June 2019
Paramedic’s recent retirement is rare By Robin Fish rfish@parkrapidsenterprise.com
Ambulance driver Bucky Johnson, left, reminisces with Brent Haynes about all the changes in emergency medical protocols since they both started working at what was then Jones Ambulance in 1995. (Robin Fish/Enterprise)
We have one guy who became a choo-choo driver, and another who became a butcher, and another one who became a DJ. They walked away and left their cards behind. So yes, the rarity of retirement is, around here, one. Me.
‘Regular old paramedic’
Haynes got his start as a medical technician in 1992 as he came off 10 years of active duty in the Air Force and joined the Reserves. “There was literally no job there,” he said. “So, I picked out the longest school, which was Air Medical Evac, 14 months.” Originally from southern California, Haynes always dreamed of living in the Park Rapids area, where his mother was from; his grandfather had an A-frame cabin on the Crow Wing River. So, upon completing tech school, he moved here and joined Hubbard First Response – his first civilian position. He met his wife, Carla, here, and she also became an EMT. “That’s where we all got our start,” said Haynes, indicating Johnson, who is now president of Hubbard First Response. “I got
BRENT HAYNES
Haynes trained as an Air Medical Evac medical technician in the U.S. Air Force Reserve before joining what is now North Memorial Ambulance Service in 1995. (Submitted photo)
him into the First Response, and he got me into the ambulance garage.” During his 14 years in the Air Force Reserves, Haynes deployed as a medical technician in 2001 to Germany in support of Bosnia and Afghanistan, had boots on the ground in Iraq in 2003 and visited many other places before retiring in 2007.
At the same time, he was supervisor of the Park Rapids ambulance base from 2002 to 2015, before he stepped down and “just became a regular old paramedic.” Haynes estimated that he has been on approximately 10,000 calls with the ambulance service, at a rate of 300 to 400 a year. He reckoned that in 10 percent of those calls, “we do an interven-
tion of some sort that makes a difference in (the patient’s) outcome. Maybe one out of 10 of those – so, 1 percent – is where we’re really busting our butt and trying to save a life.” Explaining in part why most EMTs don’t make it to retirement, Haynes noted, “We all have our horror stories. Most of the time, we really don’t want to relive them because those are not great memories for us.”
PARAMEDIC: Page 3
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When paramedic Brent Haynes retired from North Memorial Ambulance Service at the end of April, it was a first for the Park Rapids ambulance base. “Brent’s the first person who’s retired from EMS that I know of,” said ambulance driver Bucky Johnson, who started working there within about four months of Haynes in 1995, when it was still Jones Ambulance. North Memorial Health bought the service in 2002. During a 72-hour duty shift in early April, Haynes discussed his milestone with Johnson and fellow paramedic Dwayne Mattson. “Nobody retires from this job,” said Johnson, citing a recent magazine article that put the average burnout rate in emergency medical service at about seven years. “It’s very rare for someone in EMS to retire after 20 years of service,” said Mattson. “They quit and go do something else,” Haynes agreed. “Nursing or something,” said Johnson. “We have one guy who became a choo-choo driver, and another who became a butcher, and another one who became a DJ,” said Haynes. “They walked away and left their cards behind. So yes, the rarity of retirement is, around here, one. Me.”
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J u n e 2 01 9
Test your green thumb IQ with gardening quiz Growing Together BY DON KINZLER Columnist My how time flies. It’s been more than six months since our last semiannual gardening quiz. Sharpen a pencil — and keep your eyes on your own paper — as we test our gardening wits. The following questions can be answered in a few words. 1. Is crabgrass the wide-bladed, coarse, undesirable grass in our lawns? 2. If tomatoes fail to produce fruit, could it be because there weren’t enough bees or other pollinators in the area? 3. After tulips are finished blooming, is it OK to cut back the leaves? 4. When fertilizing a tree, is it be better to apply the product close to the trunk, or at the outskirts of the tree’s leafy canopy? 5. Many national chain stores sell bags of lime as a soil additive. Does adding lime help plants grow better in North Dakota and western Minnesota? 6. Which helps to suppress weeds better, mowing the lawn short or mowing it taller? 7. Can every blossom on a squash plant potentially bear a squash fruit? 8. If the tag in a pack of tomato plants lists 95 days to maturity, is that cultivar considered early,
Today's gardening quiz answers whether perennials should be dug and divided when in bloom. (File photos / Forum News Service)
midseason or late for gardens in the Upper Midwest? 9. To control apple maggots that cause brown streaks in fruit, is it necessary to apply insecticides more than once?
10. When digging and dividing a perennial, is it best to do so when it’s in full bloom so you can see what type you have?
GARDENING QUIZ: Page 3
Tips for controlling apple maggots are provided in today's gardening quiz.
Can every flower on a squash vine produce a squash fruit? The answer is provided in today's gardening quiz.
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June 2019
PARAMEDIC From Page 1
‘I still love it’
Because it is a small community, he said, EMTs can expect to be one person removed from everyone they see. “I’ve worked on family members, worked on friends, worked on neighbors,” he said. Gesturing at Johnson, he added, “His first call was a death in the family.” “The hours are nuts,” Johnson noted. “That’s why people don’t last long in this career field,” said Haynes. “They’re away from their families – 24 and 48 (hours) are usual shifts. And emergency medical services is historically, horribly low paid. I mean, crazy low paid.” Nevertheless, he stayed the course. Asked why, Haynes said, “I still love it. Because, every so often, it works. You get that patient who walks up to you at Walmart. ‘I remember this call that you were on with my loved one, and they’re doing great.’ Or, one of those cardiac arrests from last summer. I’m at another call. He comes up. It was one of those lift assists, and the patient’s just fine, and we’re ready to leave, and ‘Hey, by the way, I’m the guy who was dead over here.’ Literally.” Another part of the job that can be both a cause of stress and a source of joy is the fast pace of progress in medical knowledge. “This is probably the fastest changing environment that I’ve ever encountered,” said Haynes. “Most of the folks who stay in this are nerdy for this stuff. They want to do good work, and the latest and greatest. I think that’s also the hardest part of the career field, keeping up to date on everything.” North Memorial EMTs regularly attend training sessions in the latest treatment protocols and, he said, “I’ve been doing this a long time, and there’s not one of those I haven’t learned something new.”
‘Anything for one hour’
Among the changes that Haynes has seen in his years of service, and that have vastly improved outcomes for patients, are new protocols and equipment for administering oxygen, doing CPR, controlling bleeding and determining epinephrine dosages for cardiac arrest cases. The availability of nearby AirCare helicopters, as well as Level 1 trauma, heart catheterization and stroke units in Bemidji and Fargo, make faster transport times possible for critical patients. Johnson said, “They finally told us, don’t bother trying to memorize all the protocols. Now we’ve got an app that we download onto
GARDENING QUIZ From Page 2
Answers
our phone because there are so many.” Recalling something he told a class he was teaching, Johnson said, “You’re expected to be a cardiologist, a respiratory therapist, a psychologist, a trauma surgeon. We’re trained to do a little bit of everything. We’re kind of a jack of all trades and master of none.” Haynes added, “We are trained to deal with anything for one hour. After that, we start scratching our heads; we don’t have a clue. That’s where the cardiologists come in. That’s where nursing care comes in. That where our ER docs come in. We can deal with whatever it is for one hour.” Thanks to improvements in the field during his 27 years as a medic, that hour now counts for a lot more than it used to. Looking toward his retirement, Haynes planned on joining his wife in Avondale, Ariz., where she has been working as a traveling nurse and seems to enjoy it.
