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>> Game of pickleball grows in popularity

tea

Audrey Hollatz finds peace in life after leaving her career in the Twin Cities to operate a tea room in Hutchinson

>> Ember Reichgott Junge wins book awards

>> What to know before renting

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Contents

Zest For 50+ living

JUNE 2013 Vol. 4 No. 4 w w w.zestforlife.mn

L PUBLISHED BY Litchfield Independent Review P.O. Box 921, Litchfield, MN 55355 320-693-3266 Hutchinson Leader 170 Shady Ridge Road NW, Suite 100 Hutchinson, MN 55350 320-587-5000

PUBLISHER

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Feature story: Pickleball, a cross between badminton, tennis and table tennis, picks up in popularity in Hutchinson

Senior spotlight: Ember Reichgott Junge’s book garners national, Midwest awards L

6

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

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

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Terry Davis, Stephen Wiblemo

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE Shari Forsman sales@crowriverpress.com 320-234-5702

L

SUBSCRIPTION OR ADDRESS CHANGE

story: Audrey 16 Cover Hollatz turned in her portfolio for a teapot when she made a bold career move in opening Heirlooms

Penny Stuber 320-234-4142 stuber@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.

5

Feature story: State health officials encourage baby boomers to be tested for hepatitis C

13 Health insurance: Website explains area health plans 15 Money Matters: Know what to look for in rental property 22 Recipes: Paul’s Popovers, Chophouse Steak JUNE 2013 | ZEST

3

A warm hello

I

t takes a lot of confidence, courage, support and foresight to start a new career and a new lifestyle in a new town.

Yet, that’s what Audrey Hollatz, 51, did about five years ago when she left her interior design career in the Twin Cities and and headed west to Hutchinson to open Heirlooms Tea Room and Special Occasions.

The idea to open Heirlooms came after she attended a spiritual retreat. She was starting to feel burned out in her career and was feeling ready for a change. One of the retreat’s sessions was titled, “Discovering God’s Dreams for Your Life.” The pastor at the retreat posed this question to those in attendance: “If every job paid the same, what would you do with your life? If they all had the same status, the same pay, what would you really, truly want to do?”

He told them to look back at things in their life, to look at all the seeds that had been planted, the common threads that ran through their life, “and mine was always beauty, and tea and femininity,” Hollatz said.

Without realizing it, she had been nourishing those seeds, which grew into the vision for a tea room located in a historic home, an unhurried place for social gatherings that would feed the mind, body and soul. A place where people could experience hospitality, beauty, and peace.

Read more about her life story in this month’s magazine.

Another woman who has changed careers with success

is former state Sen. Ember Reichgott Junge. More than 20 years after seeing the bill she authored become law and establish the first charter school in Minnesota and the nation, Reichgott Junge wrote a book about the experience. The book, “Zero Chance of Passage, The Pioneering Charter School Story,” recently received several honors.

Men and women can stay active with a sport that has been around for years but is starting to take off in Hutchinson. Local enthusiasts have been playing pickleball, which is a cross between tennis, table tennis and badminton. Read more about this sport that’s gaining traction locally.

This month, we also celebrate dads, grandfathers and important men in our lives with Father’s Day. Fathers are special people. They often are the enforcers in the family.

However, according to a sign in my in-laws’ house, “Pa’s the boss, but what Ma says, goes.”

If you’re planning to grill for Father’s Day, check out the recipe in this magazine and some tips for grilling steak.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers, step-fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers and great-great-grandfathers. Enjoy your day.

— Juliana Thill

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Summer offers opportunities for festivals, fairs, fun

T

hroughout summer and into early fall, there are a variety of festivals, fairs, community celebrations, plays and musicals in the McLeod and Meeker county areas that people can attend, volunteer at or participate in:

Manannah Daze June 1 The small village of Manannah kicks off summer with a variety of activities, including volleyball and horseshoe tournaments, a flea market, kiddie tractor pull, and a parade, as well as lots of food, including hamburgers, hotdogs and mini donuts.

Hutchinson Water Carnival June 10-16 This year marks the 71st annual Hutchinson summer celebration.

Highlights of the week include the boat parade, canoe races, carnival

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ZEST | JUNE 2013

midway, Miss Hutchinson pageant, outdoor concerts and various sporting events.

Eden Valley’s Valley Daze June 20-23 Eden Valley celebrates every June with a parade, carnival, live music, food stands, a tug-of-war tournament and an annual youth fishing contest.

Glencoe Days Celebration June 21-22 Many of the celebration’s favorite activities, including live music, great food, and fireworks, will be at Oak Leaf Park in Glencoe. The parade will be June 23.

Litchfield Watercade July 11-14 Activities include fireworks, golf tournament, parade, art in the park, medallion hunt, 4-mile run, fishing

contest, Little Crow water ski show, coronation, and sporting events.

RiverSong Musical Festival July 19-20 Two days of American music along the Crow River in scenic Masonic West River Park in Hutchinson.

Cosmos Space Festival July 19-21 The 45th annual Space Festival in Cosmos is expected to be an out-ofthis-world event that will include the crowning of Little Miss Universe and Man in the Moon, fireworks, a parade and cow pie bingo.

Prairie Days July 19-20 This fun-filled weekend in Lester Prairie includes an all-school reunion, beanbag tournament, kiddie parade, grande parade and fireworks.

In the news State health officials encourage baby boomers get tested for hepatitis C State health officials are calling for all U.S. baby boomers — the generation born from 1945 through 1965 — to get a one-time test for the hepatitis C virus.

One in 30 baby boomers has been infected with hepatitis C, and most don’t know it, according to the Minnesota Department of Health.

Currently, about 39,000 people are living with hepatitis C in Minnesota, according to the Department of Health.

