April 2020
Life in Miniature Park Rapids woman builds own dollhouse
Photos by Shannon Geisen/Enterprise Beginning in 1975 and steadily since 2013, Nancy Reeves of Park Rapids has designed and built her own dollhouse.
N
ancy Reeves wanted to be an architect when she was in junior high in the early 1960s, but she wasn’t allowed to take mechanical drawing “because I was a girl. Back in those days, they said, ‘You’d be the only girl, and you’d disrupt the class.’” She has satisfied that childhood dream by becoming architect, electrician, carpenter and interior designer for her dollhouse. “Everything but a plumber. It has everything but running water,” Reeves said. Self-taught, she developed the necessary skills to construct 20 rooms “and counting.” “It’s a work in progress,” Reeves paints a she said. her dollhouse. Originally from south Florida, Reeves graduated from high school in the Twin Cities. A retired accountant, she has lived in Park Rapids for 13 years. The giant dollhouse consumes most of the hallway at her Woodland Court apartment. “You could stand here and look for hours and not see everything,” she said of the four-story, 82-inch long dollhouse.
Reeves uses one-inch scale. “One inch equals one foot,” she explained. She has worked sporadically on the project since 1975. Reeve started by buying kits of furniture, which initially were hard to find. “I carried the furniture around with me for years and years and years, and then finally in 2013 is when I decided to become serious and bought one room box. Then I bought a second room box, then another,” she recalled. She purchases the kits online from four or five vendors. “Some of them are actually from England,” she noted. “And I buy accessories that I can’t make realistically.” Miniature dollhouse kits are much more readily available as the hobby French door for has grown in popularity, she said. “You can find things for everything. Anything you can buy for a house, you can buy for a dollhouse almost,” she said. Each floor is 10 inches high and 17 inches deep, complete with 3/8-inch flooring and ceiling. Each room takes months to assemble – from the ceiling, wallpaper and flooring to the furniture, upholstery and light fixtures.
MINIATURE: Page 3
Inside this issue... 2 Bob King, Pelican wrestling 'Godfather' has Park Rapids Roots 4 The Lost Italian: Blueberry Streusel Bread 5 Helping parents who just won't listen 6 Victory gardens are back! 7 Important legal documents 8 Protect yourself from radon
001824043r1
By Shannon Geisen sgeisen@parkrapidsenterprise.com
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Bob King: Pelican wrestling ‘Godfather’ has Park Rapids roots By Louis Hoglund ment hobby has been woodworking Pelican Rapids Press in his home. As far as wrestling, following is a I planned a column about the generscratch-the-surface rundown. ally dismal state of affairs confronting King launched the Pelican program us.....blah, blah, blah..... in a school hallway, because there was Then...I went to a couple wrestling nowhere else to practice. He barely kept matches down the street, at Pelican records the first three years; and King’s Rapids High School. penmanship was so awful, that his late Everything changed. assistant Dean Fox took over the books Why on earth would I wallow in the – and forbid King from touching them. mud of national politics when local Heck, King wasn’t much of a stories are much more interesting? wrestler himself. Stories like Bob King. He had a little bit of mat experience He’s the northern Minnesota guy at a feeble program at Park Rapids from the wrong side of the tracks – and High. the wrong side of the river – in Park At Bemidji State, the guy coached Rapids, who single-handedly founded from a U.S. Navy wrestling manual the Pelican school wrestling program because he didn’t know what he was 60 years ago. doing. Plus, the Bemidji football and He spent a career in the Pelican school wrestling coach was a complete and system, teaching shop and coaching, total jerk, said King. “He was burned in and raising 50 or so kids along the way: effigy six times while I was up in BemThe Kings took in Foster kids. Dozens idji,” said King. of them. Juvenile delinquents, for the For those of you who didn’t grow most part. From the wrong side of the up during the American Revolutionrailroad tracks, most of them. ary War – or the 1950s – “burning in “Well, these kids had a choice: Go to effigy” may require some explanation. reform school, or go to the Kings...If You create a likeness of the King of they didn’t make it at the Kings, they England, and torch it during the Boston were sent away.” Tea Party. As Bob tells it, the Kings would get a In the 1950s, you might create a couple new ones each year. look-alike