Wife Carla Haynes stands by Brent toward the end of his military career. "Without her being as supportive as she was, there is no chance I could have done what I did," he said. "It's a real rough life on a spouse, and it takes a uniquely special person to keep a family going in that environment." The couple raised a daughter and two sons and currently have two grandchildren. (Submitted photo)
“She started a page on Facebook called the Chauffeured Nurse,” he said. “I’m the chauffeur.” Noting that one of the choices for her next placement is in Montana, he said he is pulling for the opportunity to fish in the Gallatin River, where the fly fishing scenes in “The River Runs Through It” were filmed. He also intends to keep his grandfather’s cabin, meaning that “I’ll probably be spending a chunk of my summers there. I’m not going to be in Phoenix for the summers. Just not going to happen.”
flowers growing on the same plant. Only the female flowers will produce a squash fruit. The male flowers are pollen-producers only. 8. Days to maturity from transplant date are guidelines depending greatly on warmth, but 95 days is late. Early cultivars are listed as about 45 to 65 days, midseason 65 to 78 days and late types 80 to 110 days. 9. Yes. Beginning in mid- to late June, insecticides like carbaryl (Sevin), malathion or spinosad must be applied at regular intervals until August, usually seven to 10 days, following label directions. The flies that lay eggs that hatch into apple maggots continue activity throughout much of summer from late June on. 10. No. Perennials are easily injured if disrupted during their vulnerable blooming stage. Instead, dig and divide perennials during the season opposite their flowering. Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, worked as an NDSU Extension horticulturist and owned Kinzler’s Greenhouse in Fargo. Readers can reach him at forumgrowingtogether@hotmail.com.
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1. All wide-bladed coarse grasses in the lawn aren’t necessarily crabgrass, but are commonly quackgrass, tall fescue and others. Crabgrass preventers won’t control quackgrass and tall fescue, which are often more prevalent than crabgrass. 2. Bees aren’t necessary for a plentiful tomato crop, as tomato flowers are primarily pollinated as wind vibrates the blossoms. 3. No, it’s not wise to remove tulip leaves while they’re still green because after bloom, the foliage replenishes the underground bulb, forming next year’s flower buds and leaves deep within the bulb. Removing leaves before they are brown-crisp can weaken the tulips. 4. Applying fertilizer next to the tree’s trunk is much less effective, because the “feeder roots” that absorb nutrients from the soil are located closer to the tree’s outskirts. Roots close to the trunk are woody, function as support and are much less able to absorb fertilizer. 5. No. Lime is an alkaline product useful on acid soils in other regions of the country, but can be dangerous if added to most soils in North Dakota and western Minnesota, which are already alkaline. 6. Lawn weeds are inhibited best by mowing turf taller at 3 inches. Mowing lawns short depresses grass growth and encourages weeds by giving them greater exposure to sunshine. 7. No. Squash vines have separate male and female
Then-USAF Reserve med tech Haynes visits the ziggurat of Ur in Iraq, the birthplace of Old Testament patriarch Abraham, in 2003. "One of my favorite parts of being in the military was that I got to travel a lot," he said. (Submitted photo)
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J u n e 2 01 9
We can support our grieving parent, but we can’t erase their pain Minding Our Elders CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK Columnist
Dear Carol: My dad, who had been Mom’s caregiver for years, died suddenly from a stroke. I can’t say that I’m surprised because he was under enormous stress trying to cope with first Mom’s illness from cancer treatments, and more recently her early-stage Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Needless to say, we’re all heartbroken over Dad’s sudden death as well as up in the air about how to handle Mom. She seems to be in total denial, though some of her repeated questions may be due to occasional shortterm memory loss. How do we help her with this shock and grief? ~ VB. Dear VB: My heartfelt condolences to your whole family. It has to be difficult for you to concentrate on your mother’s grief while you deal with your own, yet you are sensitive to what she’s going through, which says a lot about you. Since you indicated that your mom is in an early stage of Alzheimer’s, she likely has memory problems — but it doesn’t sound as if her disease has advanced to where she is completely forgetting something of this magnitude. For that reason, it would seem that she is probably going through periods of denial, which would be normal for anyone under such circumstances. I experienced a similar situation with my own mother and, especially in retrospect, I believe that denial rather than memory loss explained the origin of her repeated queries about whether or not Dad had died. What can you do? Spend time with your mom. Encourage her to talk about your dad and their life together in whatever way she wishes. She needs to hold on to her memories of him and talking will help her do this. If there is someone from her faith community who could come to her home, this person’s presence may make your dad’s passing more real to her, or it might simply offer her comfort, but it’s not likely to make her feel worse so it’s worth considering. Additionally, you could try to interest her in doing something that she has enjoyed in the past, or you could suggest something new. Even taking her for a ride to look at the budding trees of spring could be
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helpful to her frame of mind. If she has friends who will visit or take her out for coffee, that could also help. Affirming your mom’s grief rather than attempting to ignore or erase it is important even though it hurts you to witness her suffering. In the end, though, nothing can take away the pain that any of you feel, so you’ll all have to find your way through grief the best that you can. Alzheimer’s is progressive so eventually, it will become advanced enough that reminding her of your dad’s passing will seem cruel. At that time, you’ll need to change your answer to her queries about him to something like, “He’s gone for a while but you’ll see him soon.” For now, though, to affirm and comfort are reasonable goals. Carol Bradley Bursack is a veteran caregiver and an established columnist. She is also a blogger, and the author of “Minding Our Elders: Caregivers Share Their Personal Stories.” Bradley Bursack hosts a website supporting caregivers and elders at www.mindingourelders.com. She can be reached at carolbradleybursack@mindingourelders.com.
