmert has been involved with for the past 30 years. On the cover of the magazine,Willmert’s daughter, Carrie Bloom, 52, helps with the flower planting.

Making volunteering a way of living Joanne ‘Joey’ Willmert has received Hutchinson Chamber awards in the past. However, a recent one recognizing her volunteer work carries special meaning because it honors how she tries to live her life, in service to others.

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By Juliana Thill EDITOR

J

oanne Clay Willmert’s heart is in her hometown, even if she no longer has her home here. Willmert, who often goes by Joey among friends, grew up in Hutchinson, graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1959 and moved on to bigger cities.

Yet, she spends more time, effort and volunteer hours here than anywhere else.

Willmert, 74, has owned and operated The Village Shop on Main Street for 40 years, while living in Minneapolis.

She has volunteered countless hours during that time to city and civic organizations for the betterment of the

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COVER STORY

Hutchinson community and “to keep the lot of things downtown that are not only vitality of small town alive,” Willmert for downtown but for the community,” said. she said.

Helping to keep Hutchinson a beautiFamily life ful place to live, work, shop, and enjoy is important to Willmert.

Willmert grew up as part of the Clay “In so many of the little towns around, family, which established Hutchinson we’ve lost that. This town has just conTelephone Co. in 1896. During high tinued to grow and thrive and attract school, she did clerical work for the fampeople,” Willmert said. ily business, as well as worked at a “For us, she epitomizes what you want flower shop and department store in from a volunteer — someone who has Hutchinson. given a faithful heart to their communiAfter graduating from high school, she ty,” said Mary Hodson, president of the went to college in Missouri and married Hutchinson Area Chamber of Commerce Barry Willmert in 1961 in Hutchinson. and Tourism Office. “She doesn’t do it for They lived in Chicago for a couple of recognition. She does it because she years and then in Detroit for 10 years thinks it’s what she should be doing. It’s before moving to Minneapolis. in her heart to do that. She just gives.”

She and Barry, who grew up in When a customer purchases an item in Glencoe, were married for 38 years and Willmert’s store, she wraps it up with had three children, who are now grown pretty paper, Hodson said.

— Carrie Bloom, Mark Willmert and “It’s that extra touch that people Todd Willmert — before Barry passed appreciate. She has that mentality of The Hutchinson Area Chamber away about 15 years ago. wrapping it in a pretty bow and someone of Commerce and Tourism In 2013, she remarried, marrying a else feels good about it,” Hodson said, Office recognized Joanne “Joey” longtime friend, Jim Sheedy. adding that Willmert takes the same Clay Willmert as Volunteer of “His wife died of cancer. She was my approach to presenting Hutchinson in a the Year. “She doesn’t do it for best friend in high school and all beautiful way. “Downtown and Library recognition. She does it because through grade school. I was in their wedSquare are so iconic to our community. she thinks it’s what she should ding. I didn’t know him that well (at the She wants downtown to be clean and be doing. It’s in her heart to do time) because he grew up in Austin. I’ve presentable so people feel good about that. She just gives,” said Mary known him all along and we did a few being downtown and are proud of their Hodson, president of the things as couples,” Willmert said. downtown.”

The two of them reconnected and got Hutchinson Chamber.

In recognition of Willmert’s volunteer married. efforts over the years, the Hutchinson Willmert continues to commute to Chamber honored Willmert with the Volunteer of the Year Hutchinson every day to operate the store. Her daughter, award earlier this year.

Carrie, who also lives in the Twin Cities, has been joining Joe Nagel, board chairman of the Hutchinson Chamber, her recently to work at the store after another employee summarized Willmert’s contributions before he presented recently retired. her with the award.

Although Willmert never moved back to Hutchinson, her “Joey Willmert is one of those volunteers that doesn’t passion for her hometown has never waned. Instead, it grew want thanks or praise, but is a silent contributor to many as she came to appreciate the small town of almost 14,000 committees,” Nagel said. “She has been a longtime member after living in larger cities over the years. of the Hutchinson Downtown Association and Chamber of “I guess it’s loyalty to a community,” Willmert said. “I’d Commerce. Joey is the one who gets the flower pots on Main rather be here than in the Cities where you don’t know anyStreet filled with flowers in the spring and greenery in the body. You get to strengthen relationships in a smaller winter.” town.”

In accepting her award, Willmert kept her comments brief: “All I want to say is, I love this community, and I love A quiet leader doing things for the community,” she said.

