JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013
YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
2 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
features
On the cover: Patrick Scharinger, of Pond Hill Farm, in Harbor Springs, assembles a display of fresh vegetables at his table at the Petoskey farmers market at North Central Michigan College. The Petoskey market has moved inside for the winter and will be each Friday morning in the concourse area of the Student and Community Resource Center at the college. Photo by G. Randall Goss/GoodLife
5 Good Taste New Year’s Ham & Beans
9 Good Word Anne Kelly
17 Good Sport Skiing for all ages
6 Good Stuff Good to Go: Hook lying arm & leg lift
10 Good Thoughts S.A.D. & treatments
19 Good Advice from Dr. Lauren Wise
Good Humor: Katie MacInnis
12 Cover Story Winter farmers markets
20 Good Buys Crossfit Petoskey
Good for Kids: Swimming lessons
15 Good Health Quelling cabin fever
22 Good to Know Personality profile: Jim Elzinga GOODlife 3
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 - Volume 4, Issue 3 PUBLISHER DOUG CALDWELL EDITOR SHERI MCWHIRTER-O’DONNELL PHOTOGRAPHY G. RANDALL GOSS LAYOUT AND DESIGN WENDY WOLFSEN FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CONTACT ADVERTISING DIRECTOR CHRISTY LYONS (231) 439-9329 clyons@petoskeynews.com ADVERTISING SALES ERICA NIESEN JEFF GENSCHAW
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4 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
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GOOD TASTE
New Year’s Day
ham & beans
Southern food tradition intended to bring luck and prosperity Story and photography by Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell
A
nyone who hears me speak on the telephone to my mother or grandmother knows I’ m not originally from Northern Michigan. A slight southern twang surfaces whenever these conversations happen, evidence of my birth in the central part of Southern Illinois. Now, you are correct if you’re thinking Illinois isn’t exactly a southern state. But as I’ve been told, the coal mines in Kentucky and Tennessee once gave out de cades ago, leaving the workers there to migrate to the carbon-rich parts of Illinois, bringing their southern accents and s outhern traditions with them. Ultimately, this is wh y my family eats ham and beans on New Year’s Day. It’s a southern food tradition to eat black-eyed peas on the first day of the calendar year, a ritual intended to bring good luck and prosperity. It all b egan with Babylonia, if you c an believe it. The Jewish good luck tradition of e ating black-eyed peas on Ne w Year’s Day is founded in the Babylonian Talmud, compiled five centuries before Jesus lived. Purportedly, the American South adopted that tradition from Jewish immigrants who arrived in Georgia in the early- to mid-18th century. Traditionally, the meal includes collard greens and ham. The way the story goes, the swollen peas symbolize prosperity, the greens symbolize money and the pork symbolizes positive motion, all t hanks to the way hogs root forward when foraging. Oh, and don’t forget the cornbread, which doesn’t symbolize anything, as far as I know. But whatever the reason, it’s quite clear this easy and ine xpensive meal
can feed a large family. See, the ingredients are a pound of black-eyed peas or Great Northern beans, along w ith some sea salt, black pepper and two or three pork hocks. The bag of beans costs around $3 and t he pork hocks collectively run around $2. A b ox of cornbread mix is le ss than 50 c ents. That means you get a big me al to feed a decent crowd for $5-6. How’s that for prosperity? My family has its own interpretation, of c ourse. My mother always joked that ham and b eans over c ornbread is t he cheapest meal you c an make to feed a family. So doesn’t that mean every meal after New Year’s Day is an improvement? Well, maybe not alw ays. Say, on popcorn nights. But it’s a nice tradition and I’m glad it’s mine.
Ingredients: — 1 pound of black-eyed peas, or Great Northern beans — 2-3 pork hocks — Sea salt — Black pepper
Directions: 1. Soak the cleaned and s orted beans overnight in c old water, according to instructions on the package. Then drain and rinse. 2. Place the 2 or 3 p ork hocks in a large slow c ooker and add t he rinsed beans. Pour water over the top to fill up the cooker and add sea salt and black pepper to taste. 3. Cook the ingredients on low f or 8-10 hours, or on the high setting for 4-5 hours. 4. About an hour before being done, use tongs to remove the pork hocks from the cooker. Then use a knife to cut loose as much meat as possible from the bones and skin. Return the meat to the cooker and discard the bones and skin. 5. Stir and serve the ham and beans soup over a slic e of c ornbread, preferably cornbread mixed with a heaping tablespoon of lo cal honey before baking.
New Year’s Day ham and beans are a tr aditional meal in many American households.