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New Options for Cataract Surgery
A cataract forms when the clear crystalline lens of the eye becomes cloudy. The lens sits right behind the iris (the colored part of the eye) and helps us to focus. When the lens gets cloudy, vision gets hazy and blurry. Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process, so everyone will eventually develop cataracts if they live long enough. They usually start to show up around age 50, and surgery is most common between 65 and 75 years old. Factors that increase a person’s risk for early cataract development include sunlight (UV) exposure, smoking, diabetes, steroid use, and trauma. Cataracts usually develop gradually over many years, so patients are not always aware that their vision is getting worse. Cataracts usually cause a person’s vision to become cloudy, blurry or filmy. They can cause a dimming of your vision, so that colors appear faded and you may need more light to read. They also can cause increased glare and halos at night, making night driving more difficult. A cataract does not need to be “ripe” to be ready for surgery. Cataract surgery is generally a routine procedure that can be done as soon as your vision interferes with your daily activities. During cataract surgery, the cataract is broken up and removed from the eye, and a clear lens implant is put in its place. It is a painless process with minimal recovery time, and patients typically describe it as a “pleasant experience”. Patients often tell me “I don’t know why I waited so long to have it done, I wish I would have done it sooner!” In the past, the lens implant that is inserted into the eye in cataract surgery has been able to correct the majority of your nearsightedness or farsightedness, so patients are much less dependent on glasses following surgery. However, the traditional lens implants have not dealt with astigmatism or near vision, so many patients are still slightly blurry without glasses, and almost all need glasses for reading. This is no longer the case, with the advent of toric intraocular lenses (IOLs) and multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs). With this new technology, patients have the chance to be even less dependent on glasses for distance and near following cataract surgery. These new implants have been around for a number of years, but the technology has improved to the point where we are now comfortable recommending them for certain patients. We work with several surgeons who are using this technology to give our patients the best possible outcomes following cataract surgery. It all starts with an eye exam to evaluate your cataracts and determine if surgery is an option for you - give us a call today!
Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide - Summer 2019
2019 ARTS CALENDAR JUNE
June 1- June 15
Juried Youth Art Show at Nemeth Art Center June 1- July 27 Georgia Mrazkova exhibit at Nemeth Art Center June 5 Larry Yazzie: Dance & Performance Workshop, Evening Show June 6 Noon Hour Concert: Park Rapids Classic Chorale June 6 - Sept. 28 Weaving Community Together Artists Collaborative at Nemeth Art Center June 6 Peace by Piece Art Show and Peter Mayer Concert June 7-23 Vision Theatre: Agatha Christie’s Mousetrap at Long Lake Theater June 8 Arts & Culture in the Gallery at Nemeth Art Center June 9 Sites ’n Bites in Nevis June 11 Park Rapids Area Community Band at Tuesdays in the Park, Detroit Lakes June 13 Noon Hour Concert: Pianist Mathew Lorenz June 13 2nd Street Stage: The Joyann Parker Band June 15-July 1 Vision Theatre: Blithe Spirit at Long Lake Theater & Event Center June 15 Red Bridge Sculpture Trail Ribbon Cutting June 15 Author Fest at the American Legion June 15 Reception & Artist’s Talk at Nemeth Art Center June 16 Itasca’s Evening Under the Pines: Jacob Mahon June 19 Wild Goose Chase Cloggers June 20 Noon Hour Concert: Unpolished June 20 2nd Street Stage: Collapsing Stars June 21 Ralph’s World Concert June 22 Youth Art Day at Nemeth Art Center June 23 Itasca’s Evening Under the Pines: Park Rapids Area Community Band June 24 Hubbard County Historical Society: Shell City - Port to the Prairies June 27 Noon Hour Concert: Caleigh June 27 2nd Street Stage: Kind Country June 28 Park Rapids Area Community Band at Sounds of Spirit Lake, Menahga June 29 Reception & Artist’s Talk at Nemeth Art Center
JULY
July 1-20 July 4 July 5 July 7 July 11 July 11 July 12-28
NLOKids theater camp Park Rapids Area Community Band PreFireworks Concert, Heartland Park 2nd Street Stage: The Front Fenders Itasca’s Evening Under the Pines: Unpolished Noon Hour Concert: Sarah Carlson, organ, Craig Swartz, trumpet 2nd Street Stage: The Hooten Hallers Vision Theatre: Closing Time at Long Lake Theater
July 13
Arts & Culture in the Gallery at Nemeth Art Center July 14 Itasca’s Evening Under the Pines: Northern Bass July 15 Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theater Workshop & Concert July 18 2nd Street Stage: Mae Simpson Music July 20 An Immigrant Story at the Nemeth Art Center July 21 Itasca’s Evening Under the Pines: Jim and Molly Bauer July 25 Noon Hour Concert: Téa Renee, jazz vocalist July 25 Crazy Days in Downtown Park Rapids July 25 2nd Street Stage: Brother Jon Band July 26, 27, 28, 31 Northern Light Opera Company: “The Drowsy Chaperone” July 26-27 Nevis Muskie Days July 27 Itasca’s New Amphitheater Celebration July 29 -Aug. 2 Prairie Fire Theater: Jack & the Beanstalk July 29 Hubbard County Historical Society: Park Rapids - Then and Now
AUGUST
August 1, 2, 3
Northern Light Opera Company: “The Drowsy Chaperone” August 1 Noon Hour Concert: Hawken Paul, violin, and Lisa Dove, piano August`1 2nd Street Stage: Armchair Boogie August 3-Sept. 28 Andy Messerschmidt exhibit at Nemeth Art Center August 3 Reception & Artist’s Talk at Nemeth Art Center August 4 Itasca’s Evening Under the Pines: Menten, Thunem & Nye August 8 2nd Street Stage: Corey Medina & Brothers
August 10
Arts & Culture in the Gallery at Nemeth Art Center August 11 Itasca’s Evening Under the Pines: Jim and Molly Bauer August 15 Noon Hour Concert: North Wind Clarinets August 15 2nd Street Stage: The Christopher David Hanson Band August 16-Sept. 1 Vision Theatre: Side by Side with music by Stephen Sondheim at Long Lake Theater August 17 Youth Art Day at Nemeth Art Center August 17 Itasca’s Evening Under the Pines: Basement Brass August 17 & 18 Art Fair at the Winery at Forestedge Winery August 26 Itasca’s Music Under the Pines: Northern Bass August 26 Hubbard County Historical Society: The Secret Lives of Itasca Commissioners
SEPTEMBER Sept. 1 Sept. 14 Sept. 21 Sept. 24 Sept. 27 & 28 Sept. 27 Sept. 28 Sept. 30
Itasca’s Evening Under the Pines: Unpolished Arts & Culture in the Gallery at Nemeth Art Center Jackpine Writers Bloc writers’ workshop and Book Release Party Heartland Concert Association: Take Me Home with Jim Curry Art Leap 2019 the Great American Story, storytelling contest Itasca’s Evening Under the Pines: Jim and Molly Bauer Hubbard County Historical Society: Local Aeronautical Hall of Fame Inductees
Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council Serving the arts community since 2005 2019 PRLAAC-sponsored events:
www.prlaac.org Facebook: Park Rapids Arts
Noon Hour Concerts Art Leap 2019 The Great American Story
Medici Fund to recognize and support talented youth
PRLAAC receives support from grants from the Region 2 Arts Council made possible by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide
Peace by Piece art show, concert June 6
Mark your calendar for the Peace by Piece art show and concert featuring singer-songwriter Peter Mayer June 6.