Hepatitis C causes serious liver diseases, including liver cancer (the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related deaths) and is the leading cause of liver transplants in the United States.

Hepatitis C usually is spread by blood, through sharing needles or other equipment to inject drugs. Before widespread screening of the blood supply began in 1992, hepatitis C also was unknowingly spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants.

“To identify undetected cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are recommending a onetime blood test for hepatitis C for everyone between the ages of 48 and 68,” said Dr. Edward Ehlinger, Minnesota Commissioner of Health.

“Following the new recommendations can protect the health of an entire generation of Americans from liver disease and save thousands of lives.”

More than 15,000 Americans, most of them baby boomers, die each year from hepatitis C-related illness, such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, and deaths have been increasing steadily for over a decade and are projected to grow significantly in coming years.

More than 2 million U.S. baby boomers are infected with hepatitis C — accounting for more than 75 percent of all American adults living with the virus.

“Studies show that many individuals were infected with the virus

decades ago, do not perceive themselves to be at risk, and have never been screened,” Ehlinger said.

“Getting tested and treated now can offset many of the long term consequences.”

CDC estimates one-time hepatitis C testing of people between 48 and 68 years of age could identify more than 800,000 additional people with hepatitis C. With newly available therapies that can cure up to 75 percent of infections, expanded testing — along with links to appropriate care and treatment — would prevent the costly consequences of liver cancer and other chronic liver diseases and save more than 120,000 lives.

Health officials recommend people talk with their health care provider about being tested for hepatitis C. For more information, go online to www.cdc.gov/knowmorehepatitis/inde x.htm.

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Senior spotlight

Reichgott Junge’s charter school book garners high praise Reader Views names ‘Zero Chance of Passage, The Pioneering Charter School Story,’ best regional book of the year

By Terry Davis CONTRIBUTING WRITER

M

ore than 20 years after seeing the bill she authored become law and establish the first charter school in Minnesota and the nation, former state Sen. Ember Reichgott Junge wrote a book about the experience.

The book, “Zero Chance of Passage, The Pioneering Charter School Story,” recently received several honors.

Reader Views’ 2012 Reviewers Choice Awards named it Best Regional Book of the Year and it awarded it first place in the history/ science category.

In addition, Reichgott Junge’s book was a finalEmber Reichgott Junge ist in five categories for stepped down in 2000 from the 23rd annual Midwest the Minnesota Senate after 18 Publishing Awards. There years of service.While in office, were 187 books entered in Reichgott Junge authored 44 categories from 12 Minnesota’s 1991 charter Midwestern states. school law, which was the first charter school law in the Winners were announced nation.Today, more than 2 milMay 8 in Bloomington, lion students attend more than and Reichgott Junge’s 5,600 chartered schools in 41 book won in three of the states and the District of categories — current Columbia. Her book, “Zero events/political science, Chance of Passage, the education/learning, and Pioneering Charter School total book design.

Story,” contains never-beforepublished historical documents “It is heartwarming to and first-person accounts by know that the story is supporters and opponents. receiving good reviews,” Reichgott Junge said.

Reichgott Junge, 59, who lives part time in Hutchinson and part time in Minneapolis, is married to McLeod County Attorney Mike Junge.

Reichgott Junge, a champion of education issues, authored Minnesota’s 1991 charter school law. Her book, released in 2012, chronicles the history of the origins of chartering from 1988 through 1992. It also details the long battle in the Minnesota Legislature to pass legislation in 1992 that allowed the founding of the state’s first charter school.

Reichgott Junge has been busy promoting her book and

Ember Reichgott Junge

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FILE PHOTO

In her book, “Zero Chance of Passage, the Pioneering Charter School Story,” Ember Reichgott Junge shares her personal and challenging journey of pioneering chartering through its early origins, its tumultuous legislative passage in Minnesota, and its explosion onto the national stage. championing charter schools. In May, she took part in a roundtable discussion of charter schools at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute, and toured Maine, the 41st state to pass a chartered school law in 2011.

“The first applicants are now being approved in Maine, and we’ll tell the story at the Legislature, even as opponents try to weaken one of the strongest chartered school laws in the nation,” she said.

Also in May, Reichgott Junge spoke at a rally for the Wisconsin Charter Schools Association at the state Capitol in Madison, as the Legislature considered improvements to the Wisconsin chartered school law.

Terry Davis is a staff writer at the Hutchinson Leader.

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Feature story

PHOTOS BY STEPHEN WIBLEMO

Dale Issacson returns a volley while his teammate, Marv Juffer, watches during a Pickleball game at the McLeod County Fairgrounds. Juffer helped bring Pickleball to Hutchinson in 2010.

Pickleball picks up in popularity

By Stephen Wiblemo CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Pickleball, though not a new sport, is catching on in Hutchinson. Local enthusiasts play the game, which is a cross between tennis, table tennis and badminton.

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ZEST | JUNE 2013

S

taying active is important for people no matter what age they are. For a group of local retirees and others, getting their weekly exercise has become easier and more fun thanks to a sport that is gaining traction in Hutchinson.

It’s called pickleball, and it has nothing to do with cucumbers.

Marv Juffer, a local retiree, is one of the people responsible for bringing pickleball to Hutchinson. He and a group of other enthusiasts started playing in 2010.

“It is very popular, and is the fastest

growing sport in retirement centers,” Juffer said. “I came back from Tucson, and I liked it so much, Rich Wanzek and I discussed wanting to play. So we started it with a couple other guys. It was shaky at first, but now we have 32 people playing.”