GOODlife 5
GOOD STUFF GOOD HUMOR
GOOD TO GO
Hook lying arm/leg lift
P
hysical therapist Kelly Gib- and abdominal muscles should son said she recommends a reduce lower back pain, Gibson particular exercise to help said. A key element to the first step address low back pain problems. Gibson said this is a relatively in this exercise is finding the easy exercise to do, regardless of “neutral pelvis” position. Gibson age. She recommends perform- said that can be done by tilt ing this exercise on a flat surface ing the pelvis forward and then back, before finding the midor mat, such as a bed. “This exercise addresses trunk point. “I tell people to arch their back muscles, so back and a bdominal muscles in the body’s trunk,” all the way while ly ing down, then flatten their back. Do that Gibson said. A common reason clients several times and fi nd the midmay experience lower bac k point between the two plac es,” pain is we ak abdominals in the Gibson said. That mid-point body’s trunk, she said. S o buildmid point is wher wheree the ing up the strength of both back pelvis elvis is neutral, she said.
Position 1: Lie flat on your back with knees bent and feet placed flat on the surface, whether a bed or the floor. Find your neutral pelvis po-sition. Position No. 2: Lift one arm
above your he ad, while a t the same time raising t he opposite foot a f ew w inches off the surface. Hold that po-sition for a moment, this movement strengthens the back and abdominal muscles.
Position No. 3:
Repeat the second position with the other arm and the other foot.
“That can be repeated 10 times on e ach side and t he key is to keep the abdominal muscles tight throughout,” Gibson
said. “The bonus to this is it also challenges for coordination, but once you get it, you’re good.” — Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell
Photography by G. Randall Goss
Not responsible
T
he question I dread the most from friends is: “So, what have you been up to?” Either I can’t remember or I am quickly Rolodex-ing through my day, hoping for something appropriate to say. I think: “Can I tell this friend what I really do, now that I’m retired?” I feel like a parolee on a tether program who COURTESY PHOTO can’t exKatie MacInnis, columnist plain where from Harbor Springs she’s been. I haven’t just unpacked from a trip around the world, nor have I saved the whales or worked on a mission trip. But I recently spent a very happy afternoon watching six NCIS episodes in a row. And I have to say how much I admire the producers for hiring a man with grey hair (Gibbs), who is actually pretty hot, though he sure can be grumpy at times. I do some volunteer work and I am involved with my church. I make lists each morning of important things to do, such as going to the library, changing the bed, making pies for the benefit dinner and my watercolor class — a precarious balance between domesticity and insignificance. We love to see our grandson and children. But we have miles between us which, for them, is probably a God-send. Continued on page 7
6 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
GOOD STUFF
GOOD HUMOR
Continued from page 6
GOOD FOR KIDS
Swimming lessons at community pools By Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell · Photography by G. Randall Goss
W
inter months may not be when most t hink about a swim, though it ma y prove to be the ideal time for children to take swimming lessons. All three local community pools offer swimming lessons for children during the winter, including those in Charlevoix, East Jordan and Harbor Springs. Local aquatics professionals said summer isn’t the only time to think about swimming skills. “With us b eing surrounded by water up here, it’s imperative that kids know water safety and know how to swim,” said Mik e Cullip, aquatics specialist at the Harbor Springs Community Pool. “It’s a great indoor activity to keep the
Xxx.
kids in shape and in a safe place.” Families can choose from multiple swim-related options, such as group swimming lessons, private lessons or competitive swim clubs based at each of t he local community pools. Betsy Granstra, aquatics coordinator at Charlevoix Area Community Pool as well as East Jordan Community Pool director, agreed it’s important for Northern Michigan children to know swimming skills and winter is a good time to learn. “It’s an im portant opportunity during the winter to get in t he pool and practice their skills. And it’s a nice family activity,” Granstra said. GL Information about swimming lessons is available at each community pool. The pools can be contacted at: — Charlevoix Area Community Pool 11905 U.S. 31 North, Charlevoix (231) 547-0982; info@charlevoixpool.org www.charlevoixpool.org
— East Jordan Community Pool At East Jordan High School 101 Maple St., East Jordan Libby Sterrett, (front to back) 11, of Charlevoix, (231) 536-2250; bgranstra@ejps.org www.eastjordanpool.com Gabby Snyder, 11, of East Jordan, and Tia — Harbor Springs Community Pool At Harbor Springs High School 500 Spring St., Harbor Springs munity Pool. Swim teams from Charlevoix (231) 526-4824; pool@harborps.org and East Jordan use the pool for practice. www.harborps.org/Pool/pool.htm
Spence, 11, of East Jordan, work on their back
stroke while practicing at the East Jordan Com-
Sometimes I define my happiness by what I am not doing. My world is more perfect without meetings, in-services, forms to sign, qualifications to be met and without being on my feet for 12 hours, knowing any minute someone would make a demand or complain about something, or even die. The day of my retirement party at the hospital, between cake and ice cream, there were two codes on my floor. I loved being a nurse and sought out exactly that kind of challenge, but I am so grateful I do not still work there. Just a couple of weeks ago, my grandson and I were on a walk. He is 2 years old and fascinated by a lot of things I tell him. We examined a lamb’s ear weed in the grass and I plucked two “ears” to tuck into his knitted cap. Then I had to have ears as well. We were quite a pair! He doesn’t ask me about my day. And our walk seemed to be the most important thing I could ever do. He is not responsible for much. He takes naps, holds hands and walks slowly enough to admire even the weeds. Maybe I, too, would accomplish more if I just tried to do less. GL
— Katie MacInnis Katie MacInnis is a retired nurse living in Harbor Springs with her husband, Charlie. She became a nurse after obtaining a bachelor of arts degree in English and waiting tables for a year or two. Nursing and writing are still important to her, though only as volunteer work. She and her husband love living in Northern Michigan.