The Peace by Piece Community Art Project started last fall with an idea shared with a friend and blossomed into a community-wide art project that has encouraged many to think about what peace means to them... or looks, sounds, or feels like to them... and then express it on a 4- by 4-inch paperboard canvas to share with others. Hundreds of pieces of Peace Art, promoting unity, inclusion, tolerance and teamwork have been created since March and each will become part of Peace Art collage structures that will be displayed at an art show Thursday, June 6 at Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids.
The art show will open at 6 p.m. with a concert by Peter Mayer, singer-songwriter from Stillwater at 7 p.m. Admission to the concert is a suggested donation of $10 for adults, $5 for students. “Peter Mayer writes songs for a small planet, songs about interconnectedness and the human journey; about the beauty and mystery of the world. Whimsical, humorous, profound.” After the June 6 event, the art collage structures will be distributed to various indoor host sites throughout the community (locations to be noted later on the Community
Ed website) for residents and visitors to enjoy during the summer months. Each unit will include a brief explanation of the project’s history and goals. By fall, the collage units will relocate to Park Rapids School buildings to be displayed and enjoyed. Winter will find the structures mobilized again to other community host sites and beyond. Anyone interested in hosting one of the 2by 4-foot structures may contact Jill (218-2376606) or Gina (218-237-6603) at Community Education. Thank you to all who have taken part in creating and promoting this project to date!
PRLAAC name change in progress Paul Dove convened the first meeting of the Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council (PRLAAC) on Jan. 5, 2005 to “to promote excellence in the arts through creation, education and performance.” Area arts organizations were invited to appoint representatives to serve on the board and others agreed to serve at large. Since the first meeting, PRLAAC has served as an umbrella organization for arts and cultural organizations in the Park Rapids area. At-large members and representatives from these groups, along with individual arts project champions, meet monthly to coordinate arts calendars, share information and incubate interest in new arts projects. PRLAAC currently sponsors three annual
events: Noon Hour Concerts, Art Leap and the Great American Story storytelling contest. Since 2012, the Arts Council has awarded scholarships to students for music and dance lessons and other activities to advance student studies in the arts as part of the Medici project. And in partnership with other arts organizations and the Park Rapids Enterprise, PRLAAC began the quarterly publication of Art Beat in May 2018. Last winter, PRLAAC began the process of rebranding as Heartland Arts to align with Chamber of Commerce-led efforts to rebrand as Heartland Lakes and, like the Chamber, to be more inclusive of area communities. As a first step, a new logo has been approved and is being used. This fall,
PRLAAC’s website will be redesigned, renamed and will be found at www. heartlandarts.org. Until then, PRLAAC’s website – www.prlaac.org – will be the place
to go to find an arts calendar and more about area arts events. PRLAAC – Heartland Arts also can be found on Facebook at parkrapidsarts.
2nd Street Stage kicks off June 13 www.soundsofspiritlake.com
2019 CONCERT SCHEDULE ALL CONCERTS ARE FRIDAY AT 7PM
JUN 28
PR COMMUNITY BAND Music of Minnesota Composers
JUL 5
PAT SURFACE & THE BOUNDARY WATERS BOYS Feelin’ Alright! A Tribute to the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock
JUL 19
DENNIS WARNER & THE D’S - Folk
JUL 26
LOCKLIN ROAD - Irish music
(Also bluegrass, folk and Americana favorites)
AUG 2
MONROE CROSSING THE Premier Bluegrass Band
AUG 9
BARBARY COAST Dixieland Showband
The Park Rapids Downtown Business Association invites you to celebrate summer at 2nd Street Stage Thursday evenings from June 13 through Aug. 15. This will be the eighth year of the great community get-together that 2nd Street Stage has become. People say they look forward all year long to these special nights that celebrate summer. For some, the concerts have become a place to visit with friends. Others bring a chair and just enjoy the music. In that sense, every week 2nd Street Stage becomes a summer festival. The beer garden opens at 5 p.m. for a social hour, time to meet social hour sponsors and buy this year’s collectible button and a 2nd Street Stage T-shirt. The 2nd Street Stage concerts run from 6 to 8 p.m. except on Aug. 8 when the concert will follow Water Wars. Nightly family activities include face painting, caricature artist and cornhole tournaments with proceeds going to benefit local nonprofits. Band sponsors also offer a variety of activities and give aways as well as a prize at the end of the evening to someone with a lucky ticket. Bands are chosen for their
2nd Street Stage has become the great community get-together in Downtown Park Rapids for 10 nights every summer.
musicianship and stage presence and to represent various musical genres (soul, rhythm and blues, rock ’n roll, folk, bluegrass, hillbilly and swing). Many of the bands have played at First Avenue and other venues in the Twin Cities and/or are part of the Duluth music scene. Most bands are from Minnesota, but the line up this season includes bands from Missouri, Wisconsin and Fargo-Moorhead. The 2019 line up is: ► June 13 The Joyann Parker Band ► June 20 Collapsing Stars ► June 27 Kind Country ► July 5 The Front Fenders ► July 11 The Hooten Hallers ► July 18 Mae Simpson Music
► July 25 Brother Jon Band ► Aug. 1 Armchair Boogie ► Aug. 8 Corey Medina & Brothers ► Aug. 15 The Christopher David Hanson Band For more about all the bands, go to www.parkrapidsdowntown.com. For weekly updates, go to 2nd St Stage on Facebook. Weekly stage sponsor is R.D. Offutt Farms. TruStar Federal Credit Union is weekly sound sponsor. This activity is also made possible, in part, by a grant from 3M and by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
2018-2019 CONCERT SEASON DON’T WAIT TO BE ASKED. JOIN NOW! The Heartland Concert Association presents
Real artists - Professional entertainers who have thrilled audiences everywhere. Real entertainment - Enjoy the presence live of performers who focus on you. Real economy - The cost is less than a movie ticket. Real “in” crowd - A night out with the family. Good performances. Good friends.
September 24, 2019 November 11, 2019 Tuesday, February 18, 2020 Thursday, March 5, 2020 Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Take Me Home Timothy Chooi Harps & Chords Hall Sisters Ball In The House
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION
www.heartlandconcertassociation.org This activity is funded in whole or in part by a Region 2 Arts Council Grant through an appropriation by the MN Legislature, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by MN voters on Nov. 4, 2008
Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide
NLOC will stage award-winning musical comedy
The Northern Light Opera Company (NLOC) is busy preparing for this summer’s production of “The Drowsy Chaperone.” Auditions have been held, cast chosen, directors engaged, scripts ordered and rehearsals planned to present another outstanding musical for the Heartland Arts Lakes area residents and guests. Mark your calendars for performances at the Armory in Park Rapids at 7:30 p.m. July 26, 27, 31, Aug. 1 and 2 and at 3 p.m. July 28 and
Aug. 3. “The Drowsy Chaperone” is an award-winning musical comedy that opened on Broadway in 2006 and has had audiences in stitches with its over-the-top characters, jazzy music and madcap antics. It is a spoof on the old 1920s style song-and-dance musicals. As Man in Chair reminisces about some of his favorite shows, one comes to life in his living room, with characters like a starlet bride, a groom, a tipsy chaperone, a rich
producer, a Latin lover, several gangsters and many more. You may not know the title, but you can trust NLOC to deliver an entertaining show. This 18th summer production, with live orchestra and cast of many familiar folks who are your neighbors, will again “blow you away.” For more information, check the website: www.northernlightopera. org. Tickets may be purchased at Beagle and Wolf Books or on line – Brown Paper Tickets.
