March 2019
Alice and Bert Pfeifer stand by one of their cabins in 1943.
The Bow and Arrow Tavern, built in 1937 from balsam logs, was moved on skids to the resort in 1939 and became Cabin 4.
Dave and Pat Evenwoll look back over the memories preserved in the 70th anniversary book for Bert's Cabins at Itasca State Park, printed in 2009. The couple bought the resort in 1990 from Pat's father, Bert Pfeifer, who started it in 1939 with his wife ,Alice. They sold it to the state parks last November, but still live adjacent to the park on Wilderness Drive. (Robin Fish/Enterprise)
Bert’s Cabins sold after nearly 80 years family-owned Evenwolls share memories of living at ‘magical place’
get married. With some help from Wegmann, they bought 40 acres on the road to Squaw Lake (now called Lake Ozawindib) from a pair Last December, a family-owned of brothers named Dallas and Art wilderness resort that had served Savage and converted two unfinvisitors to Itasca State Park for ished cabins on the property into nearly 80 years was sold to the cabins – one for their home, and state parks system. one to rent out. Dave and Pat Evenwoll, owners Initially named Parkview Cabins, of Bert’s Cabins since 1990, recentthe resort soon became Bert’s Cably shared their memories of living ins because visitors to Wegmann’s and working close to the headwastore looking for lodging were told, ters of the Mississippi River, where “Just go to Bert’s.” Pat’s parents, Bert and Alice PfeifChanges came as the resort grew. The couple er, started the resort in 1939. had a daughter, Judy, in 1940. Pat was born in the 1950s. Meantime, Bert added more cabPioneer connection The Pfeifers’ enterprise is closely tied to the ins, including a balsam-wood tavern that he early history of the park. Bert’s great-uncle moved on skids one winter to become Cabin 4. was Theodore Wegmann, a pioneer who home- Electricity, running water, shower and laundry steaded in the area in the late 1800s. By the facilities, modern appliances and telephone 1930s, Wegmann established a store that served service came in between 1950 and 1960. The park visitors, neighbors and workers at nearby family built a swimming pool in 1961, one of conservation corps and Works Progress Admin- the first in northern Minnesota. Being a wilderness resort with a swimming istration camps. pool, instead of on a lake, is one of the things It was while they were working during the summer at Wegmann’s store that Bert met that set Bert’s Cabins apart from other resorts, Alice Lundberg, a one-room school teach- Pat said. er from Detroit Lakes, and they decided to BERT'S CABINS: Page 3
Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide
Inside this issue... 2 Smart home devices that help seniors age in place 4 Here’s a great way to start more houseplants in 2019 5 Art Leap 10 Molten Chocolate Cakes will delight loved ones
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By Robin Fish rfish@parkrapidsenterprise.com
Ma rch 2 01 9
Smart home devices that help seniors age in place The Savvy Senior BY JIM MILLER Columnist Dear Savvy Senior, I recently read an article about how “smart home” devices can help seniors with aging-in-place. My 76-year-old mother, who likes technology, lives alone, but I worry about her safety and would like to find out what types of smart home products can really help her. ~ Inquiring Son Dear Inquiring, There are actually a wide variety of affordable smart home devices you can add to your mom’s home that can help make it safer and easier to live in as she ages and to help reduce social isolation. Here’s what you should know.
Smart home technologies
While most Americans today use technology and enjoy the conveniences they provide, there are millions of seniors who still don’t have much use for it. But you don’t have to like technology to benefit from the many different smart home automation devices that can help seniors with aging-in-place. Smart home devices can also give family members and caregivers the ability to electronically keep tabs on their elder loved one when they can’t be there, which provides great peace of mind. If you’re interested in adding some smart home devices to your mom’s house, you need to know that smart home devices require home Wi-Fi, and for many of the products, she’ll need either a smartphone, tablet or smart speaker to operate them. Here are some popular aging-in-place smart home products to help you get started. Voice-enabled assistant: If your mom doesn’t have a smartphone or tablet, or just wants to make things as easy as possible, a voice-enabled smart speaker, like the Amazon Echo (Amazon.com/echo), Google
elderly seniors, which are often caused by fumbling around a dark room looking for a light switch. Smart light bulbs, like the Philips Hue (MeetHue.com), can turn on and off the lights by voice command, smartphone or tablet. These bulbs can also dim the lights and you can program them to turn on and off whenever you want. There are also smart electric plugs, like the Wemo Mini (Wemo.com), that offer remote control automation for lamps, fans, or other electrical devices. Video doorbell: Safety is also a concern for seniors who live alone. Smart doorbells, like the Ring video doorbell (Ring.com), would allow your mom to see, hear and speak to someone at her door (via smartphone, tablet, Google smart displays, Amazon Echo Show or Spot) without having to open it. Stovetop shut-off: To help seniors prevent home cooking fires, stovetop shut-off devices, like the IGuardStove (IGuardFire.com), uses motion sensors to turn off electric and gas stovetops when left unattended for a predetermined amount of time. It will also alert family members via text. Medication management: Seniors on a complex medication schedule can benefit from a smart medication tracking system, like the PillDrill (PillDrill. com), that reminds you when pills are due, tracks that you’ve taken them, and notifies loves ones. Home monitoring: Family members can keep tabs on older loved ones from afar with smart home video cameras, like Lighthouse Al (Light.house/ elderly-care), or a smart home sensor system, like TruSense (MyTruSense.com). Other options: Some other helpful smart home products to consider include smart door locks, like Kwikset Kevo (Kwikset.com), smart thermostats, such as the Nest (Nest.com), and smart nightlights like Aladin (Domalys.com), which detects falls and Assistant (Assistant.google.com) or Apple HomePod alerts caregivers. The costs for most smart home products range (Apple.com/homepod), will allow her to operate anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred dolcompatible smart home products with simple voice lars and can be found in many local home improvecommands. These nifty voice technology devices can also play ment stores as well as online. her favorite music, read audiobooks, make calls, set timers and alarms, provide reminders for medica- Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, tions, appointments and other things, check traffic OK 73070 or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. and weather, ask questions, and much more. Smart lights: Falls are common concerns among
Board on aging advises: Walk more, fall less Boomers on the Move BY KARIN HAUGRUD Columnist If you or someone you know has fallen, you are not alone. Falls can happen anytime, anyplace and to anyone. Falls can occur while doing everyday activities. But falls are not a normal part of getting older. The bad news is falls in Minnesota have been increasing. The good news is there are easy ways you can reduce an older adult’s risk of falling. A quick screening is an easy first step in detecting those at risk and reducing falls and the major injuries that can result from falling. Ask the following three questions of older adults regularly: Have you fallen in the past year? How many times have you fallen in the past year? Are you afraid of falling? Having a major fall can change one’s life forever. It could mean giving up living a full, independent life. The rate of falls among older adults in Minnesota is increasing at a faster rate than the rest of the country. Minnesota now has the fourth highest uninten-
tional fall death rate in the country. Here are some more numbers that we need to change: women age 50 and older are more likely than men to fall. Men age 50 and older are more likely to die from a fall until about age 70. Falls are the leading cause of hospitalized injury and the leading cause of emergency room-treated injury. Costs for nonfatal falls for older Minnesotans are high – $162 million for hospital charges and $20.4 million for emergency department charges in 2005. Anyone can fall although more often falls occur in older adults. Falls are often the result of many factors related to the individual and his or her environment. Walking is an easy way to be active, and it is free! Walking starts the joints moving and gets you limbered up which can help you feel better, enjoy life more and stay independent. Experts recommend that you be active 30 minutes a day. Moving can fit in your life easily just by making some small changes. Remember physical activity can be done at any age and any amount of activity is better than none. Don’t forget to eat a healthy diet. Your body needs fuel to maximize your physical activity, choose the best food for you. The Minnesota Board on Aging is trying to reduce the number of fall-related injuries and deaths. Its goal is to increase awareness of the risk of falling both among the general public and health care
professionals to prompt more thorough assessment of individuals’ risk of falling and to promote evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing falls, fall-related injuries, and deaths. The initiative’s website is www.mnfallsprevention.org. This article is made possible with Older Americans Act dollars from the Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging. Call the Senior LinkAge® at 800-333-2433 to speak with an information specialist about preventing falls, or check out our website at MinnesotaHelp.info.