GOODlife 7
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8 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
GOOD WORD
No regrets
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By Anne Kelly
hat is on your bucket list has a lot t o say about yourself and t he things you still w ant to experience and accomplish in life, things you don’t want left undone, lik e a half-hung laundry basket on a sunny day. Maybe it’s Pollyannaish given the implications of the phrase “kicking the bucket,” but I pr efer to think of a bucket list along the lines of a tr eat jar f illed with enjoyable experiences, or a sand pail filled with fortune cookie adventures — all good and fulfilling.
One day as I w aited in t he cash register line in J.C . Penney’s basement, two elderly ladies chatted away. “You know, I alw ays wanted to go to Hawaii,” one said t o the other. “But I never did. Now I just don’t have the energy.” The conversation gave me pause. I felt so badly for her. Right then and t here I decided that I would mak e my own plans to go to Hawaii. I put the plan on my bucket list and actually went the next year. I w ill never regret that trip and I think that’s the point of making and c hecking off your list, having no regrets. The list do es not ha ve to exclusively be trips, although if you a sk most people, it appears vacations or travel adventures are priority items. “What’s on your buc ket list? ” I r ecently asked some friends. Around the table the discussion included riding the Orient Express, sky diving, running with the bulls in Madrid, visiting every continent and riding the Trans Canadian Railway. When someone put t he ques-
COURTESY PHOTO
tion to me a f ew years ago, “Seeing Neil Diamond in c oncert,” was one of t he first phrases out of my mouth. So over Labor Day, a friend and I f lew to Vegas and sa w Neil do his H ot August Night Tour concert at the MGM Grand, along with 17,000 ot her fans. Now I’ m able to check that one of f the list. But what’s next? Southern Spain in September, I think. It sounds warm and wonderful. My college roommate speaks the language and w ill be a p erfect traveling companion. I don’t want to miss s eeing Barcelona and Madrid, or miss catching a glimpse of the Mediterranean. Sure, some of m y goals are unrealistic, like being interviewed on the Today Show f or something I wrote or g etting a c artoon caption chosen for The New Yorker. But
taking a river cruise down the Danube or le arning to play golf better aren’t out of the question. I want to be sure to include altruistic goals; helping others in r emarkable ways or in unr emarkable ways should not be excluded. The more you give, the more you receive. That is an established fact. There are books written on t he subject of bucket lists ranging from 99 to 2001 things to do b efore you die. That’s a lot of c hecking off! Whether the list is long or shor t it will be uniquely yours and c ompiling it is an e xercise in reflection. It can serve as a ledger showing what you have accomplished and what is hanging in t he balance. While no one entry will ever bring total fulfillment, at least there will be satisfaction that you are still alive and moving forward. Robert Browning said it b est, “Ah, but a man ’s reach must exceed his grasp, or what’s a heaven for?” I have a friend who when a sked said he r eally didn’t have a buc ket list. He’s happy with where he is and with what he’s done. He doesn’t pine for more. My mother-in-law was like that, very content with the status quo. While I admir e those who seem to have a yoga s ense of inner peace and c ontentment, I am restless. To me, life is a journey and e very day offers the promise of a ne w experience along t he way. My list may go on as long as I do; it s eems to constantly evolve. Keeping it g oing is m y New Year’s resolution. I don’t want to have any regrets. GL GOODlife 9
BELOW: This full spectrum light used for bright light therapy is available at VitalCare in Petoskey.