Willmert leads by example rather than trying to seek Willmert also volunteers with the Hutchinson attention for her efforts, said Mike Cannon, president of the Community Foundation. “And I was on the Hutchinson Hutchinson Downtown Association and executive vice presArts Commission for about 10 years. I was on the sign com- ident at Citizens Bank. mittee for the city for a number of years. I was on the “Joey is a quiet leader, and most of it is by action. Her Chamber board for a number of years and was president leadership is by action. She doesn’t say a whole lot, but she years ago,” Willmert said, listing off her many areas of com- does good things, which inspires the rest of us to be like munity involvement. that,” Cannon said.

Through the Hutchinson Downtown Association, which “The flower project is one of our best examples. That’s she has been active with for about 30 years, “we started the something that’s been going on in Hutchinson longer than Arts and Crafts Festival and the Farmers Market — so, a I’ve been on this board. Joey takes that project and runs

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COVER STORY

with it. She works with the city and Garden Club in town, so between them they get all these flowers planted along Main Street and certainly help beautify our city,” Cannon said.

It is a joint project between the city and the Hutchinson Downtown Association. The association bought flower pots about 18 years ago, Willmert said, and she has always been involved with planting.

“We saw it in lots of towns, and we talked about it as a board that we’d like to do it,” she said. “What we liked about the pots is then we can do them seasonally, for the holidays.”

The city orders the flowers and waters them throughout the spring, summer and early fall. However, each year, a group of volunteers meets at 7 a.m. in Library Square to plant flowers in the containers placed on corners and in front of businesses in downtown Hutchinson.

“They go out in all directions in teams of two on Main Street and on Washington by the theater, and all the way down to the bridge,” Willmert said.

This year was no different, with a group working quickly on an unseasonably cold morning May 19, when frost nipped at their nose and chilled their hands as they loosened the dirt for the mixture of plants — large lilac blue, wandering Jew, amora coleus, and glow yellow exotic impatiens.

The flowers will grow in the planters until fall, then at the end of October or early November, Willmert leads another volunteer effort to replace the flowers with holiday greens.

“This year, we also bought extra lights to put in the park to try to decorate the park more. The city does some and we try to do some. It’s a joint effort,” Willmert said.

By 8 a.m., the flower planting was complete, and Willmert went to work, opening up The Village Shop, a gift shop filled front to back and top to bottom with unique treasures.

Her business used to be located about four stores down from where her store is now.

“When this became available, we bought this building about 15 years ago,” she said. “We’ve always been on Main Street and in this block.”

After 40 years in business, Willmert has seen multiple generations come through her door. Children who used to tag along with their mother, now come in with their children to buy gifts.

“We’ve been in business for so long, all these kids that grow up here, who came with their moms to shop, those kind of memories come back. There aren’t many stores that are the same stores anymore. I encourage customers to bring their children in,” she said, because too often kids shop only at large retailers. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But this is different. Here, you kind of go around the corner and explore. People come back and say, ‘Oh, I remember coming here.’”

She sees the importance of small businesses.

“You don’t get a lot of people opening small businesses as much anymore. It’s pretty hard to do,” she said, from obtaining the financing to “dedicating yourself to the hours.

It’s just different. Luckily, Hutchinson has opened a lot of little shops. More than most communities.”

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Joanne Willmert has owned and operated The Village Shop in Hutchinson for 40 years. “We’ve been in business for so long, all these kids that grow up here, who came with their moms to shop, those kind of memories come back.There aren’t many stores that are the same stores anymore. I encourage customers to bring their children in,” she said.

When customers visit The Village Shop to buy a present for a special occasion, they ask Willmert for ideas, and she can always find the right gift, Hodson said.

“It’s not just a store but a service she’s providing. She’s very respected. She’s a gift to every man who wants to buy his wife a present,” Hodson said.

Willmert’s leadership and dedication to the business community is appreciated by many, Hodson added. “Joey demonstrates what a leader and businessperson is. It’s not about ‘notice me.’ It’s her actions, and by her actions, she’s leading. People see that. People want to replicate and imitate what they see as positive, and Joey has done so many positive things for the community,” Hodson said.

A willing volunteer While volunteering is about giving, for Willmert it’s a way of living.

Willmert added her recent Chamber Volunteer of the Year award to others she has received over the years.

Hanging on a wall in her office, in the back room of her store, is a Chamber of Commerce Customer Satisfaction Award, which she received in 1994, and the Business Person of the Year Award, which she was given in 1993.

However, the Volunteer of the Year award holds special meaning to Willmert.

“It just honors what I try to live — the service. I like to give, and it’s nice that people recognize that,” she said. I

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FOOD & FUN Grilled Buffalo Chicken Sandwiches with Blue Cheese Coleslaw

8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs 1 bottle KC Masterpiece Buffalo Marinade

ing. Then, add mixture to prepared coleslaw mix until dressing coats vegetables. Set aside and chill until needed.