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M arch 2019 BERT'S CABINS From Page 1
Escaping the city’s grip
Dave, originally from Shevlin, and Pat both graduated high school in Bagley, though they didn’t know each other at the time. After finishing her four-year degree at the University of Minnesota, Pat worked for a year as a home economist on an Indian reservation in South Dakota. Then she and Dave got married and moved to the Twin Cities, where they spent the next decade working in the corporate world. “We both had good jobs,” said Dave. “But we could just feel the grip of the city. If you don’t make a move, you’re going to be here for the duration of your life. And we’re both rural people.” In 1980, the couple moved to Pinewood, where they owned a farm, and Dave found work as a maintenance superintendent at Potlatch in Bemidji. “We made our move,” he said. “We came up here, and don’t regret it.” By the time Dave and Pat bought the resort from Bert in 1990, there were seven cabins. Alice had passed away in 1987, leaving Bert to run the business alone for two summers. “We didn’t know for sure if we were going to buy it, or just what was going to happen,” said Pat. “So, it was kind of in limbo.” During the mid-1980s, the Pfeifers had already explored the idea of selling the cabins to the state parks. At that time, the park’s boundaries were redrawn to encompass the 20-acre resort, though it remained private property. This was done to make it easier for the park eventually to acquire the cabins. After selling it to the Evenwolls, Bert retired to Bagley and continued to help at the resort for several years, doing
finish carpentry and paint work. He died in 2012 at age 96, having helped Pat and Dave expand the resort to 12 rental cabins with such modern amenities as air conditioning. After running the resort for 38 years, the Evenwolls decided last year to follow through with the Pfeifers’ plan to sell Bert’s Cabins to Itasca State Park. “That was what (my parents) were looking to do as well, to have it eventually become part of the park,” said Pat. “The other reason is that we’d served the guests of the park since 1939. It was built to serve the people of the park, and what better way than to have the park be able to utilize the cabins and serve the people yet?” Passing the baton is a big change, she acknowledged. “It’s a bittersweet situation. But you have to look to the future, too,” she said. “We spent a lot of time thinking about that,” David said. “We looked at maybe selling it to private people. But Pat and I said we really wanted this to stay as a resort. As a lot of resorts are sold, they make PUDs (planned unit developments) out of them, or they sell them off to friends and uncles, and it’s no longer a resort for people to stay at anymore.” Besides, he said, the profit the resort made during nearly 80 years was due to the park. “The park had shown interest for years,” he said. “We just felt
BERT'S CABINS: Page 9
Bert Pfeifer, in 1954, holds a string of fish in front of the registration desk used at Bert's Cabins from 1949 to -62.
Two Ja p catch in anese girls h a 1 staying 998 at the pa ul in a at Bert' r s Cabin k while s.
A snowman relaxes next to Cabin 10 in 1999.
Vacationers cook out at Cabin 1 in 1954.
or n of visit eneratio in 2005. g w e n A rt the reso comes to
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Ma rch 2 01 9
Here’s a great way to start more houseplants in 2019
A clear plastic bag large enough to hold the bucket. Vermiculite or perlite, available from garden centers. Six to 10 houseplant cuttings.