The sport itself isn’t new. Pickleball was invented in 1965 by the late Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washington state, and his friends Bill Bell and Barney McCallum. Pritchard, Bell and McCallum returned to Pritchard’s home from golf and found their families bored one Saturday afternoon. They attempted to set up badminton but no one could find the shuttlecock. They improvised with a

Feature story Brian Issacson waits at the net as Gary Brinkmeier taps the ball over the net with his paddle during a game of Pickleball.

whiffle ball, lowered the badminton net, and fabricated paddles of plywood.

The game is a cross between tennis, table tennis and badminton. It is played on a court the size of a badminton court, but with nets like tennis, only two inches lower. Players use a wooden paddle and the ball is similar to a wiffle ball, but slightly smaller.

The name of the game originated with Joan Pritchard, who said it reminded her of the “Pickle Boat in crew where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.”

For decades, the sport has been growing in states such as California, Arizona and Florida, and in recent years it has invaded Minnesota.

Pickleball can be played in singles or doubles, but in Hutchinson they mostly play doubles.

Juffer’s group isn’t a league, exactly.

More like a club of players that get together and play recreationally. They don’t keep track of wins, and there are no tournaments at the end of the

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Feature story season. That doesn’t mean games don’t get competitive, though.

“We try to mix it up and have everyone play with someone else every game,” Juffer said. “It is a fast moving, competitive sport. It’s a lot of exercise, a lot of socializing, and a lot of exercise.”

While there are a few ringers in the group, there are also several beginners, and Juffer stressed that players of all skill levels are welcome to play.

Arlis Feser can attest to that, as she is the first woman to join the group.

“We aren’t playing tournaments or anything,” she said. “It is competitive, but fun, and really we just want to stay in shape.”

Feser admitted she was a little hesitant at first when she found out she was the only woman in the group, but now playing with the men is no problem, she said. She hopes more women will join. “Women should not hesitate,” she said. “They are all here to help, and they want more people to learn the game. It is a very fun sport, and it is keeping us healthy and active.”

“

Rules of pickleball

It is very popular, and is the fastest growing sport in retirement centers.

MARV JUFFER, helped bring pickleball to Hutchinson

Juffer said people who are interested in playing should come out during their weekly games and see what pickleball is all about.

In the winter, the group meets at 9 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays at the McLeod County Fairgrounds. In the summer, they play at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the elementary tennis courts.

Stephen Wiblemo is sports editor at Hutchinson Leader.

Pickleball is played on a badmintonsized court. The ball is served diagonally (starting with the right-hand servicesquare), and points can only be scored by the side that serves. To start, the serve must be hit under hand and contact of the paddle to the ball must be below your waist. Each team must play their first shot after the ball bounces, and after that, both teams can choose to move forward to the non-volley line or stay back at the baseline. Players must let the ball bounce once before volleys are allowed. There is a seven-foot no-volley zone on each side of the net, to prevent spiking.The server continues to serve, alternating service courts, until he or she faults. No volleying is permitted within the seven foot non-volley zone. This promotes the drop volley or “dink” shot strategies where players skillfully hit shots over the net that land in the non-volley zone, also called “the kitchen.”

If the ball bounces in the kitchen, a player can step into the kitchen to hit it over.The first side scoring 11 points and leading by at least two points wins.

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In the news Litchfield Community Theatre to stage ‘Shrek The Musical’ Litchfield Community Theatre will present “Shrek The Musical” for its annual summer production.

The musical is based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture and the book by William Steig.

The storyline takes the audience to a faraway kingdom turned upside down. Things get ugly when an unseemly ogre — not a handsome prince — shows up to rescue a feisty princess. “Shrek The Musical,” is part romance, part comedy and part twisted fairy tale. Directed by Dave Metcalf, the musical will take the stage July 19-21 and July 25-28 at Bernie Aaker Auditorium. For ticket information, call Litchfield Community Education at 320693-2354.

Crow River Singers perform ‘Homefront Melodies’

FILE PHOTO

Crow River Singers perform a “Homefront Melodies” concert in April, singing music that reflected the history of the nation. Crow River Singers, an area community choir, is under the direction of Paul Otte. Crow River Singers welcomes new members, and all ages and abilities are welcome.

There are no auditions.The group rehearses from 7 to 8:30 p.m.Thursdays.

For more information, call project director Holly Dapper at 320-587-0710.

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Rustad Tours

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Health insurance

Website offers information on health plans HealthPocket.com, which is not affiliated with any insurance company, allows users to compare and rank health insurance plans available in their area

BY FAMILY FEATURES

M

ore than half of all Americans will need to make choices about their health insurance by 2014, and already, millions are making decisions about their Medicare drug or Medicare Advantage plans.

However, many people struggle with choosing the right plans for personal health care insurance, family plans, or deciding on behalf of a loved one.

Studies by Consumers Union have found that many people are overwhelmed with the number of health plan options there are, and they often don’t know where to begin.

Many looking for health insurance also: N Dread shopping for health insurance.

N Will take short cuts in order to just “get through” the process.

N Are confused by jargon.

These difficulties can mean that too many people overpay for their health insurance and still don't get the plan that’s best for them. In fact, many seniors are spending more than $500 extra per year on medication coverage because of the drug plan they selected. A major reason why Americans struggle with these choices is that they don’t have complete and easy-to-understand information about all the health plan choices available to them.

Know available options Reliable information about health insurance options — what they cost and what they cover — is more critical than ever. So, many people turn to online sites to help them compare different choices.

Existing health insurance decision tools often steer consumers only toward health plans that have paid to be listed. The basis for their evaluations is biased because they only represent some insurers. They also often require the user to share personally identifiable information.

However, a new website called HealthPocket.com enables people to compare and rank the health insurance plans available to them in their area. HealthPocket.com displays information on the price and quality of all insurance options, so users can make informed decisions about what they need, and how to compare and save costs.