The Northern Light Opera Company’s production of "My Fair Lady" in 2018 brought praise all round. The 2019 musical comedy promises an equally entertaining show.
Kids invited to sign up for theater camp
Kids practice a dance routine for a show they have created as part of NLOKids theater camp.
In addition to a theater production this summer, another exciting venture of the Northern Light Opera Company is a threeweek Theater Camp for kids ages 8-13 called NLOKids. Led by NLOC directors and interns, kids’ creativity and energy are inspired and directed. Kids write a script, compose music and build sets and costumes, then perform their original musical for parents and friends. NLOKids, in existence for eight years, collaborated four years ago with the Pine
Point Community Equal numbers of kids from each community have created lasting friendships and built amazing bridges as they create magic by singing, dancing, acting and playing together. NLOKids Theater Camp will be held July 1 to 20. Performances will be July 19 and 20. To register for the camp or for more information, check out NLOC’s website: www.northernlightopera.org and click on the NLOKids button.
Noon Hour Concerts start June 6 The summer Noon Hour Concert series began in 2006 with the idea that it would be an activity for visitors, seasonal and local residents, who could take their lunch time to enjoy live music being performed in local churches. The series has become a day time social event for people who enjoy good music and socializing with friends. The 2019 season starts Thursday, June 6 and continues on Thursdays in June, July and August. Concerts are from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Bring your lunch to eat before the concert. The churches provide sweets and beverages. The Park Rapids Classic Chorale will sing for the opening concert June 6 at Calvary Lutheran Church, Pianist Matthew Lorenz will make his first appearance at a Noon Hour Concert June 13 at Hubbard United Methodist Church. Lorenz has a growing artistic presence at the University of North Dakota (UND), in the Grand Forks community and the Midwest. He has collaborated with musicians, such as the award-winning, San Francisco Bay Area pianist Sarah Cahill. His recent performances include residencies in East Asia, alongside groups of Japanese students as part of UND’s Red River Trio, and as part of the UND Piano Ensemble in Shanghai, China. At the 2015 ‘fresh inc.’ festival, hosted by the Fifth House Ensemble in Kenosha, WI, he engaged with other young performers and composers of contemporary music. He also performs and rehearses extensively with UND music students and faculty.
FREE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
Downtown Park Rapids • Thursday Nights • 6 –8PM SOCIAL HOUR STARTS AT 5PM
Téa Renee will be the Noon Hour Concert performer July 25.
After earning several scholarships to study at UND, Lorenz has also approached music as a study – a human endeavor and cultural phenomenon while composing and performing and as an instructor of piano lessons and a summer youth theater camp pianist and director. Other concerts on this summer’s schedule are: Unpolished June 20 at Faithbridge Church; Caleigh June 27 at Faithbridge Church; Sarah Carlson on organ and piano and Craig Swartz on trumpet July 11 at St. Johns Lutheran Church; jazz vocalist Téa Renee July 25 at Calvary Lutheran Church; Hawken Paul and Lisa Dove Aug. 1 at Calvary Lutheran Church and North Wind Clarinets Aug. 15 at Calvary Lutheran Church.
June 13 The Joyann Parker Band Sponsor: Park Rapids-Walker Eye Clinic
July 11 The Hooten Hallers Sponsor: Enbridge
June 20 Collapsing Stars Sponsor: Lamb Weston / RDO Frozen
July 18 Mae Simpson Music Sponsor: TEAM Industries
June 27 Kind Country Sponsor: Paul Bunyan Communications
July 25 Brother Jon Band Sponsor: Northview Bank
The Front Fenders July 5 Sponsor: Park Rapids American Legion
Aug 1 Armchair Boogie Sponsor: Park Rapids Chamber & CVB
Aug 8
Corey Medina & Brothers
(7pm after Water Wars) Sponsor: Citizens National Bank Aug 15 The Christopher
David Hanson Band
Sponsor: Smokey Hills Outdoor Store JOIN US ON THE SECOND BLOCK OF MAIN
Cornhole Tournaments • Great Bands • Beer Garden • BYO Lawn Chair!
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SAVE $2 ON BEVERAGES Support this great event by buying an official 2019 button and receive $2 off beverages purchased at the beer garden.
2ND STREET STAGE IS SPONSORED BY: This activity is made possible, in part, by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
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Heartland Concert season kicks off with John Denver tribute The Heartland Concert Association (HCA) brings quality entertainment to the Park Rapids area and the 2019-20 season is packed with a variety of entertainers to please all music genres. All concerts are held in the Park Rapids Area High School Auditorium at 7 p.m. On Sept. 24, take a journey to 20 years ago and relive the music of John Denver with "Take Me Home” – The Music of John Denver with Jim Curry. The untimely death of John Denver left a void in the
musical landscape. His music is as timely today as it was then. HCA knows you won't want to miss this tribute show. Classical music lovers will enjoy Timothy Chooi, a Juilliard trained violinist on Monday, Nov. 11. Chooi will excite the audience with beloved works of Rachmaninoff's Vocalise, Sabre Dance by Khachaturian and John Williams’ theme from “Shindler's List.” Even those who say they don't like classical music will be familiar with the music and captivated by the
artist's technique. On Tuesday, Feb. 18, come and listen to an emerging duo out of New York – Harps and Chords. You will be entertained by an instrument not often seen on the big stage. Featuring harpist Jacqueline Kerrod and vocalist Daisy Press, the audience will hear familiar songs from the Beatles, Elvis, Bob Dylan and even George Gershwin, plus other well-loved standards from the past and present. What do you get when you
cross Lady Antebellum and the Carpenters? You get The Hall Sisters, an up-and-coming premiere act with the earthy vibe of Lady Antebellum and the soulful harmony of the Carpenters. These four beautiful voices blend with the energy of country pop with a nod to sister acts from the past. This concert is on Thursday, March 5. Heartland Concert Association ends its season Tuesday, April 28 with Ball in the House. This R&B/ soul/pop a capella group will have you dancing on the edge of your
seat, if not in the aisles! They will sing classics such as “Stayin' Alive,” “My Girl,” “YMCA,” “That's The Way I Like It,” “Signed Sealed Delivered” and many more! Ball in the House takes a capella singing to the next level. Membership packets for the concert series are available at Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery in Park Rapids, Northwoods Cafe & Grocery in Nevis, Thrifty White Drug in Walker and at Headwaters School of Music and the Arts in Bemidji.