Growing Together
Steps
BY DON KINZLER Columnist
1. Poke or drill six holes in the bottom of the bucket to allow excess moisture to drain. 2. Packaged “media” like vermiculite and perlite are very dry. After opening the bag of the product Please read at your own risk because propagating you’ve chosen, moisten well and stir to distribute. houseplants from your own cuttings is habit-formThen fill the bucket two-thirds full. ing, and I can’t be held responsible if your home 3. Take stem or leaf cuttings from your favorite becomes more jungle than living space. plants. Each bucket can hold six to 10 assorted cutIt happened to my wife, Mary, and I, requiring us tings, depending on their size and type. to carve out a niche in the wonderful greenery so 4. Rooting hormone powder, available from garwe can still see each other across the dinner table. den centers, isn’t necessary for most houseplant Forty-some years ago, in a horticulture class cuttings, but can be used if desired. It does aid difwhile a student at North Dakota State University, ficult-to-root plants. I didn’t use it for the cuttings I learned a method for starting new houseplants I prepared for this demonstration. from cuttings, and I’ve used it ever since. This “ice 5. Insert each cutting into the moistened media cream bucket method” creates a miniature greenand pack media firmly around the cuttings so they house that keeps cuttings cozy and humid until they don’t wiggle. root. It’s also a great project to encourage children’s 6. Even though you’ve pre-moistened the media, interest in plants. water again after all cuttings have been inserted to A “cutting” is a piece of a plant that’s cut away further firm media around cuttings. from the mother plant and coaxed to produce its 7. Enclose the bucket in a clear plastic bag, and own roots, creating a new plant. Although some fasten the top loosely. cuttings root easily in water, using vermiculite or 8. Place the bucket in a window receiving filtered perlite produces stronger, well-branched roots that sunlight, but not all-day full sun, which might be transition more successfully into potting soil, once too intense. The humidity and warmth inside the rooted. miniature greenhouse speeds rooting. The type of cutting depends on the type of plant. 9. The cutting bucket won’t require much extra Houseplants with leaves spaced along stems such as water, as moisture condenses and recirculates ivies, pothos and coleus are easily propagated from inside. Add a little water if the media begins to dry. “stem cuttings.” 10. Open or close the bag slightly as needed. Light With a sharp knife or shears, snip a 3- to 4-inch condensation on the plastic is good. section of stem, plus attached leaves from the tips 11. Most cuttings take two to four weeks to form of outer branches. Remove leaves from the lower roots. Resist the urge to pull up on cuttings to inch or inch and a half of stem. check, as tiny roots are tender. Instead, insert a fork Some houseplants can be propagated from “leaf into the media and gently lift the cutting. Replant if cuttings,” consisting of a single leaf and its leafroots are still small. stalk, called the petiole. African violets and jade 12. When roots are 1 to 2 inches long, transplant plants are examples. cuttings into pots 3 or 4 inches in diameter, and Cuttings are best taken from firm, fresh growth. A increase pot size as the plants grow. day or two before taking cuttings, water the mother Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, worked as an NDSU Extension plant so leaves and stems are turgid and fresh. Wait horticulturist and owned Kinzler’s Greenhouse in Fargo. Readers to take cuttings until you reach the appropriate step can reach him at forumgrowingtogether@hotmail.com. in the procedure below.
Materials needed
A 4- or 5-quart ice cream bucket or similar pail.
Asek th r o t c o D
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Houseplant cuttings readily root with this simple method. (Photos by Michael Vosburg / Forum News Service)
Insert cuttings into moistened vermiculite and pack firmly.
When the roots grow to a few inches, transplant into small pots.
Confused By Your New Insurance Benefits?
As of January 1, 2019, Blue Cross Blue Shield no longer offers individual or family health insurance plans, which has affected approximately 103,000 Minnesotans. Many of those affected are seniors with various Medicare plans. With these big changes, many patients are being led to believe that their eye doctor will no longer be a provider under their new insurance plan. We have a team of insurance experts who are here to help you navigate through your new plan and sort out your new eyecare benefits. One thing to keep in mind as you review your insurance benefits, is that there is a distinct difference between a routine eye exam and a medical eye exam to monitor your cataracts, dry eyes, glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc. Your new insurance plan might state that your eye doctor is no longer a provider for “routine eye care”.....but if you’re over 50, you almost certainly have some type of medical eye issue that your doctor is monitoring…..so your eye exams would not be considered “routine” but would be medical, and would go toward the medical portion of your insurance. Continuity of care is important when it comes to eyes, and we pride ourselves in developing long-term relationships with our patients. We enjoy getting to know you (and your eyes!) over time, and care for you like you’re part of our family. We want to make sure you fully understand your insurance plan and are not misled into thinking you have to go elsewhere for “routine eye care”. Our insurance experts work with this stuff all day, every day. Please give us a call if you have any questions - or if you’re just plain frustrated and confused - we are here to help! 001777833r1
Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide - Spring 2019
Northern Light Opera Company has an opportunity for you! Whether you’re a retiree or a teenager, Northern Light Opera Company (NLOC) has a challenge or opportunity for you. Auditions for “The Drowsy Chaperone” will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. March 28 and 29 at Calvary Lutheran Church, Park Rapids. Some of the principal roles are Man in Chair, Groom, Best Man, Starlet, Chaperone, Wealthy Widow, Latin Lothario, Butler, Gangsters, Producer, Aviatrix as well as numerous ensemble members. Those auditioning should be prepared to sing a short song and deliver a one- to two-minute monologue. For additional information and to sign up for a time slot, go to www. northernlightopera.org. For the past 18 summers, NLOC has provided great opportunities for many to express their creative selves by singing, dancing and performing on stage for friends and neighbors. Cast and crew members, ages up to 86, have developed training in singing, acting, dancing and even history and construction in a family atmosphere. Last summer’s Doolittle expressed it this way: “I also strengthened important friendships across the generations. I simply had a blast and renewed my respect for musical theater. It could work for you, too.”
Participating in auditions for an earlier Northern Light Opera Company production are, from left, Gail Ahart, Haakon Vaadeland, Hawken Paul, Katie Jager and Ann Lewis.
“The Drowsy Chaperone” is a musical within a comedy. It opened on Broadway in 2006 and the main character is Man in Chair who sits in his living room, reminiscing about his favorite musical, as the characters materialize before his eyes. As the plot unfolds, you will become part of a jazz-age evening of madcap delight. “The Drowsy Chaperone” will be performed at the Armory the weekends of July 26 to Aug. 3. Mark this on your calendars, please.