of then-vice president Rich“I think the most we had was 12 ard Nixon, or maybe Elvis, if you held at one time.” religious convictions that rock and roll Twelve??? truly was the Devil’s music. A dozen delinquents?...Under the Or you could burn the effigy of some same roof?...At the same time? numbskulled college professor – which Unfathomable, for most of us moris what they did up in Bemidji. tals. Point being: King wasn’t exactly an But Bob had secret weapons. Olympic-level wrestler. A couple dozen cows, for starters. Still, he managed to build a program “We’d get the kids up at 5 or 5:30 from a motley crew of Pelican-ites a.m. to milk the cows. The kids who that went on to nine conference titles, got in the most trouble had to clean the seven district championships and two pens.” Submitted photo Another weapon, his late wife Cleo. Pelican Rapids wrestling coach Harold Holt, at left, with the guy who started it all six decades ago: Bob King, regional titles. I could have written a column about She didn’t take any guff from the ruf- 87, who is originally from Park Rapids. national affairs – this week, U.S. Presfians. idents born with silver spoons up their “She made them go outside and King was a Park Rapids High School football player, you-know-what. Or about congresswomen who ponsmoke their cigarettes – even if it was 20 below,” who spent a couple years with Uncle Sam’s Army in recalled Bob. Of course, that also applied to whatever the mid-1950s, and returned to the northwoods to tificate about disadvantaged and troubled youth at San Francisco wine and cheese and Perrier parties. Or other stuff they might have been smoking. Most of attend Bemidji State University on the GI Bill. I might have written about big, fat, hot air machines the King foster kids were “troublemakers,” placed That’s the abbreviated backstory on 87-year-old out of the criminal justice system – not by social Bob King. Foster parent, educator, farmer, father of like talk show right-winger Rush Limbaugh. So, decided not to write about politics this week. services. three (Scott; Mike, who wrestled for him; and Sherri, Bob King’s a better story. (Cleo, who died about 25 years ago, also became who still works on the sidelines during meets). Also, a faithful wrestling fan herself. Widower Bob later foster parent to a few dozen transient ragamuffins; Louis Hoglund is managing editor of the Pelican Rapids Press. This column appeared in the Feb. 12, 2020 edition. married Cheryl Larson.) and a couple hundred rag-tag wrestlers. His retire-
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April 2020 MINIATURE
She watches “a lot” of HGTV. She also scours miniature kit catalogs and her own imagination for From Page 1 inspiration. Reeves didn’t play with a dollhouse as a child. Her mother bought her a living room kit, but it was part of a dollhouse set that was discontinued. “I was so “It does require a lot of patience. You have to like disappointed. I think that’s what started my love – to do crafts,” she said. because I wanted it so badly.” Reeves said when she gets bored with carpentry or Caleb Hasbargen, a Menahga High School senior, sewing she can move to another aspect of the project. built the house structure for her, one level at a time. Miniature work requires specialized tools as well – He cuts out the windows and doors in shop class. fine sandpaper, itsy-bitsy screwdrivers, hammers, a Reeves provides him with a blueprint she drew to scale. variety of glues and a handheld Dremel saw. Hasbargen recently completed the fourth floor, “And really, my interest in this, mostly, is for the which Reeves is transforming into a ballroom and decorating. I like decorating, and so I can afford to banquet hall, filled with musicians, gourmet food and decorate this rather than my own house,” she said. five sets of French doors.
“When I finish the fourth floor, I think I’m going to redo the kitchen,” she mused. She envisions it as a traditional, old house that is being renovated. Figurines in the home are made of resin. She has developed a storyline around the characters, and plans to write a book. Reeves imagines living in her dollhouse. “Sometimes I go, ‘I wonder how I could get to be small and just live here.’” Reeves said there are no girls in her family for her to leave the dollhouse to. However, her 54-year-old nephew recently found out that they are expecting a baby girl. “I said, ‘Guess what she’s going to get from me!’”
Reeves' 20-room dollhouse has working lights and blinking fireplaces.
Reeves handsews curtains, quilts and bedspreads for the bedrooms. The theme for this gentleman's room – lighthouses and the sea – are reflected in the details.
This child is a ballerina, with tiny ballet slippers slung over the bed post.