Blue Cheese Coleslaw Build a charcoal fire for indirect grilling, 1 bag pre-shredded coleslaw with carrots by situating coals on one side of grill, 1 cup crumbled blue cheese leaving the other side void. Add a small 1 16-ounce bottle of ranch dressing aluminum pan to the void side of the 8 sub rolls grill and fill it halfway with water.

When charcoal grill reaches between Trim all fat from chicken thighs. Lightly 450 and 500 degrees, take chicken SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET/ KC MASTERPIECE pound thighs with a meat mallet until they thighs and grill directly over coals for 30 are an even thickness, approximately 1/4 of to 45 seconds on each side to sear. Once an inch. Place thighs into a re-sealable food storage bag both sides are seared, move thighs to the void side of the and pour in marinade until it coats thighs. Marinate in grill. Place lid on grill and cook thighs indirectly for 10 refrigerator for a minimum of 1.5 hours. While chicken is minutes, or until thighs reach an internal temperature of marinating, prepare blue cheese coleslaw. Start by com160. Then remove from grill. Assemble sandwiches on sub bining one cup of blue cheese with a bottle of ranch dressrolls, topping grilled chicken with blue cheese coleslaw.

Crossword puzzle Across 1.“Poppycock!”

5.Audio equipment brand name 9. Full of chutzpah 14. Small buffalo 15. Fishing, perhaps 16.Terminal section of large intestines (pl.)

17.Amounts of precipitation 19. More fitting 20. Not extreme (4 wds) 22.Angry, with “up” 23. Pandowdy, e.g.

24. Black 25. Caribbean, e.g.

26. Musical compositions with a recurring main theme 28. Fla. neighbor 30.Antiquity, in antiquity 31.Aspect 35. Kidney-related 38.“Aladdin” prince 39. Heartthrob 40. Certain print 41. Deception 42. Mother Teresa, for one 43. Flemish baroque painter 45. Kipling’s “Gunga ___” 47.“I’m ___ you!”

50. Cable network 51. Divination deck 53. Flight embarkment station (2 wds)

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ZEST | JUNE 2015

Crossword puzzle answer on Page 15 57. Composed 58. Entry through which air is fed to engine (2 wds) 59. Father, Son and Holy Ghost 60. Forum wear 61.“I had no ___!”

62. Undersides 63. Carbon compound 64. Bondman

Down 1. Malt liquor’s yeasty froth 2. Broadcasting (hyphenated) 3. Self-styled, French (hyphenated) 4.Take care of 5. Bleated 6. Christiania, now 7.Autogamy (hyphenated)

8. Malay Archipelago (2 wds) 9. Highlands hillside 10.Wartime retaliation 11. Follow, as a tip (2 wds) 12. Porterhouse, e.g.

13. Robust 18. Dog biter 21.“If only ___ listened ...”

26. Property consisting of houses and land (2 wds) 27.Amiss 28. Branch 29. Grassland 32.Assault with heavy artillery fire 33.Australian runner 34. Big ___ Conference 36. Poisonous alkaloid obtained from nightshade 37. Basic monetary unit of Romania 44. Sticker 45.Angry outburst 46. Eye problem 47. Kilns 48. Rocket fuel ingredient, for short 49. Bring up the rear 51. Courtroom event 52. Selfish sort 54. Horace volume 55.“Cogito ___ sum” 56. Book part

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FOOD & FUN Strawberry, Spinach and Cottage Cheese Salad 6 ounces baby spinach 1/4 cup green onions, sliced 1/2 cup light raspberry vinaigrette 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped 2 cups Daisy Brand Cottage Cheese

Toss spinach and green onions SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY. NET/DAISY with vinaigrette; divide evenly onto four salad plates. Top each salad with strawberries and walnuts. Spoon cottage cheese over spinach mixture and serve. Serves four.

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Strawberry Cheesecake Bars 1 package Duncan Hines signature french vanilla cake mix 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine 3 eggs 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese 2 1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar 1 can (21 ounces) Comstock or Wilderness strawberry pie filling and topping

Answer to Crossword Puzzle published on Page 14

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JUNE 2015 | ZEST

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Preheat oven to 325. In large bowl SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET/DUNKIN HINES combine cake mix, butter or margarine and 1 egg; blend well. Reserve 1/3 cup of mixture for topping. Pat remaining mixture into bottom of well-greased 9-by-13-inch pan. In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy, beat in 2 eggs and 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar. Pour over cake mixture in pan.

Spread strawberry fruit filling on top and sprinkle with reserved cake mixture. Bake 1 hour or until lightly browned. Refrigerate until chilled; cut into bars and sprinkle with 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar.

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