2019 ARTS CALENDAR APRIL
April 2 Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning: “Preserving South Africa’s Wildlife” April 9 Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning: “Ole’s Trunk: April 14 Terrapin Sunday: Original art and music series April 14 Heartland Concert Association: Brassfire April 16 Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning: “Sleep and Health: Dream Your Way to a Better Brain” April 29 Park Rapids Area High School Band Concert 7 p.m. at the High School auditorium
MAY
MARCH
March 5 Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning: “Native American Stories and Songs” March 10 Terrapin Sundays: Original art and music series March 12 Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning: “Finding Loren” March 12 Heartland Concert Association: Lysander Piano Trio
March 19 Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning: “Life of a National Geographic Photographer” March 22 Minnesota State Band Concert March 26 Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning: “Eleanor’s Wars” March 28 & 29 Northern Light Opera Company auditions
May 2 Nemeth Art Center opens for the season May 3 Park Rapids Classic Chorale Concert 7:30 p.m. at St. Johns Lutheran Church May 4 Park Rapids Area Community Band Concert 3 p.m. at the Park Rapids Area High School auditorium May 5 Park Rapids Classic Chorale Concert 3 p.m. at St. Johns Lutheran Church May 6 Park Rapids Middle School Choir Concert 7 p.m. at Century Middle School May 8 Park Rapids Area High School Choir Concert 7 p.m. at the High School auditorium May 13 Park Rapids Middle School Band Concert 7 p.m. at Century Middle School
JUNE June 6
Noon Hour Concert series starts
Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide
Young dancers prepare for national competition Four teams of dancers from Northern Lights Dance Academy (NLDA), Park Rapids, are practicing routines and raising money to participate in the Starz Grand National Finals June 12-16 at Wisconsin Dells. The dancers will compete by age, dance style and in other categories and are working on a number of routines for the competition, according to Kendal Ware, NLDA owner and instructor. For one routine, dancers from the NLDA in Frazee will join Park Rapids students. All together, about 100 NLDA students will compete, 50 from Park Rapids. Ware and her sister are in their 13th year as owners of the dance studio in Frazee and sixth year in Park Rapids. Between the two studios, there are five instructors and 250 students. Parents have been raising money to offset the expense of entering the national contest. Shortly before they leave, Park Rapids students will give a recital at 3 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, June 2 at the Park Rapids Area High School auditorium. Established in 1989, Starz is a family-owned and operated dance competition sponsor, based in Farmington, Minn., with a mission to engage, enrich and encourage a lifelong love of dance. Starz Dance Competition aims to provide a superior
Mini Stars, ages 5-8, who will compete at nationals, are, from left, Willow May, McKenna Stacey, Mary Grace David, Lillian Nelson, Izzi Keller, Paisleigh Brakke, Cameron David, Alaina Davidson, Aubree Myers, Ellie Keller, Mya Durgin and Terra Pearson.
experience for every studio and student. Starz achieves this goal and stands out in the growing world of competition dance for many reasons – from a well-known team of staff to exceptional judging and top-of-the-line equipment. A dedicated staff are considered family at Starz and are there to ensure the competition experience meets and exceeds expectations. Starz also arranges for a knowledgeable team of judges from across the country, who provide detailed feedback and critiques. Superior sound, lighting and video production equipment is used as well. Finally, the family believes it is important to offer all of this at a fair and competitive price. “At Starz, nothing is more important than giving back to the dancers and all of the dance communities. One way we show our support is through our medal buyback program,” says Brent Sinn, director. “Studios that attend our events have the opportunity to donate their awarded trophies or medals back to Starz. The cash value will be applied as a donation to a charity of their choice.” In addition to the finals at Wisconsin Dells, Starz holds one other national competition in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Starz also hosts regional competitions in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota and North Dakota.
Competing in Junior Performance for ages 9-13 will be, front, from left, Mayson Woodrum, Makenzie Mack, Kadence Strasberg and Sophie Johnson. Middle row: Robyn Meyer, Grace Macnamee, Mallary Lewis, Adrienne Cook, Maddie Shepherd and Alexis Davidson. Back row: Bethany David, Emmy Goochey, Kenzie Strasberg, and Savannah Stammar.
The Senior Elite Performance Team, ages 13 and up, is, front, from left, Naomi Rowan, Cascade Oppitz, Elizabeth Hallaway and Jaime Brann. Back row: Anna Miller, Anika Campbell, Macy Goochey and Isabelle Brakke.
The Senior Performance Team, ages 13-17, is, front, from left, Addison Tretbar, Isabelle Meyers, Kylee Miller, Brooklyn Partlow, Isabella Day and Elizabeth Seifert. Back row: Maci Jo Tretbar, Kiley Lindow, Monte Schott, Louisa Etter and Cadence Perry.
DAC to start monthly arts programming in March Hubbard County Developmental Achievement Center (DAC) staff and community partners are excited to be awarded a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to expand arts programming. “The goal of the project is to encourage personal growth and improve social skills for the disabled and elderly participants who are enrolled in our programs,” stated DAC Executive Director Laura Johnson. “With this funding, we can offer an integrated art activity each month beginning in March and concluding in February 2020.” The multi-faceted arts programming will include theatrical expression, group painting and individual visual art with mosaic or acrylic. Artists collaborating on the
programming are Nate Luetgers, Marsha Wolff and Jennifer Geraedts and Julie Kaiser of Vision Theatre. They were chosen because of their skill in bringing out joy and selfexpression using art and their ability to facilitate positive social interaction with disabled persons. “I can do it,” is the attitude Luetgers promotes with art. The opportunity for community integration is an important piece of this project. The theatrical expression piece will include two public performances. Outdoor murals will be painted and displayed on the DAC building and, finally, a traveling art show will feature individual art at local businesses. The DAC also is planning to be a stop for the 2019 Art Leap.
“It is my hope that we can integrate actual community participation during the activities,” Johnson added. “We will be using the help of five volunteer art assistants for project evaluation.” Arts activities offer a unique way for any individual, including those who may be non-verbal or have limited mobility, to express themselves. The DAC is thankful for local artists who want to be part of this and offer their skills and is also thankful to the State Arts Board for giving this opportunity to expand arts programming and partner with the public. Watch for future updates as the monthly activities begin.
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.
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Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council Serving the arts community since 2005
Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide
A little more than 120 years after the Minnesota State Band was started, they will play a concert in Park Rapids in March. State employees, who wanted to do something for fun, started the band in 1898. At the time, plenty of other states had official bands; in fact, they were often an important part of official ceremonies and dedications. On June 26, 1898, the Minnesota State Band played its first two concerts at Como Park. More than 5,000 people showed up for the shows, which had marches, trumpet solos and dance music.