GOOD THOUGHTS
SAD season Seasonal Affective Disorder common in northern communities By Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell Photos by G. Randall Goss
I
t’s not unheard of to get the Northern Michigan wintertime blues. In fact, it’s rather common nationwide with as many as 11 million Americans who annually experience this condition. Michael Lucido, Charlevoix center supervisor for North Country Community Mental Health, said about 1 in 4 p eople experience subsyndromal symptoms of the disorder — commonly called SAD — and it is most often associDr. Michael Lucido ated with high latitude areas, precisely where Northern Michigan falls on the globe. “SAD is diag nosed when t here is a temporal relationship between the onset of de pression and t he fall and winter seasons, but then remits in the spring,” he said. The disorder’s symptoms include depressed mood, low s elf-esteem, hopelessness, despair, apathy, anxiety, irritability, less interest in ple asurable activities (anhedonia), sleeping more and difficulty staying awake, fatigue, low energy especially in the afternoon, craving for carbohydrates and s weet foods with weight gain, diffi culty concentrating, poor memory and isolation from others. Lucido said there are several possible causes behind SAD. “The Photoperiod Hypothesis sug10 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
gests that the shorter winter daylight time reduces the amount of direct light exposure. Melatonin is a ne urohormone that is im portant in r egulating the sleep-wake or cir cadian rhythm cycle, and varies seasonally with longer secretion during winter months because of less exposure to light,” he said. Another potential cause is the PhaseShift Hypothesis, which states there is a phase delay of the circadian rhythm in that people are staying awake later into evening and arising later in the morning, Lucido said, which again supports the impact of melatonin’s role in regulating the symptoms of SAD . Lastly, there are genetic contributions suggesting individuals with SAD frequently have a f amily history of de pression and there have been “Circadian Clock” genes implicated in SAD, he said. Lucido said anyone who e xperiences these symptoms firstly should speak with his or her do ctor to rule out any other medical reasons for the symptoms. “Your doctor may have a number of recommendations,” Lucido said. Phototherapy has been suggested as a key intervention to address the direct problem of phot operiod and pha se shift hypotheses, he said. “What is often recommended is purchasing a high intensity, 10,000 lux, full spectrum light box and us e it f or 30 minutes per day in t he morning,” Lucido said. The light should b e directed downward toward the eyes, but at an angle that prevents direct light. And there are side-effects for over use, including eyestrain, mild headaches, insomnia or irritability, he said. “Also, it is im portant that you t alk
North Country Community Mental Health www.norcocmh.org Charlevoix County 6250 M-66 North Charlevoix (231) 547-5885 Emmet County 1420 Plaza Drive Petoskey (231) 347-6701
with your do ctor about any current medications that may have light sensitivity,” Lucido said. He said another treatment may involve medications, such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, also a common first line tr eatment for depression. Medications can bring relief, though they can come along with sideeffects. Also, a t herapist may also be able to use cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to change thoughts and behaviors to combat the negative thought patterns or maladaptive behaviors that influence SAD, Lucido said. “Cognitive behavioral therapy may help you addr ess the thoughts and actions that are preventing you from accessing the little direct sunlight we do have during the day, such as staying inside rather than going out skiing or walking the dogs,” he said. “It is important to be active during the winter.” In addition t o medication, Lucido said vitamin D supplements have
been found to be as effective as light boxes in treating SAD. High quality light boxes can be purchased at VitalCare in Petoskey. A great book on this topic is “Winter Blues: Everything You Need to Know t o Beat Seasonal Affective Disorder,” written by Dr. Norman Rosenthal. Lucido recommends the book as a good resource on the topic, as well as residents’ own local doctors. “Ask about options for treatment and consider the strategies to increase outdoor time,” he said. “ Get a pair of snowshoes. There is no r eason we cannot get out in t he snow and embrace it!” GL
GOODlife 11
COVER STORY
Fresh, local foods available at
winter markets
Area farmers grow the season in five communities
Jane (from left) and Tim Bauman, of Door, Mich., check out the homemade preserves made by Callie Cupp, (right) of Guntzviller’s in Elk Rapids, at the Charlevoix farmers market on a Thursday morning inside the Charlevoix Public Library. By Sheri McWhirter-O’Donnell Photography by G. Randall Goss
F
armers in nor thwest Lower Michigan are growing the fresh food season in B oyne City, Charlevoix, East Jordan, Harbor Springs and Petoskey. Wintertime farmers markets in these communities — s everal in a second season — now mak e it p ossible for local residents to buy fresh 12 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
produce, even if t he options ar e somewhat limited. Growers expand their offerings through hoop houses and winter crops, along w ith the honeys, jams, meats, cheeses and eggs that make up winter’s cornucopia. “I think people want good, fresh food as often as possible. We try to meet that demand,” said Kathy Coveyou, of Coveyou Scenic Farm near Petoskey.