Hubbard County DAC plans arts activities all summer
The cast of the April production presented three short vignettes – Hansel & Gretel, Goldilocks & the Five Bears and Hansel & Gretel Today – at Calvary Lutheran Church. DAC participants were Tina Kendall, Shayne Braunschweig, Patrick Nelson, Tom Blaha, Lindsay Gooch, Greta Carlson and Tina Brown. Jennifer Geraedts and Julie Kaiser of Vision Theatre directed the show.
This will be a summer full of art at the Hubbard County DAC! The DAC is coordinating a different art activity each month in 2019 as part of a Minnesota State Arts Board grant project. The goal of these art activities is to encourage personal growth, social interaction and community inclusivity through art for individuals enrolled in DAC programs. May will include doing visual art with Marsha Wolff. Marsha and clients will create a bearinspired mosaic to be displayed at Bearly Used Thrift Store. In June and August, local artist Nate Luetgers, will lead the painting of two outdoor murals. The finished murals will express the values of inclusion, joy and hope, and will beautify the south wall of the DAC building on Pleasant Avenue. During July, staff and clients will work on individual projects specifically for an upcoming Traveling Art Show.
Seven dedicated volunteer art observers from the community will keep everyone focused on the goals. They will observe and document interactions during the activities. For instance, during the theatre project in April, they documented 56 times when participants showed a “Positive Change of Emotion During the Activity.” Observer comments included: “Much laughter – many, many smiles.” Community inclusiveness is an important facet of this project and more than 100 attended the April drama production. A food shelf donation was the admission and more than 70 pounds of food and $233 were donated that day. This year-long activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Lindsay Gooch is all smiles after her acting performance in April.
Nemeth Art Center features local, regional artwork The Nemeth Art Center (NAC) is open with a wonderful season of exhibits and events planned through the end of September. The Nemeth will feature Minneapolisbased artist Georgia Johnson Mrazkova in June and July and Ely-based artist Andy Messerschmidt in August and September. NAC will host a reception and artist’s talk with Georgia June 29 and with Andy August 3, both from 4 to 6 p.m. Mrazkova’s recent work is nostalgic and dreamy, inviting viewers to spin their own narrative and aesthetic experience. Space in the paintings reflects psychological states, both personally and culturally. A graduate of the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and recipient of the Miles & Shirley Fiterman Award for Fine Arts, Mrazkova has had exhibits in Minneapolis and Cincinnati and received a Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grant and an Art in Space grant. Andy Messerschmidt received his MFA in painting and drawing from the University of Minnesota and earned his BFA from Millikin University. Andy has shown extensively in New York at Place-Space Gallery and other galleries in the US and abroad. His ongoing Agroccult series is a body of over 900 landscape paintings
Ely artist Andy Messerschmidt painted “Balsam Burndown Mountain at Sundown” as part of his Agroccult series.
depicting geomancy and metaphoric stimulation of the Earth’s nervous system through acupressure applied by humans. In an exciting collaborative, interactive project, Luisa Fernanda Garcia-Gomez and our own local expert handweaver, Bruce Engebretson, will explore the rich connective tissue among art, textile design and tapestry. Garcia-Gomez is a Minneapolis-based, multidisciplinary artist whose work is a cathartic manifestation of the violence she experienced as a youth growing up in Columbia during the years of conflict. Garcia-Gomez has an MFA from both the University of Paris 8 and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In this new series of drawings, "Impossible
Georgia Mrazkova’s “When the World Was Being Made” invites viewers to spin their own narrative and aesthetic experience.
Landscapes," Garcia-Gomez explores the feelings of loss and defeat as a natural state of being human. June will begin with hanging Luisa’s draft textile designs, from which Bruce will select templates for a new tapestry to be woven on his antique Aubusson loom right in the gallery space. As the tapestry takes shape, Luisa will respond with new designs on paper that will be hung in the gallery progressively, all summer long. Visitors to
the NAC will be invited to join in on a community tapestry taking shape on the same loom. Luisa will also guide guests to contribute to an interactive wall of artistic expression, rounding out the formation of a "community tapestry.”. The very popular “2nd SAT HAP” events will return this season bringing musicians, poets, filmmakers and performing artists into the NAC galleries for fun-filled summer evenings from 4:30 to 6 p.m every second Saturday. Two FREE youth art days are scheduled with Nate Luetgers guiding art projects for youth, on June 22 and August 17 from 1 to 3 p.m. A new ART Explorers Corner will be open and available all season for young and old alike to come and explore their own creative expression based on current exhibits. The Nemeth Art Center is located in the Historic Hubbard County Courthouse at 301 Court Ave. in Park Rapids. All exhibits are free and open to the public, May through September, due to generous support of Region 2 Arts Council and MN Legacy Amendment. Open hours are Thursdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Watch for reception and event dates to be announced on the website at nemethartcenter.org.
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June 2019
Understanding long-term veteran benefits, Medicare’s enrollment
The Savvy Senior BY JIM MILLER Columnist Dear Savvy Senior, I have heard that the Veterans Administration (VA) has a benefit that can help veterans and spouses with longterm care costs. We recently had to move my 86-year-old father – who served in the Army nearly 60 years ago – into an assisted living facility, and my mom isn’t far behind. Can the VA help? ~ Seeking Aid Dear Seeking, The VA does indeed have a little-known, underutilized benefit that can help wartime veterans and their surviving spouses pay for a variety of longterm care costs. This benefit, called “Aid and Attendance,” is a special pension that’s paid in addition to a basic pension. It pays a maximum of $2,230 a month to married veterans; $1,881 a month to single veterans; or $1,209 a month to a surviving spouse. The money is tax free, and can be used to pay for in-home care, assisted living and nursing home care. Today, only around 230,000 veterans and survivors receiving Aid and Attendance, but millions more are eligible and either don’t know about it, or don’t think they can qualify for it.
Eligibility requirements
How to apply
To learn more, or to apply for Aid and Attendance, contact your regional VA benefit office (see Benefits. va.gov/benefits/offices.asp or call 800–827–1000) where you can apply in person. You can also apply by writing the Pension Management Center for your state (see Benefits.va.gov/pension/resources-contact.asp). You’ll need to include evidence, like VA Form 21-2680 (VA.gov/vaforms) which your dad’s doctor can fill out that shows his need for Aid and Attendance. If you need some help, you can appoint a Veteran Service Officer (VSO), a VA-accredited attorney or claims agent to represent your dad. See www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/vso-search to locate someone. If your dad is eligible, it will take between six and 12 months for his application to be processed, so be patient. You should also know that if your dad’s Aid and Attendance application is approved, the VA will send a lump sum retroactive payment covering the time from the day you filed the application until the day it was approved. Then your dad receives monthly payments going forward. Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about the different enrollment periods for Medicare? I’m planning to work past age 65 and understand Medicare offers initial, special and general periods in which I can enroll. How does this work? ~ Medicare Illiterate Dear Medicare, The rules for signing up for Medicare can be quite confusing, especially if you plan to work past age 65. But it’s critical to understand the ins and outs of enrolling because the consequences of missing a deadline can be costly and last a lifetime. Here’s what you should know about Medicare’s three different enrollment periods.