Minnesota State Band to give concert March 22 The Minnesota State Band will perform a concert at 7 p.m. Friday, March 22 at the Park Rapids Area High School auditorium. The music for this concert will include pieces by Minnesota composers, repertoire featuring band members as soloists and classic band literature. The band’s concerts are always free, but anyone can join the ranks of their esteemed Associate Band Members by donating any amount. A very reasonable amount will procure one of their eminently collectable stuffed animals. The Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council is sponsoring the
event, which will include an afternoon program for Century Middle School and area high school band students. The Minnesota State Band is the official band of the State of Minnesota. Founded in 1898, the 60-piece concert band is the only remaining state band in the nation. The band’s goal is to contribute positively to the development of music in the state of Minnesota and to affirm and continue the strong Minnesota band heritage in quality music. The band performs a diverse repertoire, from famous marches and classical selections to music for special
Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning series is underway The Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning (HCLL) has offered eight programs each fall and eight more each spring since the fall of 2001 to curious and supportive audiences. The focus of programming is on the humanities, but the board of directors isn’t constrained to choose programs in a single category. Presentations feature the fine arts, liberal arts, philosophy, literature, history, comparative religion, languages, current issues and events. Audience members are invited to suggest speakers and program ideas. HCLL programs are from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays at Park Theater. The sessions are free and handicapped accessible. Refreshments and treats are provided. The spring series continues with the following seven programs in March and April: March 5: “Native American Stories and Songs.” Acclaimed storyteller Anne Dunn will provide an entertaining and informative window into Native American culture. March 12: “Finding Loren.” Hans Wronka tells how he found the remains of his grandfather’s plane that was shot
down during World War II in Italy. March 19: “Life of a National Geographic Photographer.” Richard Hamilton Smith will share some of his award-winning photos. March 26: “Eleanor’s Wars.” Novelist Ames Sheldon discusses her novel about a female ambulance driver in World War I and the impact her experience had on her descendants. April 2: “Preserving South Africa’s Wildlife.” Fanie Ernst, who recently retired to Park Rapids from his home in South Africa, will speak about some large game reserves in South Africa. April 9: “Ole’s Trunk.” Roger Hellesvig, speaking as his great-grandfather Ole Oleson, will describe some of the challenges faced by a Norwegian immigrant to Minnesota in the mid-1800s. April 16: “Sleep and Health: Dream Your Way to a Better Brain.” Diane Pittman, MD, explores the way sleep impacts our memory, immune system, weight, aging and more. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, email hcllemail@gmail.com.
occasions and wind ensemble compositions written for today’s concert band. This concert will be funded by a grant from the Legacy funds, which are controlled by the state legislature. The band was awarded $25,000 per year for the purposes of promoting and increasing public performances across the State of Minnesota. For more information about the band, including history, news and upcoming events, please visit www. minnesotastateband.org.
Nemeth Art Center opens May 2
The Nemeth Art Center (NAC) has a wonderful season of exhibits and events planned from May through September. The NAC will open May 2 with a nationally recognized, awardwinning, traveling exhibit in partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center, Minnesota Indian Affairs Council and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian: “Why Treaties Matter: Self-Government in the Dakota and Ojibwe Nations.” Alongside this exhibit, Minnesota artist Kyong Juhn’s “Walk for Hope and Peace” exhibit will take visitors along a 330-mile journey through Minnesota that pays homage to the long walk Juhn’s mother took from North to South Korea after the war. The colorful, dreamy work of Minnesota artist Georgia Mrazkova will be hosted by the NAC in June and July. An award-winning artist, Mrazkova’s work reflects psychological states and invites viewers to spin their own narrative around culture and materiality. Later in August and September, the NAC will host Ely artist Andy Messerschmidt, whose series of tondo drawings on MDF panels exhibits his interest in historical and archetypal religious architectural schematics. A visiting lecturer to many colleges and having won many awards, Messerschmidt’s
work will bring a unique perspective to the NAC this season. Other exhibits will also be showcased, such as the annual Youth Art Exhibit and an exhibit of works by Luisa FernandezGarcia-Gomez, including textile and weaving arts with special events planned to engage local artists and the community. Artist receptions during each exhibit will provide an opportunity for the public to meet and converse with the artists directly, as well provide a chance to hear the artists describe their work and process. 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. In addition, the NAC will host special hands-on activities for youth throughout the season, engaging local artists to work with children and families to interpret and create their own works of art based on current exhibits. The Nemeth Art Center is located in the Historic Hubbard County Courthouse at 301 Court Avenue in Park Rapids. All exhibits are free and open to the public, May through September. Open hours are Thursdays-Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Watch for reception and event dates to be announced on our website at nemethartcenter.org.
2019 CONCERT SEASON
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.
7:00 p.m.
Lysander Piano Trio
April 14, 2019
7:00 p.m.
Brassfire
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A PREVIEW OF THE 2019-2020 SEASON
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
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March 12, 2019
Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide
Park Rapids Area Community Band prepares for annual spring concert
The Park Rapids Area Community Band’s spring concert theme is “Around The World in 90 Minutes.”
Wind band musicians hailing from at least seven counties (Wadena, Otter Tail, Becker, Beltrami, Cass (ND) and Hubbard) convene many Saturday mornings each year, making up the Park Rapids Area Community Band (PRACB). Since its first rehearsal in 1991, the band has rehearsed a wide variety of music. The band’s first conductor was Jim Wheeler Park Rapids Area of Park Rapids. Wheeler was Community Band Conductor Adam Tervola succeeded by Dr. Russell Pesola Hultberg of Hawley, whose baton led the band for 14 years. The current band conductor is Adam Tervola Hultberg of New York Mills. Adam has led bands,
PRLAAC appreciates survey responses The Park Rapids Lakes Area Arts Council (PRLAAC) appreciates those who participated in a survey to help us better inform the community about arts events in Park Rapids and neighboring communities and assess arts events and activities currently available. Responses received through www.prlaac.org and on paper were compiled. The following response to the last question was music to PRLAAC’s ears: “I think you are doing a great job. My family really enjoys the community and all it has to offer.” Sixty percent of those responding say The Enterprise is their primary source to learn about arts activities in Park Rapids and neighboring communities. Word of mouth was named as the second-most common source and PRLAAC’s website ranked third. Flyers and brochures are also a source of information. The Red Bridge Park Sculpture Trail and 2nd Street Stage tied as the arts events most frequently attended, followed by the Northern Light Opera Company production of “My Fair Lady,” Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning programs, Art Leap, Nemeth Art Center exhibits and programs and Noon Hour Concerts. The survey attempted to measure awareness of PRLAAC and/or PRLAAC-sponsored events (Noon Hour Concerts, Art Leap and the Great American Story storytelling contest). While there is always room for improvement, most who responded reported they are aware of some or all of them. Fewer than half have ever visited PRLAAC’s website and fewer still have visited PRLAAC’s Facebook page (Park Rapids Arts). About 75 percent of those who have visited PRLAAC’s website found what they were looking for. PRLAAC is considering investing in updating the website in 2019. Thirty-five percent rated the quality of arts events they have attended as “very high” and more than 60 percent rated the quality as “high.” The last survey question asked if there are other arts and/ or cultural activities they would like to see happen. Respondents provided many ideas. Among them were workshops, classes and more music events and some specific suggestions. These responses also will be used in updating the City of Park Rapids Arts and Culture Commission plan.