HealthPocket.com is not affiliated with any insurance company, drug company or their agents, and therefore provides a comprehensive and unbiased listing of plans that best fit consumers’ needs, according to Bruce Telkamp, HealthPocket.com co-founder and chief executive officer.

“It’s the only private, independent website able to filter all plans available by cost of premiums, cost of drugs cov-

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ZEST | JUNE 2013

PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

A new website called HealthPocket.com enables people to compare and rank health insurance plans available in their area. HealthPocket.com displays information on the price and quality of all insurance options, so users can make informed decisions about what they need, and how to compare and save costs. ered, and quality of the plan — without hiding anything,” Telkamp said.

HealthPocket is free to the consumer. To learn more, visit www.HealthPocket.com.

Understand plan details People need to understand the differences between the various plan features so they can make a fully informed decision. Before people make a final decision, they should be clear on what those benefits are: N Check the “Summary of Benefits and Coverage” forms for each plan they’re considering.

N If they have questions, speak directly with their plan’s representative and make sure they get a clear understanding of how the plan will work for them.

Health care coverage is too important to ignore. Doing some homework now can save people time and money, and help them take better care of their loved ones in the future.

Social Security

Non-working spouses can receive a benefit as early as age 62 Below are questions and answers provided by Jon Noyes, district manager for the Social Security Administration, St. Cloud (Minn.)

District.

Q

uestion: My wife doesn’t have enough work under Social Security to qualify for Social Security or Medicare.

But I am fully insured and eligible.

Can she qualify on my record?

Answer: Yes. The question you’ve raised applies to husbands, as well as wives. Even if your spouse has never worked under Social Security, she (or he) can, at full retirement age, receive a benefit equal to one-half of your full retirement amount. Your wife is eligible for reduced spouses benefits as early as age 62, as long as you are already receiving benefits. If your spouse will receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security such as

government employment, the amount of his or her Social Security benefits on your record might be reduced. For more information, see the fact sheet, Government Pension Offset, Publication No. 05-10007 at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10007.pdf.

Also, visit www.socialsecurity.gov and select the “Retirement” tab.

Q

uestion: Why is there a five-month waiting period for Social Security disability benefits?

Answer: The law states Social Security disability benefits can be paid only after you have been disabled continuously throughout a period of five full calendar months. Social Security disability benefits begin with the sixth full month after the date your disability began. You are not able to receive benefits for any month during the waiting period. Learn

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parents getting older?

more at our website: www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.

Q

uestion: Is there a time limit on how long I can receive Social Security disability benefits?

Answer: Your disability benefits will continue as long as your medical condition has not improved and you cannot work. Social Security will periodically review your case to determine whether you continue to be eligible. If you are still receiving disability benefits when you reach your full retirement age, your disability benefits will automatically be converted to retirement benefits. Learn more about disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.

Jon Noyes can be reached at 3800 Veterans Drive, Suite 100, St. Cloud; telephone 877-405-1446, ext. 27141.

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13

Money matters

Before you look for rental property, know how much you can afford to spend. Housing is the biggest monthly expense for most people, so if you miscalculate how much you will pay for rent, your budget will suffer from the get-go.

Know what to look for in rental property

F

or downsizing homeowners re-entering the rental market for the first time in decades, there are many precautions you should take before renting any property.

The last thing you want is to be saddled with a 12month lease you can’t afford or to be stuck in a neighborhood you’ve come to detest.

As one who’s been there, let me share a few tips for renting a home.

Before you start looking, know how much you can afford to spend. Housing is the biggest monthly expense for most people so if you miscalculate what rent is affordable, your budget will suffer from the get-go. Besides rent, don’t forget such additional expenses as a security deposit, utilities, cable/satellite, Internet access, renters insurance, parking and laundry facilities and one-time move-in

14

ZEST | JUNE 2013

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

expenses like window treatments, appliances or rugs.

Scope out the neighborhood. Determine how safe you feel walking around, especially if you’ll be parking on the street. Come back to see if the neighborhood’s character changes at night or on the weekend. Also note the proximity to parks, schools, grocery stores, public transportation

Money matters and busy commuter routes.

Thoroughly inspect each potential rental: I Consider total useable space – sometimes a smaller unit with a well-designed floor plan is more desirable than a larger space with a poor layout.

I Use a tape measure to measure each room to determine whether your furniture will fit. Ensure there’s sufficient closet, cupboard and storage space.

I Look for safety features like deadbolts and peepholes on exterior doors, well-lit corridors, stairwells and parking structures, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and bars or other security features on first-floor windows.

I In multi-unit buildings, note the condition of common areas – that’s a clue how attentive the owner/manager is regarding upkeep.

I Note the condition of appliances, plumbing fixtures, floors/carpeting, electrical outlets and switches, light fixtures, walls and windows. If you spot damaged or worn items, ask whether they’ll be replaced. If not, make sure they’re noted in the rental agreement.

I Check the water pressure and hot water quality.

I Check seals around doors, windows and vents; if leaky, they can boost utility bills.

I Look for evidence of previous water leaks and mold.

I Check for soundproofing, especially if there are adjoining apartments.

Once you find a suitable place, read the rental agreement carefully. Don’t hesitate to ask a lawyer or more experienced friend to review it. If not spelled out in the lease you may want to ask the landlord: I How much is the security deposit and what are the requirements for getting a full refund?

I How are rent increases determined?

I What happens after the lease term ends? Often, it’ll convert to a month-to-month rental agreement where you can leave anytime with proper notice (usually 30 days).

I How many tenants are allowed?

I What are building policies for things like house guests, noise curfews, maintenance and repairs, pest control, smoking, lost keys and pets?

I Can you sublet the unit before your lease expires?

And finally, be aware that many landlords check credit reports of potential tenants. Before you start looking, check your own credit report so there are no surprises. You can order one free report per year from each of the three major credit bureaus – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.