Coveyou and other local farmers sell their offerings on Fridays at Petoskey’s new winter farmers market at North Central Michigan College, along with other winter markets in Charlevoix and Emme t counties. Coveyou offered eggs, along w ith holiday wreaths and other greenery at a recent Petoskey winter market. “We are working to get more greens and squash,” she said. Across the way, Sue Duerksen of-
BELOW: Kathy Coveyou, of Coveyou Farms in Petoskey, assembles a display of holiday wreaths at her table during a Friday morning farmers market at North Central Michigan College. The Petoskey farmers market will be each Friday morning in the concourse area of the Student and Community Resource Center at North Central Michigan College, throughout the winter.
ABOVE: Tim Boyko (left) of Providence Farm, sells fresh vegetables to M ary Grace Otis, of East Jordan, at the Charlevoix farmers market in the Charlevoix Public Library. The library is host to the farm market each Thursday morning throughout the winter.
fered various products from her turkey farm in Antrim County. She sold sausages, ground turkey and turkey legs for roasting. She said she’s optimistic for winter markets to grow in popularity among t he region’s wintertime residents. “We’ve been doing farmers markets for about seven years. Every time we he ar about an indo or market we go,” Duerksen said. In Charlevoix, the winter farmers market takes place each Thursday at the Charlevoix Public Library. “It’s indoors, so after setting up your tent in the rain, sleet or snow, being inside is a nic e break for us,” said Renée Mosoryak, of Wholly Granoly in Bellaire. She said they use local syrup, local honey and lo cal fruits in t heir granola. The idea is t o acquire as
“I think people want good, fresh food as often as possible. We try to meet that demand.” — Kathy Coveyou, local grower
many granola ingredients as possible from within 30 miles of home. “Anything we c an source from Michigan we do. The closer to home the better,” Mosoryak said. Shopper Michelle Rick-Biddick, of Charlevoix, recently stopped by
the local winter farmers market to buy some fresh spinach and ot her produce. She said she’ s glad for the appearance of w inter markets in more and more communities. “I love the fresh produce. I like to know it’s organic. And I lik e to support local people,” she said while making her pur chase at the stand for the Pond Hill Farm in Harbor Springs. Marci Spencer, from Pond Hill Farm, said t hey participate in t he Boyne City, Charlevoix, Harbor Springs and P etoskey winter farmers markets. The farm offers both canned goods and fresh produce. “We have all sorts of home-canned goods from jams t o salsa, pickles to relishes,” Spencer said. “ We also grow in our ho op house. We grow Continued on page 14
GOODlife 13
Continued from page 13
kale, chard, spring mix, spinach and we still have some Brussels sprouts.” Winter farmers markets remain somewhat small f or now, but t he growers remain confident they will continue to grow in p opularity, along w ith increased awareness of the benefits of local — even organic — foods in terms of diet and a reduced carbon footprint. “It’s so nice to have access to local produce, whether it’s in a can or it be freshly grown. We see people coming back week after week for their favorite spinach, or what have you,” Spencer said. Coveyou said she hopes local residents will support the farmers at the winter markets while they work to “get going” in coming seasons to expand their offerings by setting up additional hoop houses and explore other winter crops. In Boyne City, the winter farmers market is on Saturdays in the red barn next to Boyne District Library, while another winter market also is held on Saturdays at 157 State St. in downtown Harbor Springs. East Jordan hosts a w inter farmers market on t he second Thursday of t he month at the East Jordan Community Center. GL
Boyne City — Boyne City’s indoor
farmers market runs 9 a.m.-1 p.m. every Saturday through April in the red barn next to Boyne District Library. (231) 582-9009; www.boynecityfarmersmarket.com.
Charlevoix — Charlevoix’s farmers
market is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursdays through May in Charlevoix Public Library’s community room. (231) 547-2101; www.charlevoix.org.
East Jordan — East Jordan’s winter market is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month from December through April at the East Jordan Community Center. (231) 536-7351.
Harbor Springs — Harbor Springs’
indoor farmers market runs 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays through the end of April at 157 State St. in downtown Harbor Springs. (231) 526-7999.
Petoskey — Petoskey’s winter farmers
market is 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Fridays through March in the concourse in the Student and Community Resource Center at North Central Michigan College. Closed Dec. 21, Dec. 28 and when the college is closed for the holidays. (231) 487-1188.
Farm market vendors (from left) Ashley Harris of Michigan Mushroom Market, Shaleen Millard of Farm Country Cheese with customer Don Hunter, and Eli Brown of the Farmer’s DaughterInterwater Farm, sell their goods in the warm setting of the Charlevoix Public Library during the winter months.