wind ensembles, orchestras and choirs ranging from the university level to elementary bands. The PRACB strives to rehearse and perform high-quality wind band music, whether it is an academic year program at the Park Rapids Area High School Auditorium or at a summer concert. At any given concert, you will be sure to hear patriotic marches, lyrical ballads, time-honored masterpieces and modern wind band music. The PRACB also places a strong emphasis on featuring an outstanding soloist at least two times per year. Past soloists have included professors from Concordia College, Minnesota State University-Moorhead and Bemidji State University. This spring, Glenn Seibel of Bemidji will perform “Morceau Symphonique” by Alexandre Guilmant on the euphonium. The euphonium is an instrument known for its deep and rich tone qualities. This spring’s concert is titled “Around the World in 90
Minutes.” The program will begin in the United States by presenting a rendition of “Amazing Grace” by California composer Frank Ticheli. The sonic experience will sojourn to the United Kingdom (Gustav Holst), Germany (J.S. Bach), Armenia (Alfred Reed), Italy (Luigi Denza), France (Alexandre Guilmant) and Africa (Robert W. Smith). As if this journey is not extensive enough, the band wishes to go to a galaxy far away with a montage of themes from “Star Wars” (John Williams). Mark your calendar for 3 p.m. Saturday, May 4 to join the journey at the PRACB Spring Concert at the Park Rapids High School auditorium. All PRACB concerts are free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be taken. More information pertaining to the band’s rehearsal schedule, history and archived recordings can be found at www.pracb.com.
Terrapin art and music series continues
If you’ve never seen the amazing stage at Terrapin Station, you ought to check it out on Terrapin Sunday or other events during the year
Terrapin Station is hosting a second season of Terrapin Sundays, an original art and music series. The art reception begins at 3 p.m. Music will start about 3:45 p.m. and go until about 6 p.m. with a 30-minute break between sets. Admission is $10 per event. The schedule is as follows: Sunday, March 10 - Music by Jacob Mahon & the Salty Dogs and art by Dawn Rossbach. Sunday, April 14 - Music by Michael Rendahl and Tate McLane and art by Nate Luetgers. Terrapin Station, a music, art and wellness center, and the Blue Door Gallery are located at 115 Main Street, Nevis. For more information, call 218-652-3091.
Enter the Blue Door Gallery at Terrapin to view artwork by local and regional artists
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M arch 2019 BERT'S CABINS From Page 3
it was the right thing to do. That way we know it will always stay in the park system, and it will be a resort.”
Not moving far
Upon closing the sale on Dec. 14, the Evenwolls moved only a short distance up Wilderness Drive, onto 240 acres they already owned just outside park boundaries. By early February, they were still unpacking in the new home they built next door to the summer home of Pat’s sister, Judy Schrupp. “She built here 21 years ago,” said Dave. “We basically talked to her first: ‘If we sell the resort, do you want to stay here?’ And she really did want to stay here. So, that was a big factor in us deciding” to retire at the park. “We had the property,” Pat added. “If we had moved someplace else, we’d have to buy new property and start all over there. It just seemed very logical.” “And we know the neighbors,” said Dave. “Right,” said Pat. “This is our neighborhood.” Even in retirement, the northwoods seem to suit them. On a snowy afternoon, the Evenwolls watched deer feeding in their backyard, birds swarming around a hanging feeder. “We get firewood,” Dave said of their wilderness lifestyle. “I’ve hunted it for years. I haven’t shot any deer here for quite a few years, but I feed the deer.” “We’re maintaining the forest,” Pat said, noting that they have loggers clean up dead or damaged trees. “We’ve always enjoyed snowmobiling.” The fact that they were still in the woods in the midst of a snowy winter was partly due to the unpacking still going on. Nevertheless, they have a bucket list. “We want to do some traveling,” said Dave. “We haven’t had a summer vacation for, it’s probably 40 years, just about. We farmed before that, and I was a maintenance superintendent, so all we could do was go in the winter, and it was limited to where you can go in the winter. We’ve never seen the rest of the United States much. We want to really see that. I was stationed in Thailand in the Vietnam war; I want to go back there.”
the state will be able to maintain that for us. We’re just waiting for them to have a place to put it.” “It’s pretty neat stuff, from when Wegmann was with the Indians,” said Dave. “You have to realize, the 1880s was when he was here. There were no cars or anything. We have elk horns from back then.” Asked how it feels to be connected to that time, Pat said, “That’s probably one of the reasons, too, to stay here. This is my roots. Dave is from a little further north.” They expressed warm feelings about their experiences at Bert’s Cabins. “It’s not been an easy job, but it’s been very rewarding,” said Pat. “We really enjoyed the people,” Dave agreed. “Yeah, it’s a business, and you’re making a living. But we’ve made so many friends. We had no children, but we had girls who used to stay with us. We’d hire them, and they’d live in our house with us. They’re like family.” The girls cleaned cabins, handled reservations, checked visitors in. “Especially compared to nowadays, we offered a personal service,” said Pat. “What motel is there where somebody takes you to your room and checks on you? You don’t get that.” “We took every guest to their cabin, went over all the things in the cabin with them, showed them how to run the fireplace, how to run the air conditioning, everything,” said Dave.
Magical place
Park personnel eased the pain of giving up Bert’s Cabins. “With the thing being in the family as long as it was, it makes it hard,” said Dave. “And they made it pretty easy for us. They understood the feelings that were involved in this.” “So many of our guests
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Good memories
Among the items that moved with the Evenwolls are artifacts dating to Itasca’s pioneer days. “When Theodore Wegmann passed on, dad was the executor of his estate,” said Pat. “We do have some of his memorabilia. We hope that
have responded to us about our retirement, and said they’re glad for us, and they’re going to miss us,” Pat said. “We got a lot of very nice cards.” The beauty of their surroundings is part of the spell that keeps them at Itasca. “It’s like a magical place,” said Pat. “Once people start coming to Itasca, they want to come back.” She said a naturalist at the park told her that first-time visitors come to see the headwaters, but once they’ve been to the park, they want to come back to see the trees. The couple recalled visitors who stayed at Bert’s Cabins every year for 50 years; a member of the first family to stay at the resort in 1939 who returned more than 70 years later; couples who stayed there on their honeymoon and came back for their 50th anniversary. Guests arrived on foot, by limousine, and in one case by plane, landing a Piper aircraft at the park’s north entrance. As they noted in the resort’s “Seventy Year History” book printed in 2009 and its “Diamond Jubilee” supplement five years later, people are “the reason for the resort.” “People from all over the world feel a real connection to the headwaters of the Mississippi,” Pat said. “When they came here, I hope and believe that they felt rested, and that it was a relaxing stay.” Because of their workload, the Evenwolls weren’t able to enjoy as much of the park’s recreational opportunities as their guests did. “But now we are here, still living in the park,” said Pat. “So, hopefully, that will give us the opportunity to enjoy the things that our guests enjoyed for all those years.”