Reeves plans to write a book about the characters in her dollhouse.
The school room features a chemistry lab, in the back right corner, along with music and art lessons.
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The grand, two-story entrance to the dollhouse. The curved staircase was preassembled, but Reeves sanded, stained and painted it, then attached the decorative carpet.
Am I Hallucinating?
In previous months, we’ve discussed many of the common eye problems that can cause vision loss... cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc. This month, we’ll cover something that is less common, but also very interesting and important.
What is Charles Bonnet Syndrome? This phenomenon occurs in people who have lost some vision in one or both eyes (due to macular degeneration, glaucoma, etc.). These patients can experience complex visual hallucinations, where they see things that are not really there. These hallucinations are often pleasant and unthreatening images, and the patients know that they are not really there. The hallucinations occur off and on in the eye that has lost vision. Many of these patients often think they are going crazy, as they are seeing hallucinations out of their blind eye. They are usually NOT going crazy, they are simply experiencing Charles Bonnet Syndrome! What do people see during these hallucinations? People can see just about anything during these hallucinations. I have a blind patient who described well-dressed children who followed her around; she was not afraid of the children watching her, because she knew they were not really there. I had another patient who reported seeing a field of black and gray flowers that scared her at first, but she was not afraid once she realized they were not really there. A third patient has described seeing beautiful purple flowers on the trees outside his house, in the middle of winter. It’s important to be aware of Charles Bonnet Syndrome, especially if you have friends or family who have lost considerable vision in one or both eyes. It can be very comforting to these people to talk about their hallucinations, and they are usually very relieved to learn that they are not going crazy! In 2005 I published an article on Charles Bonnet Syndrome for an international Optometry/Ophthalmology journal; if you would like a copy of this article or if you have any questions on Charles Bonnet Syndrome, please let me know!
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Skip late-winter blahs with Blueberry Streusel Bread Home with the Lost Italian BY SARAH & TONY NASELLO
Columnist
This time of year, I am always on the lookout for harbingers of spring. When I found beautiful, fresh blueberries on sale at the grocery store last week, I couldn’t resist snatching up a few pints. And I knew just how I wanted to use them — in this week’s Blueberry Streusel Bread. Today’s recipe is lightly adapted from a recipe I’ve been wanting to try from an excellent baking website called Sally’s Baking Addiction. This quick bread is easy to make, using basic pantry staples like flour, butter, white and brown sugars, eggs and milk, as well as half a cup of plain yogurt or sour cream. The yogurt or sour cream adds flavor and moistness to the bread, and also provides the acidity needed to activate the leavening agents so that the bread can rise as it bakes. The rise for this bread comes from equal parts baking soda and baking powder. When baking soda and acid mix, carbon dioxide is created and this is the reaction that produces the rise in a baked good. However, some recipes require more rise than baking soda alone will create, and that’s where the baking powder factors in. Baking powder not only contains baking soda, but also a dry acid called cream of tartar, and this extra boost of acid and bicarbonate really makes the difference in this recipe. The bread itself is not very sweet at all, and the streusel crumbs on top provide just the right amount of sweetness to balance the tart flavor of the blueberries. If you don’t plan to add the streusel topping, I recommend increasing the amount of brown sugar from a quarter cup to a third cup. For best results, Sally recommends having all the wet ingredients at room temperature before getting started, a good tip to follow whenever you see it on a recipe. Room temperature ingredients have more air than if they were cold, and this air expands as the bread bakes to create a wonderfully light and moist crumb. This Blueberry Streusel Bread is easy to make, addictively delicious and the next best thing to spring itself.
Blueberry Streusel Bread
2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. sea salt 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature 1/2 cup granulated white sugar 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed 2 extra-large eggs, room temperature 1/2 cup plain yogurt, room temperature (may substitute sour cream) 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature 1 pint fresh blueberries 2 Tbsp. jam, any berry flavor streusel topping: 1/4 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted Position rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 350 degrees. Use butter or cooking spray to grease loaf pan, making sure to coat well into the corners; set aside.