14 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
GOOD HEALTH
Seek light and activity to avoid wintertime blues By Metro Creative Services
S
ome people love w inter while others can’t wait for the warm air of spring to make its triumphant return. For the latter, cabin fever can become a problem as winter progresses. Cabin fever is t he feeling people get when they are relegated to spending long periods of time indo ors. Because winter weather can be harsh, cabin fever most often occurs in the winter, when t he weather outside discourages people from spending time out doors or op ening their Metro Creative Services windows to let fresh air in. Though Embracing outdoor activities like skiing is one way to quell cabin fever this winter. there’s nothing men and women c an do about the weather, they can take — Improve your home’ s aroma. especially valuable to those hopsteps to quell cabin fever and a void ing to quell cabin fever. Exercise While the validity of aromatherapy releases certain neurotransmitters remains open for debate, improvthe wintertime blues. in the brain that alleviate pain and ing a home’s aroma during the winimprove mood. ter months can remove the musty AROUND THE HOUSE smell that forms when a home has There are plenty of w ays to make been poorly ventilated for weeks — Get outdoors. Men and women a cabin less conducive to cabin fever. don’t have to spend hours in a gym or even months. Supporters of aroeach day to stay active dur ing the — Let the sunshine in. Cold air outmatherapy suggest that some eswinter months. It’s still possible to side makes it foolish and potentialsential oils, including lavender and spend ample time out doors when ly unhealthy to open the windows. peppermint, improve one’s mood. the weather is c old. Walk or r un But homeowners can still le t the EMBRACE ACTIVITY when the conditions allow or emsunshine outside those windows in. Many people feel winter is a time brace an activ ity such as skiing or to hibernate, which can make them — Work by t he window. More and snowboarding to get off the couch more people now telecommute to more susceptible to cabin fever. But and spend some quality time out work, which can make them more even when the weather outside isn’t side. susceptible to cabin fever during conducive to a bac kyard pool party, the winter months. Choose an men and women c an still stay active — Shovel the driveway. If your b ody allows, shovel your ow n driveway airy room with lots of windows to to fend off cabin fever. when it snows . When done c orhouse your home office. You’ll want — Exercise regularly. Regular exerrectly, shoveling is g reat exercise, your desk to face the windows durcise has both physical and mental and you may even cherish the time ing the workday so you can benefit benefits, the latter of which can be you get to spend outdoors. from the midday sun. GOODlife 15
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16 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
GOOD SPORT
You’re not too old to downhill ski By Aliana Knapp-Prasek ° Photography by G. Randall Goss
T
here’s not much else like downhill skiing during Northern Michigan winters. “Exhilarating, with the wind in your face,” said L ou Fantini, 71, of Petoskey. “Skiing gets us outdoors with good exercise and fresh air. We are not sit ting in f ront of t he television all day. It’s very stimulating. And, after a g ood day we ar e really tired. We love it.” Fantini is or ganizing this year’s 70-Plus Ski Club Midwe st Division event with his w ife, Sue. About 200 participants are expected to attend the event at Nub’s Nob Ski Area, for the 26th year, between Jan. 29-31. The 70-Plus Ski club is a na tional organization founded in 1977 by Lloyd Lambert, then 76. Now le d by Lloyd’s grandson, the organization continues to organize trips and events for its more than 3,000 members nationwide, including those here in the Midwest Division. Nub’s Nob alw ays served as the home for the Midwest Division’s annual event, the first ski resort in Michigan to offer free skiing to adults 70 years and older. Nub’s Nob general manager Jim Bartlett said it’s a continuation of ye ars spent skiing together. “We’ve enjoyed the company of these folks for years when t hey weren’t 70, and t hen when t hey hit that milestone in lif e they are provided with free skiing, so getting involved with them seemed only natural,” Bartlett said. The energy and excitement among the senior skiing g roup is not t o be Continued on page 18
Shirley, 83, and Tom Wall, 89, of Suttons Bay, made it to the event in 2012. GOODlife 17
Continued from page 17
missed, he said while tr ying to describe the experience. “One word — inspirational. Other sports that you par ticipate in when you are younger generally become too difficult for you in t hat seventh decade. Skiing is s omething you can do all your life. These folks choose to live every day to the fullest,” Bartlett said. Fantini skied downhill for 50 years and his wife skied for 25 years. Fantini remembers his first pair of Fischer wood skis t hat were very long and difficult to turn. Now he us es a pair of short skis that are easier to maneuver. During the season, Fantini likes to ski once or twice each week. And throughout the year, Fantini and his wife work out at the gym to keep in shape, he said. “We are in good health and able to participate. We enjoy helping a lot of people to do s omething they like
and get together and ha ve a g ood time. It’s amazing once someone gets on the slopes. Skiing b elies the fact that they have all these ailments and rheumatisms. It is like watching the ballet — it’s amazing,” Fantini said. Mike Keem, 71, of Char levoix, is a new member of t he 70-Plus Ski Club. He earned the title of Na star National Champion for Snowboarding in his ag e group in 2012 af ter a lifetime spent skiing sinc e his t een years. Keem started snowboarding 24 years ago after a hors e riding accident that left him unable to use his poles. He rides an alpine snowboard, also known as a carving board. “You go downhill with a lot of carving, very similar to skiing, just on one board,” he said. Keem said he rac es both on skis and his snowb oard and he and his wife, Mary, try to hit the slopes every day, rarely missing a day unless it’s re-
ally bad weather. He said it ma y not seem easy, but can become a beloved winter activity. “Like any outdoor activity, you are outside getting some exercise, but people do ne ed to have a f air sense of balance,” he said. “ Anyone that is interested, don’t give up after the first day because it is r eally tough — lots of bruises and s ores. But, don’t give up.” Anyone 70 years or older who is interested in participating at this year’s event must first join the 70-Plus Ski Club. Applications will be available to become a member at the Midwest Division event. There will be various activities over the course of t he three days, including ski rac es, dinners, dances and social events. More information is available by c alling Lou and S ue Fantini at (231) 347-5061 or s ending email to badmala@charter.net. GL
ABOVE: Bob Vandervoort, Okemus, 91. LEFT: A crowd of senior skiers cheer on competitors in the slalom race.