Initial enrollment period
At age 65, the Initial Enrollment Period is the first opportunity that most people are eligible to enroll in Medicare. If you’re already claiming Social Security benefits at least 4 months before age 65, you are automatically enrolled in Medicare, with coverage starting the first day of month you turn 65. If you’re not receiving Social Security benefits, it’s up to you to enroll in Medicare either online at SSA.gov/Medicare, over the phone at 800-772-1213 or through your local Social Security office. You can enroll any time during the initial enrollment period, which is a seven-month period that includes the three months before, the month of, and the three Park Rapids Office months after your 65th 618 1st St. E., Park Rapids Tuesdays 10 am - 3 pm, other times by appt. birthday. BRIAN HILLESLAND, NBC-HIS It’s best to enroll three National Board Certified months before your birth Hearing Instrument Specialist Toll - Free 1-800-631-4946 month to ensure your 218-631-4966 coverage starts when 001544939r2
To qualify, your dad must have served at least 90 days of active military service with at least one day of service during a period of war, and not have been discharged dishonorably. Single surviving spouses of wartime vets are eligible if their marriage ended due to death. In addition, your dad will also have to meet certain thresholds for medical and financial need to be eligible. To qualify medically he must be either disabled, or over the age of 65 and need help with basic everyday living tasks such as eating, dressing, bathing or going to the bathroom. Being blind or in a nursing home or assisted living facility due to mental disability also qualifies him. Single surviving spouses have no age restrictions, but they must require help with basic everyday living tasks to be eligible. To qualify financially, your parents must have limited assets, under $127,061, excluding their home, vehicle and personal belongings. And their annual income (minus medical and long-term care expenses) cannot exceed the Maximum Allowable Pension Rate (MAPR), which in 2019 is $26,766 for a veteran and their spouse; $22,577 for a single veteran; and $14,509 for a surviving spouse. To calculate your parent’s income qualifications, add up their income over the past year (including Social Security, pensions, interest income from investments, annuities, etc.), minus any out-ofpocket medical expenses, prescription drugs, insurance premiums and long-term care costs over that
same period of time. If the final tally is under the MAPR, and he meets the other requirements, he should be eligible for aid.
you turn 65. If, however, you plan to keep working and have health coverage from your employer, or from a spouse’s employer, you may want to delay Medicare Part B, which covers outpatient services, and Part D, which covers prescription drugs. But first check with the human resources department to see how your employer insurance works with Medicare. Typically, if your employer has fewer than 20 employees, Medicare will be your primary insurer and you should enroll. But if you work for a company that has 20 or more employees, your employer’s group health plan will be your primary insurer as long as you remain an active employee. If this is the case, you don’t need to enroll in Part B or Part D when you turn 65 if you’re satisfied with the coverage you are getting through your job. But in most cases, unless you’re contributing to a Health Savings Account, you should at least sign-up for Medicare Part A, which is free and covers hospital services.
Special enrollment period
If you delay Part B and Part D past age 65, you can sign up for Medicare during the special Enrollment Period. Once you (or your spouse) stop working and you no longer have group health coverage, you have eight months to enroll in Part B. But if you miss that deadline, you’ll pay a late-enrollment penalty for the rest of your life. The penalty increases your premiums by 10 percent for each 12-month period that you don’t have coverage. The window for Part D is shorter. You must sign up for Part D within two months of losing drug coverage. If you go 63 days or more without drug coverage, you’ll pay a lifetime late-enrollment penalty that equals 1 percent of the monthly base premium (about $33 in 2019) times the number of months you don’t have Part D of other creditable coverage.
General enrollment period
If you miss either of these first two enrollment periods, you’ll have to wait until the general enrollment period, which is January 1 through March 31 of each year, but your Part B and Part D coverage will not begin until July 1. And you’ll be subject to late-enrollment penalties. There is, however, no penalty for late enrollment for Part A. You can sign up anytime with coverage beginning the first day of the following month. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070 or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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What is early-onset Alzheimer’s disease? The Family Circle BY LAUREL HED Columnist According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5 percent of the more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s disease have younger onset, also known as early onset. Many of these people are in their 40s and 50s. In the U.S., an estimate of 200,000 people are diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease. To receive an accurate diagnosis at this age can be difficult. The medical profession can overlook or rule out Alzheimer’s disease, often relating the symptoms to stress, menopause or depression, which then leads to misdiagnosis and treatment. It is also very difficult to diagnose because this disease affects each person differently and symptoms can vary. The Alzheimer’s Association suggests if you are having memory problems to write down symptoms of memory loss or other cognitive difficulties to share with your health care professional. Also, have a comprehensive medical evaluation with a doctor who specializes in Alzheimer’s disease. This will involve a medical exam and possibly cognitive testing, a neurology exam and/or brain imaging. Doctors don’t understand why this disease strikes at such a young age in some people. The Alzheimer’s Association says that if there is a family history that doesn’t necessarily mean you will develop the
disease yourself. However, research does show that those who have a parent or sibling with Alzheimer’s are more likely to develop the disease. As a geriatric care manager, I have had the privilege to work with people of all ages living with Alzheimer’s and other dementia. But what I have noticed is that there appears to be more being diagnosed with early-onset. This is very life-altering for both the person living with the disease and the family. Often, they still have children living at home, work full-time, and have a spouse working fulltime. This is just not the way things are supposed to be. There will be grieving and questions as to what changes lie ahead, but with the diagnosis in place the learning process can begin, and plans can be put into place. This takes time because no one imagines this
could happen to them when they are so young. Learning everything you can early on is the best advice you can receive. The more you know the more you can pre-plan for what lays ahead. Educating your spouse, children and relatives as much as possible is also very helpful because they will be your caregivers. The best approach to this disease is a team approach. With the right help and guidance, you can get through it. Contact your local Alzheimer’s Association for a referral and to answer any questions or concerns you may have at 1-800-272-3900 for the 24/7 Helpline. These people are trained professionals who are a great help. Laurel Hed is a licensed social worker and geriatric care manager for the elder law attorneys of Thomason Swanson and Zahn Law Firm.