Photos by Alyssa Goelzer /The Forum Sarah's Blueberry Streusel Bread is a deliciously addictive, easy-tomake quick bread packed with fresh blueberries.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside. Fit your stand mixer with the paddle attachment or use a hand-held mixer to beat the butter on medium speed until smooth, about 30 seconds. Add the white and brown sugars and beat on high speed until pale and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating hard on medium speed after each addition until well combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the yogurt and vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed until combined. The batter may look grainy or curdled at this stage but will come together once the dry ingredients are incorporated. Add the flour mixture and milk and beat on low speed just until incorporated. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold in the blueberries until evenly distributed. Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan. For the streusel topping, use a fork to mix the flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl until fully combined. Add the melted butter and use the fork to stir into crumbs of varying size. Before baking, use a knife or offset spatula to swirl the jam into the top of the loaf as desired (I like to cover the entire surface), then sprinkle streusel topping over loaf. Place pan on rack in the lower third position of the oven. Bake for 30 minutes, then cover top loosely with aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. Continue to bake for 30 to 40 minutes more, until
The top of the batter is swirled with raspberry jam and then covered with a cinnamon streusel crumb topping.
a skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes out free of crumbs. Remove loaf pan from oven and transfer to a wire rack, keeping the bread in the pan until completely cool, about 1 hour. To store: Wrap bread in plastic or aluminum foil and store at room temperature for 2 days or refrigerate for up to 1 week. To freeze, wrap loaf of slices in 2 layers of plastic or aluminum foil and place in a plastic freezer bag. Freeze bread for up to 3 months, or even longer in a deep freeze. Makes one 9-by-5inch loaf.
Sarah’s tips
► If not adding the streusel topping, increase the amount of brown sugar to 1/3 cup. ► To use frozen blueberries, do not thaw before using. Toss berries in 2 tablespoons of flour before folding into the batter to prevent them from sinking to the bottom while baking. ► If using smaller loaf pans, fill to 2/3 with batter as bread will rise when baking. “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.
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April 2020
The Family Circle LAUREL HED Columnist
How to help parents when they just won’t listen Whoever thought they would be trying to give their parents advice, only to have them refuse to listen? So, what do you do? I have found that it is important to ask myself why they are resisting. What is driving their behavior? Often, they are embarrassed because they never dreamed they would ever need help in those areas. They were always the ones helping other people. Sometimes approaching the situation from a different angle is helpful – having it be their idea, in a sense, makes the decision a bit easier. Unfortunately, all too often a crisis must happen before change can start to happen. A fall or an illness sends them to the ER and the doctor says they are not safe to return home without help in place, and suddenly a crisis is created. Don’t feel guilty if this is what happens, as there is often very little we can do when there is resistance. We must always respect them as our parents, even if we don’t agree with what they are choosing to do. Bringing in outside help can be very helpful sometimes. Our parents tend to listen to the professional over their adult children – even if they are saying the exact same thing. Bringing in outside help can, at times, prevent that crisis from happening, and if it still happens, you often already have things in place which can help make it less of a crisis. I think the main message is to know that our parents have the right to make their own decisions and all we can do is be available to help if things don’t go as planned. We need to pick our battles and ask ourselves if the decisions they are making could cause themselves or someone else harm. If something harmful is happening then we need to react, but if not then step back and be ok with it. Sometimes having that outside professional assess the situation is very helpful and puts fresh eyes on the home. They are also someone to talk to for guidance and reassurance. It helps to know a person is not alone in this journey and reaching out to others is good for all involved. It gives us as the adult children an outlet for our concern and frustration as well as advice from people who do this work for a living. So, let’s embrace those parents of ours and be thankful we still have them and be patient. They are going through so many emotions and struggles, giving up independence and feeling the uncertainty of what the future holds. It is a tough time for everyone. But how blessed they are to have children who love and care about their wellbeing. Keep up the good work! 