18 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
GOOD ADVICE
Tips to stay healthy Q&A with a local family doctor
are some Q: What preventive steps I can take to get healthy?
it or not, there’s a A: Believe lot you can do on your own
to stay well and to prevent illness and disease. The following pointers should help you maintain a high quality of life in the years ahead.
By Dr. Loren Wise
No. 1: E at healthy foods. One of the most im portant keys to good health is eating a balanced diet. The term “balanced” simply means that a diet meets your n utritional needs while not providing too much of any nutrient. To achieve a balanced diet, eat a rang e of f oods from each of the food groups. Although it varies person to person, your f ood intake should consist of 50 percent fruit and vegetables, 25 p ercent lean protein and 25 percent starch.
“There’s a lot you can do on your own to stay well and to prevent illness and disease.” — Dr. Loren Wise, Petoskey
COURTESY PHOTO Dr. Loren Wise
Loren Wise, M.D. Board Certification: Family Medicine McLaren Northern Michigan Mitchell Park Family Medicine 2390 Mitchell Park Drive, Suite D, Petoskey (231) 487-9355 www.northernhealth.org/mitchellpark
No. 2: E xercise regularly. For optimal health, pair r egular physical exercise with a healthy diet. Exercise can reduce high blo od pressure, depression and anxiety, as well as your risk for heart disease, stroke and many types of cancer. A good goal is at least 150 minutes of exercise each week, with plenty of t hat including moderate-intensity cardiovascular work.
No. 3: A void tobacco products. Smoking is one of t he most preventable causes of premature death in the United States. All forms of tobacco — not just cigarettes — contain the addictive ingredient nicotine. And t obacco smoke contains approximately 250 other harmful ingredients, including at least 69 carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). Smokers have a higher risk of de veloping coronary heart disease, heart attack (myocardial infarction), stroke, cancer, and lung disease. No. 4: G et plenty of sle ep. Most adults need from seven to eight hours each night. According to the National Institutes of H ealth, inadequate sleep increases risk for mood disorders, including depression, and can lead to poor concentration and judgment. Lack of sleep can also contribute to cardiovascular and metabolic problems. Sleep-deprived people tested using a dr iving simulator or p erforming a hand-e ye coordination task perform as badly as or worse than those who are intoxicated. No. 5: See your physician regularly. Regular checkups with your primary care physician are critical to maintaining good health. These could include proper health care screenings and any necessary vaccinations. He or she can work with you to outline a more detailed plan f or preventive health that addresses your sp ecific needs and concerns. GL GOODlife 19
GOOD BUYS
CrossFit instructor Phil Loesch (foreground) demonstrates the proper technique on a rowing machine during an adult CrossFit class.