in niversary dding an the same e w th 0 g their 5 rt, drivin ious stay. celebrate the reso v Kittelson ymoon cabin at d) as on their pre h it d E and hone store ir re e rd th a Howard in w o that H staying 1996 by (a 1969 Model T ar c f o d in k
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Molten Chocolate Cakes will delight loved ones By Sarah and Tony Nasello Forum News Service
four 6-ounce ramekins with softened (not melted) butter, then lightly coat entire ramekin with flour, shaking out the The season for aphrodisiac excess. Place the ramekins on a foods has arrived, and my perbaking sheet and set aside. sonal favorite is chocolate. ParFill a medium saucepan with ticularly, dark chocolate. an inch of water and bring to Aside from its natural flaa gentle simmer over medivor appeal, eating dark chocum-low heat. Place the chocoolate has been shown to cause late pieces and butter in a heatan increase in dopamine levels, proof bowl large enough to fully which can lead to feelings of cover the top of the saucepan. pleasure. Position the bowl over the Tese Molten Chocolate Cakes saucepan. Once the chocolate are the perfect way to end your and butter begin to melt, use evening with a romantically a whisk to combine the ingredecadent flourish. dients until fully melted and This dish receives its name smooth. Remove bowl from because of the clever way the heat and set aside. ingredients are combined to In a medium bowl, use an create a dessert with a wonelectric mixer (stand or handderful cake shell surrounding held) to beat the eggs, egg a gooey chocolate center that yolks, sugar, vanilla extract oozes out from the cake, just and salt on high until thickened like molten lava. and pale, about 2 to 3 minCreated in the 1990s by utes. Alternatively, use a whisk Master Chef Jean-Georges to combine the ingredients and Vongerichten, this classic desmix vigorously for 3 to 5 minsert has everything you need to utes. woo your loved one: it’s rich, Add the flour and about a super-chocolaty and, best of all, Molten Chocolate Cake is an unforgettable dessert idea for a romantic dinner. (Michael Vosburg / Forum News Service) half-cup of the melted chocoeasy to make. late to the egg mixture and use With just seven ingredients, a rubber spatula to combine. the batter can be whipped up from curdling the eggs, I’ll fold just a small amount Add the remainder of the melted chocolate and genin minutes and even prepared several hours in of it into the eggs first, to temper the batter, and tly fold it into the mixture until evenly combined. advance and refrigerated until ready to bake. With then add the remaining chocolate. Spoon the batter into the prepared ramekins and chocolate as the star of this dessert, it’s important This recipe yields four individual cakes, and you’ll bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the sides of the cake to use the best quality chocolate you can find. While need to use ovenproof ramekins or baking molds are firm, and the center is still soft to the touch and Jean-Georges’ recipe recommends Valrhona bitterfor each serving. To ensure easy removal from the somewhat jiggly. Remove from the oven and let the sweet chocolate, that can be difficult to find in our mold, I grease each ramekin generously with butter cakes cool for 1 minute, then cover each ramekin local market, so for this occasion I used Guittard followed by a light coating of flour. For best results, with an inverted plate. Carefully turn each cake semi-sweet chocolate chips. use butter that has been softened to room tempera- over, let stand for 10 seconds and gently remove the Butter is the next big ingredient, and unsalted is a ture, as melted butter or cooking spray just isn’t ramekin. must for this recipe in order to control the amount enough to help the cake easily pop out of the mold. Dust the top of each cake with powdered sugar, of salt added to the batter. A pinch of salt is included If you’re looking for a surefire way to impress garnish with fresh berries and serve immediately. in the recipe, but more than that could affect the your loved one or family, these easy-to-make Mol- Makes four 6-ounce cakes. overall flavor result. ten Chocolate Cakes are sure to bring the love to Sarah’s tips To help create the cake’s molten center, two your table. The batter may be prepared several hours in whole eggs are combined with two egg yolks and advance and refrigerated before using, either in a bit of sugar. The only adjustment I have made to Molten Chocolate Cake the ramekins or the mixing bowl. Remove from the Jean-Georges’ recipe is the addition of a half-teaAdapted from Master Chef Jean-Georges fridge at 30 to 45 minutes before baking to bring spoon of pure vanilla extract, which is my favorite Vongerichten’s recipe batter to room temperature. way to enhance any chocolate dish. 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small For an added touch of elegance, serve with These four ingredients are beaten until the mixpieces a good-quality vanilla ice cream, or melt the ice ture become thick and pale yellow in color, and this 6 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, either in chips or cream to serve as a vanilla sauce. can be done by hand with a whisk or with an eleccut into small pieces Softened butter is best for greasing the ramekins, as tric mixer. By hand, this can take several minutes 2 eggs I have not had good results when using melted butter. of vigorous whisking, so I use my stand mixer with 2 egg yolks the paddle attachment and beat the mix on high for 1/4 cup sugar “Home with the Lost Italian” is a weekly column written by two to three minutes. This can be done while the 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Sarah Nasello featuring recipes by her husband, Tony Nasello. chocolate and butter are melting, and I use a douPinch of salt The couple owned Sarello’s in Moorhead and lives in Fargo with ble-boiler system on the stovetop to best control the 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour their son, Giovanni. Readers can reach them at sarahnasello@ melting process. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Generously grease gmail.com. Once the egg mixture is ready, the melted chocolate and a scant amount of flour are folded in to create the batter. To prevent the hot melted chocolate
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Tips for communicating with someone with dementia The Family Circle BY LAUREL HED Columnist Jolene Brackey tells a story that helps us learn some ways to better approach a person living with dementia. The book, “Creating Moments of Joy,” is a story reminding us to be more like the sun: “There was a sun and a cloud in the sky, and they were fighting over who was the most powerful and the strongest. There was a little boy walking on the sidewalk and the cloud said that whoever gets that jacket off the little boy wins. So, the cloud said, “I’m going first.” The cloud floated over the boy and started to blow. He blew and he blew, trying to blow the jacket off the boy. What did the little boy do? He held on even tighter to the jacket. The cloud blew and blew. Eventually, the cloud lost all his energy. He was tired and couldn’t blow anymore. He turned to the sun and said, “All right, I give up. Give it your best shot.” The sun didn’t move. He just waited and warmed up. He radiated his warmth. He was very patient. The little boy started to sweat. The little boy thought, “It’s getting warm out.” So, the little boy took off his jacket.” Brackey explains that the moral of the story is whenever you try to force anyone in your life – your spouse, your kids or the person you are caring for – to do what you want, they hold on even tighter.