(Order through www.annualcreditreport.com; otherwise you’ll pay a small fee.)

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301 Ramsey Ave. N. • Litchfield, MN 55355 Phone: 320-693-3255 • Fax: 320-693-7429

800-893-3255 • www.cnbmn.com JUNE 2013 | ZEST

15

Cover story

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Heirlooms Tea Room & Special Occasions is located at 325 Hassan St. SE, Hutchinson.

Hollatz finds peace in her life after leaving her full-time interior design job in the Twin Cities and opening Heirlooms, a tea room and event venue in Hutchinson.

Audrey Hollatz started Heirlooms Tea Room & Special Occasions in 2008 in Hutchinson. Her tea room and event venue garnered national attention when it was featured in the March/April issue of TeaTime magazine. Since then, she has received responses from across the country.

Making time for tea STORY AND PHOTOS BY JULIANA THILL • EDITOR

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I

nside a built-in cabinet in Audrey Hollatz’s Morning Room is a miniature china tea set she played with when she was a young girl. Even though some pieces of the set are missing or chipped, they serve as inspiration for her business, Heirlooms Tea Room and Special Occasions in Hutchinson.

Hollatz, 51, is the proprietress of Heirlooms, a tea room and special event venue. Set in a Victorian home, Heirlooms hosts a variety of events and gatherings such as birthday parties, baby and bridal showers, book clubs, girlfriend getaways, holiday tea parties, business dinner parties, rehearsal dinners, and intimate weddings.

“As a child, I loved having tea parties, usually with my little sister. I was blessed with a grandmother who nurtured the feminine qualities that she saw in me,” Hollatz said.

Her grandmother gave the miniature tea set to Hollatz

Cover story when she was about 6 years old. It was one of many seeds planted in Hollatz’s life that she — unknowingly — nurtured along and led to her opening Heirlooms.

“Grandma coached me in femininity and encouraged me to have character and integrity and always to be a lady.

Always. She was very important in my life,” Hollatz said.

Hollatz always loved beautiful, feminine things — delicate china, soft vintage linens, antique furniture, classic novels, romantic clothing.

As an adult, “I became introduced to the idea of tea time. I took a community education class and discovered I loved the beauty of it, the tea cups and fancy little foods,” Hollatz said. “When I became a wife and then a mother, I had tea parties with my children to nurture our relationships and instill good manners in them.”

During her regular “Tuesday Tea with Mommy” events with her two children, Ben and Lauren, she taught them manners — how to place a napkin on their lap when they ate and sit on a chair with their feet on their floor, and “we would chat,” she said. “It’s important to teach kids etiquette. It gives them confidence in public. Most kids grow up eating in the car, so how are you going to learn that unless you’re intentional about it?”

Her children, now grown, benefitted from those Tuesday Teas, she believes.

The teas inspired her daughter to host tea parties for her friends and teachers. It helped her son learn how to be courteous to his wife — opening the car door for her on their first date, which impressed her so much that she agreed to go on a second date.

About 20 years ago, Hollatz helped coordinate a mother-daughter tea event at her church that they decorated with heirlooms, she recalled. “That was a giant seed that I had no idea was being planted because I was working then, a career woman, a full-time mom. So it’s funny how God plants all these seeds.”

Hollatz worked as a commercial interior designer for 25 years. For the past eight years, she worked at Station 19, a Minneapolis architectural firm specializing in the design of churches across the country, including Cornerstone Church in Litchfield.

The idea to open Heirlooms came

Audrey Hollatz has a powder room at Heirlooms that is filled with vintage hats, boas, white gloves and pearls people can borrow so they can dress up for their tea time. She enjoys letting “girls know what a pleasure it is to be a girl. I give permission to do that and a place to do that,” she said.

about after attending a spiritual retreat.

One of the retreat’s sessions was titled, “Discovering God’s Dreams for Your Life.” The pastor at the retreat posed this question: “If every job paid the same, what would you do with your life? If they all had the same status, the same pay, what would you really, truly want to do?”

He told them to look back at things in their life, to look at all the seeds that had been planted, the common threads that ran through their life, “and mine was always beauty, and tea and femininity,” Hollatz said.

The seeds had begun to grow into the vision for a tea room located in a historic home, an unhurried place for social gatherings that would feed the mind, body and soul. A place where people could experience hospitality, beauty, and peace, she said.

Hollatz went back to her room and started writing down ideas. “The seeds were kind of planted all my life,” she said. “I looked at the common themes in my life. I was writing furiously. It was truly a download from heaven — ‘here is what you need to do, here’s your future.’ I was so giddy and excited.”

She decided her ideas would take

root in Hutchinson, a city she had only become aware of a year earlier because her son had moved to town to attend Ridgewater College.

When she shared her plan with her husband, Tim, “he did think I was nuts,” she said. But Tim, who works as a commercial photographer for Target Corp. in the Twin Cities, agreed to support her. “He’s artsy and very logical. He keeps me grounded.”

On paper, her plan made no sense financially, Hollatz admitted. Yet, the Hollatzes wanted to try it.

“We decided early on ... that we would just keep walking through doors, and if they closed, we knew we were at the end of the line and we weren’t going to force it. But the doors kept flying opening,” she said. “It was a very, very clear path.”

While she enjoyed her career as a designer, when it became evident she couldn’t keep her job in Minneapolis and operate Heirlooms, she gave her notice at work. That way, she could focus her energy on the tea room.

“It was wonderful at the time. I was having a blast, but it became evident there was a time to move on,” she said.

Now, nearly five years into her new career, she loves being a tea room

JUNE 2013 | ZEST

17

Cover story proprietress. “I can’t imagine going back. I threw my portfolio away. I did not renew my design license. I knew I was done.”