CrossFit Petoskey C
rossFit Petoskey offers three other to improve their fitness levels. CrossFit also is s et apart from different monthly membership plans based on the number of other workout models because it is a hour-long sessions clients plan to at- whole-body approach. Work begins tend each month, making it e asy to at the core and moves outward, with each day bringing a different routine. make the most of your money. One of t he many unique a spects That means monotony-prompted of CrossFit is t he benefit of wor k- boredom is not an issue, Loesch said. Workouts typically begin by learning within a g roup, as well as having a trainer t o guide clients, ensure ing and practicing the exercises withsafe movements and p ersonalize out weights, he said, only af terward the workout sessions. Trainer Phil adding weight until the day’s goal Loesch said one of t he greatest ben- weight is ac hieved. Individuals are efits his c lients enjoy is t he camara- challenged to increase the intensity derie that builds within the group as of the workout, either by shortening they challenge themselves and e ach the allotted time for a set number of 20 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
By Jonathan M. Shirilla Photography by G. Randall Goss
repetitions, or by incr easing repetitions for the given time f rame. This gives the benefit of easily measurable fitness and me asurable increases in fitness, Loesch said. Of course, he said t hat with increased fitness comes the benefit of positive neurological and physiological changes, as well. The high in tensity, functional movements involved in CrossFit lend themselves to better everyday living and increased capacity to do more, Loesch said. Clients can attend up t o two s essions a we ek for $80 mon thly, up to three sessions per week for $95
monthly, or an unlimit ed number of sessions for $120 per month. The student rate is $45 per month. CrossFit Petoskey offers classes Monday through Saturday. Monday through Thursday, classes begin at 5 a.m. and run every hour until 1 p.m., with three more sessions at 4 p.m., 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. F riday is nearly the same, just without the last two sessions of the day. On Saturday, there are three morning sessions at 7, 8 and 9 a.m. In addition to adult classes, CrossFit Petoskey also offers CrossFit kids classes for ages 3-5, 6-10 and 11-15 years. The kid-centered classes are taught by instructors who are CrossFit-certified and obt ained a sp ecial CrossFit Kids certification, as well. Classes for children between 3-5 years are held Tuesday and Thursday from 9-9:30 a.m. Those between 6-10 years can come Monday and Wednesday from 4-5 p.m., while classes for those between 11-15 years are held Tuesday and Thursday from 4-5 p.m. CrossFit Petoskey is at 345 N. Division in Petoskey. Call (231) 7532050 for more information, or v isit www.crossfitpetoskey.com online. GL
ABOVE: Kristin Jeffers, of Petoskey, high steps it with the rest of the adult CrossFit class during warm up exercises at CrossFit Petoskey.
LEFT: CrossFit Petoskey instructor Phil Loesch (foreground center) leads a class in warm-up squats during a CrossFit workout.
GOODlife 21
GOOD TO
KNOW
Alanson’s Jim Elzinga, running legend By Danielle McIntosh Photography by G. Randall Goss
T
he burning of cold winter air is enough to deter even avid runners, but lo cal running legend Jim Elzinga doesn’t flinch. Elzinga, of t he Alanson area — who recently turned 77 ye ars old — is the epitome of motivation. Using screws for traction on the bottom of his sneakers and dr essing for winter weather, Elzinga claims even the snow is not an excuse. “The hardest part about running is just getting out the door,” Elzinga said in a recent interview. Back in F ebruary 2012, El zinga announced his g oal of logging 40,000 lif etime miles. Despite a summer kne e injury, he is w ithin 300 miles of his goal. While recovering from his injury, Elzinga — who is a pr oponent of cross training and stretching — used cycling, Pilates and weigh t training to stay in shape. Because of his competitive nature, Elzinga admits he has a hard time sleeping and loses his a ppetite when ba ttling injuries, which luckily remain few and far between. When Elzinga is not found on the road, he can be seen running in the pool at the Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge, on the track at North Central Michigan College, or with a pair of cross country skis or snowshoes. Now, back on t he road, Elzinga has no plans to slow down. To meet his 40,000 mark, Elzinga aims to run 18 miles each week. 22 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH
Jim Elzinga runs on the walking track at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey.
“I will for sure reach my goal in 2013 and I w ill have my running friends with me t o cross the finish line,” he said, smiling. These friends are the support system he ac quired over t he years in the world of competitive racing. “When I started running back in
the ‘70s, I lost a lot of f riends who didn’t fit with my new lifestyle, but I felt better, and that was what was important.” Nearly 37 years ago, Elzinga began running as motivation to combat unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as poor diet, a str essful job and smoking. Now, looking fit for any age, Elzinga boasts he ha s no ne ed for medications. Besides daily runs in nearby neighborhoods and on t he North Country Trail, Elzinga competes in races nearly every weekend. Racing and motivation go hand-in-hand, he said. “If I didn’t sign up for races, I might lack the motivation to get out when it’s raining or cold,” Elzinga admits. At least this is proof he is inde ed human. Racing also is an obv ious way to satisfy his a pparent competitive nature. Running did not c ome naturally for Elzinga, who b egan by r unning just a quar ter of a mile. This left him red and huffing and puffing, he joked. But he s oon worked to three miles and t hen six, and t he rest is history. Elzinga believes most people have the ability to run within reason. He recommends starting with a w alk and slowly adding a jog each outing. “Our biggest obstacles really are ourselves. Just put one f oot in front of the other,” he said. GL
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24 YOUR LIFE UP NORTH