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June 2019
Shish kebabs are perfect grilled party fare Home with the Lost Italian TONY AND SARAH NASELLO
Fire up that grill and load up on meats and veggies because it’s time to host a shish kebab party. This specialty received its name from the Turkish words “şiş” (sword or skewer) and “kebab” (roasted meat). Centuries ago, kebabs were the perfect food for soldiers and nomads, as they could skewer hunks of meat upon their swords and then roast them over an open fire. A meat thermometer is your best friend when grilling meat, and we use the following temperatures as our guide: For beef, 135 to 140 degrees is best for medium-rare, 145 degrees for medium and higher for more well-done. For pork, the range is 145 (medium-rare) to 160 degrees for more well-done. For chicken, the minimum is 165 degrees and we try to stay as close to that temperature as possible to keep the meat from drying out. Bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, zucchini, squash and cherry tomatoes are great for grilling, and all can be placed on the same skewer, save the tomatoes. Tomatoes grill quickly, so we give them their own skewer and add them to the grill just a few minutes before the meat is done, or as it’s resting. Spacing is also important when assembling kebabs. The ingredients need to be far enough apart to ensure good airflow and even cooking. For meat and vegetables alike, leave about a quarter-inch between each piece, and about 1.5 inches at each end. If using wood skewers, be sure to soak them in water for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning. Before placing the kebabs on the grill, make sure that it is clean, hot and lubricated with oil to prevent the ingredients from sticking. For kebabs, we heat our grill to medium-high (about 400 degrees) and once it’s hot, we add the meat kebabs, followed by the veggie kebabs a few minutes later. When done, the kebabs can be served straight on the stick, over a bed of rice or in a pita or tortilla.
Kabobs are made of garden vegetables, beef, pork and chicken. (Michael Vosburg / Forum News Service)
Red Wine Beef Kebabs
1 pound beef, cut into 1-1/2-inch cubes (New York strip, tenderloin or sirloin) 1/4 cup dry red wine (cabernet sauvignon or zinfandel) 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Serves 2 to 4
Lime Cilantro Chicken Kebabs
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-1/2-inch cubes Juice of 1 lime Zest of 1 lime 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, roughly chopped 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon chili powder 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Serves 2 to 4
Mediterranean Pork Kebabs
1 pound pork tenderloin or loin, cut into 1-1/2-inch pieces
Juice of 1 lemon Zest of 1 lemon 1 teaspoon dried oregano flakes 2 garlic cloves, minced 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 freshly ground black pepper Serves 2 to 4
Grilling directions
Place ingredients from chosen meat recipe in a large bowl and mix until evenly coated. Marinate for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator, or up to 48 hours. To assemble, place cubes of meat on skewer, leaving 1/4 inch between each piece. Wooden skewers should be soaked for at least 20 minutes to prevent burning. Grill on medium-high heat until grill marks are achieved, about 3 to 4 minutes, then flip skewer and grill until desired temperature is achieved. Use a meat thermometer to ensure desired temperature. Let meat rest for 3 to 5 minutes before serving. “Home with the Lost Italian” is a weekly column written by Sarah Nasello featuring recipes by her husband, Tony Nasello. The couple owned Sarello’s in Moorhead and lives in Fargo with their son, Giovanni. Readers can reach them at sarahnasello@gmail. com.
Educational classes for older Americans Boomers on the Move BY KARIN HAUGRUD Columnist Each year, the Land of the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging looks forward to recognizing our older Americans by providing them with creative programs that are not only educational, but also fun. Here are a few classes you need to know about. Many older adults experience a fear of falling. People who develop this fear often limit their activities, which can result in physical weakness, making the risk of falling even greater. Matter of Balance is a program designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. This class includes eight two-hour sessions for a small group led by a trained facilitator. The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a workshop given two-and-a-half hours, once a week, for six weeks, in community settings, such as senior centers, churches, libraries and hospitals. People with different chronic health problems attend together. Workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are non-health professionals with chronic diseases themselves. Powerful Tools for Caregivers consists of six weekly classes where caregivers develop a wealth of self-care tools to reduce personal stress; change negative selftalk; communicate their needs to family members and healthcare or service providers; communicate more effectively in challenging situations; recognize the messages in their emotions, deal with difficult feelings, and make tough caregiving decisions. Class
participants also receive a copy of ”The Caregiver Helpbook,” developed specifically for the class. Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance (TJQMBB) is a research-based, balance training regimen designed for older adults and people with balance disorders. TJQMBB represents a substantive enhancement of traditional Tai Ji Quan training and performance as it transforms martial arts movements into a therapeutic regimen aimed at improving postural stability, awareness and mindful control of body positioning in space, functional walking, movement symme-
try and coordination, range of motion around the ankle and hip joints, and lower-extremity muscle strength. Call the Senior LinkAge in for more information on these classes. This article is made possible with Older Americans Act dollars from the Land of the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging. Call the Senior LinkAge® One Stop Shop at 800-333-2433 to speak with an information specialist, or check out our website at MinnesotaHelp. info. MinnesotaHelp.info is an online directory of services designed to help people in Minnesota find human services, information and referral, financial assistance, and other forms of help.
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J u n e 2 01 9
Try these healthy eating tips at summer social events By Jean Larson Special to Forum News Service With recent cold weather, it certainly doesn’t feel like summer is around the corner. But as temperatures warm up, we’ll begin attending more barbecues, weddings and trips to the beach or cabin. Many of these social gatherings revolve around food and drink. If you are trying to eat healthier, summer can be a difficult time to stick with your nutrition plan. This doesn’t mean you have to avoid partaking in these events, but it is important to have a plan. Here are my tips for keeping it healthy through summer social events. If you’re going out to eat or to a barbecue where you’re likely to have higher calorie, higher fat and higher carbohydrate foods, focus on lean proteins and vegetables for your other meals and snacks. For an evening outing, start your day with a veggie omelet and side of berries, have a snack of bell pepper sticks mid-day, and for lunch have a salad with mixed dark greens and a variety of bright vegetables topped with chicken breast and a vinaigrette dressing. Don’t skip meals leading to an event. Instead, eat higher protein and fiber meals containing lots of brightly colored vegetables to help you feel satisfied and prevent you from gorging at the event itself. You’ll consume less overall and feel more in control of your choices. Focus on hydration. Drink at least half your body weight in ounces of water. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, aim for at least 75 ounces of water, and even more on a hot day. This will also help prevent you from overeating and help you feel better throughout the day. If you want something a bit more fun, try the many varieties of flavored sparkling waters. Avoid sugar-sweetened beverages. Bring something healthy to share. If the gathering is a potluck, bring a salad, vegetable dish or fruit tray. This ensures that there is something healthy for you to munch on at the event.
Like de-cluttering guru Marie Kondo recommends, only select things that bring you joy. When there is a buffet or lots of food available, only take the special foods that you know you love and skip the rest. Make a plan around alcohol. Decide whether you will drink alcohol and decide in advance how much. Skip the sugary mixers and stick to drinks with seltzer or soda water. One unhealthy meal isn’t going to make or break you, but overall consistency throughout your week and year is what is most important. Make healthy choices where you can at social gatherings.
Try to stick with healthy, whole food choices 80 to 90 percent of the time, and give yourself some grace for a small treat or fun food here and there. Avoid the all-or-nothing mindset trap, which leads to feelings of restriction and ultimately binging on greater quantities of what you were trying to avoid in the first place. Enjoy your time with family and friends but return to your healthy eating pattern the next day, or even next meal. Jean Larson is a licensed and registered dietitian in the Integrative Health Department at the Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic. Contact her at Jean.Larson2@EssentiaHealth.org.
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