Serving others Heirlooms is not a restaurant, however it does have a food license.

Hollatz has food catered and prepared in her kitchen, and serves people by reservation only. The house can be reserved for small gatherings, or people can make a reservation to attend one of Heirlooms scheduled CommuniTea events.

“I see the food as kind of support for the fellowship that happens,” she said.

“The key is giving a place where people can really connect and get out of the world and leave recharged. So many people say, ‘I didn’t know I needed this, but I really did.’”

The house on Hassan Street was built for and owned by Ludwig and Mary Ritter in 1889. The second family to purchase the house lived there for more than 30 years. The third owners added rooms onto the rear to serve as a boarding house. In the late 1940s, it was converted to a duplex. In 1989, a woman purchased and restored it to its former Victorian glory. She operated the Harrington House Bed and Breakfast and a restaurant there for five years. The next owners did extensive work to the exterior, adding cobblestone paths, perennial gardens and a gazebo, then re-opened it as the L. A. Ritter House Bed and Breakfast.

Hollatz and her husband, Tim, purchased the historic home in 2008.

“It’s such a beautiful house, and it needs to be shared, she said. “It’s nice to have it available for all kinds of uses.”

When people reserve Heirlooms for an event, “the place is theirs. I am the servant. They are the guest hostess, so they can greet their friends at the door. It’s like you own the place and we’re the maids,” she said.

She plans the food and tea so they complement each other; and she can accommodate special diets and food allergies if she knows ahead of time.

One of the items people must decide, though, is what hat they want to wear at the table.

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ZEST | JUNE 2013

Classic cream scones with clotted cream, lemon curd and strawberry jam accompany a cup of black tea at Heirlooms.

Heirlooms events Heirlooms Tea Room and Special Occasions is located at 325 Hassan Street SE, Hutchinson.

N Heirlooms offers “CommuniTea” themed events each month served from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. by advanced pre-paid reservation.

June 22 — Garden Tea Party July 13 — Red, White & Blueberry Aug. 10 — Tropical Tea Party Sept. 14 — Back to School Oct. 12 — Autumn Harvest Nov. 16 — Count Your Blessings Dec. 7 — Christmas Tea Dec. 14 — Christmas Tea N Heirlooms also offers special events, if enough interest is shown: June — “Daddy and Me” Tea Party Aug. 29 — Luncheon Tea for Teachers Dec. 21 — Children’s Christmas Tea Party For more information and reservations, call Audrey Hollatz at 320-5873975 or go online to her website, www.heirloomstea.com.

She has a powder room filled with vintage hats, boas, white gloves and pearls people can borrow so they can dress up for their tea time.

“It’s pretty fun,” she said. “That’s my favorite part of the whole thing when I’m getting food ready and women are just giggling their heads off. I love it.”

Heirlooms usually is booked for two to three events per week, which is

enough for Hollatz, she said, because in between each event there’s much to do. She keeps busy washing, ironing, cleaning, setting tables, handling the accounting, writing and publishing a newsletter, and updating Facebook.

“There’s tons and tons of tasks. It’s a good thing I didn’t know what I was getting into. I knew the ministry part of it and the serving. but the 24/7 of it, I didn’t know. I used to think, ‘I work at home, how awesome.’ Now I think, ‘I live at work.’ I don’t have that commute and that’s awesome, but also I don’t have that starting/ending time.

There’s a constantness to it. I think that’s true of every start-up business owner. You don’t know the entire picture, and if you did you’d never do it.

But you just keep going.”

In the five-bedroom, five-bathroom house, the Hollatzes live in the attic, which has its own kitchenette.

“It’s very nice. It’s self-contained. We love it,” she said. “It’s all we need.

We’re empty nesters. We absolutely love having a small space.”

The rest of the house — the main floor living area and upstairs — is used for Heirlooms.

A place to get away As Hollatz developed ideas for Heirlooms, she envisioned hosting etiquette and historical events. When children come to Heirlooms, she offers a brief etiquette lesson to her young visitors.

“I’ve been studying how to teach etiquette to children, so it’s interesting and not stuffy. Really it’s just knowing how to play the game. If you play soccer, you want to know the rules, otherwise you’re not going to want play, you’ll want to stand on the sidelines because you don’t know if you’re in or out, or how to pass. So, it’s just knowing the ground rules of the game, so then kids are much more comfortable and they know how to act. They love it,” she said.

Heirlooms also offers children’s dress up parties, and the children go upstairs and choose their gowns, shawls, tiaras, purses, gloves and costume jewelry.

Heirlooms is a place for women and girls, “to learn what it is to be a lady,” she said. When she sees self-

Cover story Heirloom (n.) A valued possession handed down from generation to generation. proclaimed tom-boys dress up and enjoy it, and when she watches girls twirl in their dresses outside in the yard and sees the smiles, it’s magical, she said, and then, “I know, OK, my mission has been accomplished — just to let girls know what a pleasure it is to be a girl. I give permission to do that and a place to do that.”

It’s also meant to be a haven from the busyness of the modern world.

When people come to Heirlooms, she encourages them to turn off their cell phones and “love the one you’re with,” she said. “My husband sees it as a ministry. It really does minister to people — having quiet, being surrounded by beauty for a couple of hours for all distractions to be taken away.”

The next phase Her other idea for Heirlooms is to

create a domestic arts center where local residents could come to teach lessons in traditional home arts such as knitting, crocheting, embroidery, spinning, and sewing that are soon to be lost in the modern technology-driven society, she said.

“The vision is to draw from the rich senior community. Young and old could sit side by side to learn and teach one another. I see it as an intergenerational thing, because these days people don’t have their grandparents nearby.