But if you are more like the sun and radiate your warmth, have some patience – and here’s the kicker – give them a reason they would understand, then they are more likely to cooperate with you. Not always, not every day. You are more likely to get a better reaction if you act more like the sun. This is so true when caring for someone living with dementia. The more a person tries to force them into doing something they don’t want to do the harder things become. Think about your approach, body language, facial expression. Ninety percent of our messages are communicated non-verbally. Even someone living with dementia can sense when someone is feeling frustration. So, take a step back, take a cleansing breath and try again. Use a calm, gentle, positive approach and
chances are you will get much farther with your loved one. Communication with a person who has dementia can be challenging because our general rules of communication do not always work. Each person with the disease will also be unique in what works for them. Your strategies for communication will need to be continually revised as the disease progresses. Learning more about your loved one’s specific type of dementia is very important to help in understanding the lost skills and retained skills. This will assist in better understanding why communication needs to be adjusted. Laurel Hed is a licensed social worker and geriatric care manager for the elder law attorneys of Thomason Swanson and Zahn Law Firm.
Suffering parents’ deaths can bring both sorrow and relief Minding Our Elders CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK Columnist Dear Carol: Both of my parents were ill for years. Mom, who died two years ago, fought several types of cancer and then developed dementia. Dad, who died three months ago, had a massive stroke right after Mom’s death and his last years were full of physical and emotional pain. My brother and I grieve our parents, but we saw them wear out from health struggles and feel that they are now together in a better place, so there’s quite of bit of relief as well. Knowing our parents are no longer suffering is part of the relief, but I’m also relieved that I can now spend more time with my husband and children without feeling that I’m taking something away from my parents. I confided this to a friend who has healthy parents and has never been a caregiver, and she became really upset with me. She implied that I was a terrible person to have such feelings and said that since life is sacred, I should confess to our priest. Her response stunned me. Am I wrong to feel some relief that it’s all over? ~ KH
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Dear KH: You sound like a loving, compassionate person, and I’m sorry that you were treated in such a callous way. Even though your friend has had a much
easier time with her parents, she could have offered empathy. Unfortunately, she chose to judge you. It seems that she’s misinterpreting church teachings, since natural death is part of the life cycle, which most religions understand and honor. In my view, it’s normal to have shifting and even competing emotions after the deaths of your parents. I know that I did. My parents, too, had long, slow declines, and I was involved every step of the way. They died within five months of each other, and yes, I grieved their loss, but I also welcomed their release from suffering. Feelings of grief and relief would cycle through my emotions daily. Sharing our deep feelings with others is always risky, but it’s also healthy, since burying them can literally make us sick. Unfortunately, you learned a harsh lesson about the risks. The last thing that you needed was guilt-inducing criticism and the implication that your feelings are sinful was cruel. Consider this person a fair-weather friend and leave it at that. While you may be ready to move past caregiv-
er support groups for now, don’t completely block out the idea of joining an online group should you continue to feel conflicted. I’ve moderated several through the years, so I’ve seen many caregivers join such groups after their loved ones have passed. Generally, they join because they feel conflicted by their emotions. Other caregivers can often lend strong practical support in ways that non-caregivers may not be able to do. Meanwhile, enjoy your husband and children. Keep your parents in your family life by sharing stories of them as they were before sickness took over. That is how you’ll want them to be remembered. 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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Blended wines offer quality, intriguing flavors World of Wine BY RON SMITH Columnist Since I’ve been involved in my love affair with wine tastings, I realize that we will never live long enough to enjoy all the wonderful wines of this world. Good fortune did recently bless me with three excellent red blends to enjoy: Lucente 2015, a blend of merlot and sangiovese, Caroso 2010 Montepulciano Riserva, and Charles Krug 2014 Generations Napa Valley – Estate Grown, a blend of cabernet sauvignon, petite verdot, merlot and malbec. The creation of Lucente where merlot and sangiovese are blended came from the collaboration between two wine geniuses: Robert Mondavi of California and Vittorio Frescobaldi of Tuscany to create this wine of extraordinary quality at a reasonable price of about $20. Fruits of strawberry and cherries that produce a lingering finish identify this dense, full-bodied wine. Lucente is Luce’s second wine, sourced from the same vineyards as Luce. The grapes are carefully selected – often by hand to remove unripened grapes – to yield a wine with contemporary flair, which reflects the vine’s distinctive terroir. The wine goes through a maturation of 12 months in barrels at the Luce della Vite estate, in Montalcino, and then bottled. Get a bottle for your next steak dinner – they are meant for each other. The Caroso Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is from the grape of the same name, Montepulciano – a grape grown in central Italy that is appreciated world wide for soft flavors, bold color and surprisingly gentle tannins.
It’s not a wine that needs to be aged to be appreciated, so if you locate this wine (SRP is $22) in your favorite spirit store, purchase and drink almost immediately or within a year with grilled or roasted meat meals. This is a very versatile, food friendly wine – not a surprise coming from Italy – and made by the wine-making firm, Citra, which came into being in 1973 when 3,000 small growers throughout the Abruzzi region banded together to form a single wine cooperative. Since then, this deep ruby wine has been growing in market demand as a stand-alone drink, or one to consume with a hearty, red meat meal. The Charles Krug 2014 Generations Napa Valley is Bordeaux–style, a blend that has been under the stewardship of Charles Mondavi and family since 1943, who are known for producing superior wines
that have spent 20 months in new French oak barrels, from grapes grown only in the family’s Napa Valley vineyards. This is a wine that will get your attention from the first sip to its lingering finish, and it has received a rating of 93 points from Wine Spectator, which describes it as “supple, plump and juicy with mouthwatering plum, cherry, currant and blackberry flavors, evenly dispersed, with a finish of silky tannins.” Because of its high ABV of 15 percent, it is drinkable now and for those who like to cellar wines, through 2032. With an SRP of $60, this will be a special occasion wine. Ron Smith, a retired NDSU Extension horticulturist, writes weekly about his love of wine and its history. Readers can reach him at tuftruck1@gmail.com.