Kids need grandparents and seniors need younger people. They just thrive together. And there’s so much to learn from each other,” she said. “I’d really love to have that happen. Those arts are going to be lost. I didn’t learn them. If we don’t pass them on, they’re going to be lost. Nobody is going to have embroidered pillowcases anymore or heirloom sewing, little bap-

tismal outfits, just beautiful things.”

For Hollatz, this would complete the vision for Heirlooms — passing on the gifts of time and talents to be treasured for generations to come.

However, she hasn’t had the time to bring it to fruition.

“There’s just one of me. Never has the term sole proprietress been more true. It’s pretty overwhelming,” she said of owning and operating Heirlooms.

Yet, she believes she’s where she’s supposed to be in her life.

“I love being a grandma. I love being a tea room proprietress. I don’t really mind being middle age, either. Each age and stage has a purpose,” she said.

“So far, this stage is the best. We’ve been blessed beyond what we could ask for. The journey hasn’t always been wonderful and rosy. We are daily grateful for that. It’s all a gift.”

JUNE 2013 | ZEST

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Health Treatment less invasive than surgery might ease thumb arthritis Dear Mayo Clinic: Are there any effective treatments for thumb arthritis that do not require surgery?

Answer: Surgery for arthritis of the thumb is usually a treatment of last resort. A variety of less-invasive treatment options are available. Although they might not always provide long-term relief, for most people with thumb arthritis, these therapies can effectively lessen symptoms, and surgery may not be necessary.

With thumb arthritis, the cartilage that covers the ends of the bones deteriorates, and its smooth surface roughens. The bones then rub against each other, resulting in friction and more joint damage. The most common symptom of thumb arthritis is pain at the base of your thumb during activities of daily living such as opening a jar, turning a key or pulling a zipper. You might notice other symptoms, too, such as stiffness, tenderness or swelling at the base of your thumb. You might not have as much range of motion or strength in your thumb as usual.

Arthritis of the thumb joint affects about 8 to 12 percent of the population. It is the second-most common part of the hand to have arthritis. The joints at the end of the fingers are the most common spot for hand arthritis. Thumb

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Arthritis of the thumb joint is common, affecting about 8 to 12 percent of the population. It is the second-most common part of the hand to have arthritis. arthritis affects more than 50 percent of women age 70 and older.

For some people, at-home treatments might reduce symptoms of thumb arthritis. Anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen, is often effective. A gel form of a similar anti-inflammatory medication (diclofenac) is available for those whose stomachs do not tolerate anti-inflammatories well. Other medications, including acetaminophen and prescription pain relievers, also might help.

In addition to medications, try using tools that make it easier for you to grip with your thumb. For example, jar openers, key turners and large zipper pulls designed for people with limited hand strength are available. Many people who have thumb arthritis also find it useful to replace traditional round door handles with lever handles.

Your doctor may have other suggestions about techniques and equipment that can make it easier to use your thumb.

If those steps aren’t enough, talk to your doctor about getting a splint. A splint can support your joint and limit your thumb and wrist movement. That helps rest the thumb joint and lessens pain. Some people only need to wear a splint at night. But, depending on your situation, your doctor might recommend prolonged use of a splint, especially when you do activities that cause thumb pain.

Finally, an injection of medication into the thumb joint, such as a corticosteroid injection, may reduce inflammation and relieve pain temporarily.

If none of these approaches work, then surgery might be a reasonable option, especially if symptoms are making it hard for you to do your day-to-day activities. There are a variety of treatments including arthroscopy (key hole surgery), removal of the arthritic bone at the base of the thumb possibly with a tendon graft, and even joint replacement (in select cases). It is important to thoroughly try all the non-operative treatments before surgery. In most people, they can successfully relieve symptoms of thumb arthritis.

— Sanjeev Kakar, M.D., Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.

Medicare

People pay least with in-network doctor Dear Marci, How can I pay the least for doctors’ office visits, if I have a Medicare Advantage plan?

— Josh Dear Josh, “Dear Marci” is a If you have a Medicare service of the Advantage plan, also known as a Medicare Rights Medicare private health plan, you Center, the largest typically pay the least for health independent source care services if you see an in-netof Medicare informawork doctor. An in-network doctor tion and assistance in the United States. is a provider that contracts with For information, go the plan to provide health care online to www. services to plan members at a medicarerights.org/. negotiated rate. In contrast, an out-of-network doctor does not work with the plan. If you see an out-of-network doctor, your plan might either pay less or not pay anything for health care services you receive.

Generally, you pay more for health care services you receive from an out-of-network doctor and pay less for services you receive from an in-network doctor.

All Medicare Advantage plans are different. Each plan has different rules and may have different networks of providers. While there are multiple types of Medicare Advantage plans, the two most common types of plans are Health Maintenance Organizations and Preferred Provider Organizations. Contact your Medicare Advantage plan to help you locate an in-network doctor. You can also call your doctor’s office to ask whether the doctor is in your plan’s network.

If you have Original Medicare, the traditional Medicare program offered directly through the federal government, you can receive Medicare-covered health care services from any doctor, as long as he/she accepts Medicare.

— Marci

A Assurance

Prince of Peace Retirement Living is designed for your independence with an assurance that personalized services are available.

For your comfort, we offer one or two bedroom apartments decorated with your own personal items. Come and go as you wish.

Life here is about independence.

For your peace of mind, we also offer optional meals, housekeeping, and health care ala carte to assist you with your changing needs.

Life here is about dignified services.

For your convenience, we offer a full line of activities and opportunities to meet with your neighbors who share common and unique experiences.

Life here is about community.

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Answer to Crossword Puzzle published on Page 22 To advertise here, Call Shari at 320-234-5702 JUNE 2013 | ZEST

21

Food & Fun Paul’s Popovers 5 eggs 1 2/3 cups half-and-half 1 2/3 cups flour 1 teaspoon salt Butter, double cream or jam 1 12 cup muffin pan Preheat oven to 450. Place eggs and half-and-half in a large bowl beat with a whisk until blended.

Add flour and salt and mix well.

Mixture should resemble pancake batter — small lumps are OK. Even if you have a non-stick muffin pan, use a light coat of cooking spray.

SOURCE: WWW.CULINARY.NET Fill each cup 3/4 full. Place on middle rack of oven. Make sure the top rack is placed high enough so the popovers do not come in contact with it as they rise. Close the door and do not peek for 30 minutes. Makes 12 popovers. Serve with butter or double cream and jam.

Share your favorite recipe If you would like us to publish a favorite recipe from your recipe box, send it to Juliana Thill c/o Zest magazine, 170 Shady Ridge Road, NW, Suite 100, Hutchinson, MN 55350 or drop it off at the Hutchinson Leader or Litchfield Independent Review offices.

Please include your name and a phone number, in case we have questions. We will publish recipes as we have space.

Crossword puzzle Across 1. Lose velocity (2 wds) 7. Birthplace of Solidarity 13. Mexican steamed dish 14. Bitter alkaloid extracted from chinchona bark (pl.)

16. Forever, poetically 17. Ester of carbamic acid 18. Moray, e.g.

19. A moderately slow tempo (music) 21. “The Catcher in the ___” 22. Get ready, for short 24. Assayers’ stuff 25. Chowder morsel 26. When repeated, like some shows 27. Moral obligation 28. Goat man 29. “... or ___!”

30. “It’s no ___!”

31. Swallows rapidly in large amounts 32. Theater which presents works from a specific collection 35. Plucky 37. Buff 38. Hail Mary, e.g.

42. Anger 43. Houston university 44. Cesspool 45. Pigeon’s home 46. Characteristic carrier 47. Face-to-face exam 48. Balloon filler 49. Writes in symbols

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ZEST | JUNE 2013

Crossword puzzle answer on Page 20 52. “... ___ he drove out of sight” 53. Generous portion of food 55. Freshen 57. Procurers 58. ___ Island, N.Y. 59. Converted, in a way 60. Circus lion ___ (pl.)

Down 1. Church tower 2. Situated on the side 3. Egg dishes, e.g. Denver or cheese 4. “This means ___!”

5. Arm bone 6. Hammer part 7. Hospital stretcher with wheels 8. Fare reductions 9. A chip, maybe 10. National Institutes of Health (acronym) 11. Confuse (2 wds) 12. Nairobi residents 14. Four competitions in a tournament 15. Appear 20. Drench 23. Aristocracy 25. West Indies’ music genre 27. Copy 28. It’s a wrap 31. Departed 33. “The Three Faces of ___” 34. Be silent, in music 35. High heat oven device 36. Grind (2 wds) 39. Golden 40. More stylish 41. Angers 43. Yield 45. Beanies 46. Errand runner 49. “I, Claudius” role 50. “___ of Eden” 51. “La Scala di ___” (Rossini opera) 54. Butter holder 56. Battering device

Food

Prairie Senior Cottages

Secrets to savory steak To celebrate Father’s Day and summer’s arrival this month, there’s no better time to fire up the grill.

Steak is America’s favorite grilled entrée, according to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and there are some secrets to making a mouthwatering, restaurant-style steak on your own backyard grill.

First, choose the right cut. With its lean, tender meat, top sirloin will please just about everyone, and is a perfect candidate for marinating. The easiest way to marinate is in a resealable plastic storage bag. Place meat and marinade in the bag and seal, turning occasionally. After marinating, discard the used bag and marinade.

Always marinate in the refrigerator.

To know when steak is properly cooked, use an instant- read thermometer, check for the following temperatures: medium-rare, 145; medium, 160; well-done, 170. Never stab steak with a fork — always use tongs to turn while on the grill.

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.

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

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N02183

For more information, call John Peterson.

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Chophouse Steak With Ranch-Style Dipping Sauce Prep time: 10 minutes • marinate time 1 hour Cook time: 16 minutes

1 1/2 pounds top sirloin steak or other favorite steak cut 1 (12-ounce) bottle Lawry’s Steak & Chop Marinade with lemon juice, divided 1/2 cup Lawry’s Steak Sauce 1/4 cup Wish-Bone Ranch or Blue Cheese Dressing In resealable plastic bag, combine steak and 1 cup marinade. Marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour, turning several times. Remove steaks, discarding used marinade. Grill steaks over medium- high heat to desired doneness, turning and brushing often with remaining marinade. In small bowl, combine steak sauce and ranch dressing. Serve as dipping sauce with steak. Makes four servings.

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ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES

Cedar Crest of Hutchinson Serving the Community since 1984 225 Shady Ridge Rd. NW, Hutchinson 320-587-7077

Cedar Crest of Cosmos Serving the Community since 2003 130 N. Neptune, Cosmos 320-877-9100

Cedar Crest of Silver Lake Serving the Community since 2009 1401 Main St. W., Silver Lake 320-327-6577

Services included in Low Base Rate: • Healthcare Assessment by Registered Nurse • 24-Hour Supervision by Trained Staff • Medication Distribution • Recreation, Exercise and Spiritual Activities

• Three Meals a day plus Snacks • Laundry and Linen Service • Housekeeping and Maintenance • Push button call system • Utilities included

Cedar Crest is unique in that we provide either minimal or total cares for our residnets, eliminating the need for them to transfer to another facility when their comforts increase.

We also welcome Hospice Patients — Adult Day Services

For more information or tour, please contact Roz Ewald at 612-201-8348.

E-mail rozewald@cedarcrestmn.com

www.cedarcrestmn.com