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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Victory Gardens are back! Today’s version is all about self-reliance, growing your own food Are you familiar with old-time Victory Gardens, and have you heard they’re coming back? Let’s begin by playing the game “Tell us something about you that most people don’t know,” and I’ll go first. You probably know that I’m a native North Dakotan, but did you know my dad was born in Philadelphia and moved while young to neighboring New Jersey, which became his parents’ lifelong home? When I was young, our family took road trips every few years to visit our grandparents in New Jersey, which is officially known as The Garden State. As a young boy, I was especially impressed with the watermelons Grandpa Kinzler grew in his garden, and I still have memories of their flavor. Roadside stands were everywhere, heaped with fresh fruits and vegetables for sale, hoping to attract city dwellers driving to New Jersey’s ocean beaches for the weekend. I remember Grandma Kinzler telling us about the Victory Gardens their family grew during World War I when they resided in the heart of Philadelphia, and again at their New Jersey home during World War II. Planting a Victory Garden made people feel like they were helping to win the war, especially when their family members were overseas on the battlefront. Victory Gardens have an interesting history. During World War I, food production fell drastically worldwide while food prices soared, and in 1917 the U.S. National War Garden Commission launched a campaign to promote what were termed “war gardens.” Also nicknamed “Victory Gardens,” they were promoted on all available private and public lands, and over 5 million gardens were started, growing vegetables and fruits that exceeded $1.2 billion by the war’s end. In World War II, as food rationing began, the U.S. Department of Agriculture encouraged the planting of Victory Gardens, emphasizing to urban and rural residents that their gardens would help to lower the price of vegetables needed by the War Department to feed the troops. Almost 40% of the vegetables produced during the war years came from these gardens, located in home yards and public spaces. By 1943, there were 12 million Victory Gardens in cities and 6 million on farms. Even Eleanor Roosevelt planted a garden on the White House lawn. The government not only encouraged people to plant Victory Gardens to supplement the food supply, but also to boost morale. Gardeners could feel empowered, knowing their contribution was helping the war effort. Victory Gardens became a part of daily life on the homefront and even helped unite communities, as neighbors shared gardening information and experiences. And now, Victory Gardens are back, once again becoming popular. But this time, the goal is different. The new Victory Garden is about self-reliance. It’s about growing your own food so you have control over how it is grown and how much you pay. Today’s gardens are considered victories for healthy eating, wellness, teaching children about fresh food and promoting a sustainable lifestyle. It offers a family increased food security. Like war gardens, today’s Victory Gardens are being planted wherPark Rapids Office ever space is available, 618 1st St. E., Park Rapids including front yards, Tuesdays 10 am - 3 pm, other times by appt. BRIAN HILLESLAND, NBC-HIS apartment balconies, National Board Certified school grounds and Hearing Instrument Specialist raised beds. Toll - Free 1-800-631-4946 218-631-4966
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Growing Together BY DON KINZLER Columnist
Wikimedia Commons A British poster by Peter Fraser from the World War II era.
ing other control methods. When planting a Victory Garden, focus on foods your family eats and enjoys and types you’d like to store, preserve, can or freeze for winter eating. Wikimedia Commons Where space permits, plant fruits like raspberries, An American World War II-era poster promoting Victory Gardens. strawberries, rhubarb, apples and plums. If new to gardening, study, ask questions, dig How to have a Victory Garden A Victory Garden is a concept. It’s a way of think- in, attend classes and remember that experience ing about gardening: a philosophy that works in is a great teacher. Today’s Victory Gardens share an important quality with the gardens of a centugardens of all sizes. Today’s Victory Garden emphasizes soil health ry ago: they unite us as we share our experiences by incorporating organic materials, including com- and knowledge. post, manure and peat moss. Keep soil covered with Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, is the horticulturist with North mulches to encourage soil microbes and conserve Dakota State University Extension for Cass County. Readers can moisture. Use pesticides judiciously only after try- reach him at kinzlerd@casscountynd.gov or call 701-241-5707.
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April 2020
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Important legal documents all seniors should have examines your estate after you die) and helps ensure your estate’s privacy. Durable Power of Attorney: This allows you to designate someone you trust to handle your financial matters if you become incapacitated. Advanced Health Care Directive: This includes two documents that spell out your wishes regarding BY JIM MILLER your end-of-life medical treatment. The two docColumnist uments are a “living will,” which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become Dear Savvy Senior, incapacitated, and a “health care power of attorney” What kinds of legal documents do I need to pre- (or health care proxy), which names a person you pare to help my family after I’m gone? I would like authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf to get my affairs in order, but could use some help. if you’re unable. ~ Almost 75 You should also consider making a do-not-resusDear Almost, citate order (DNR) as part of your advance directive, All adults – especially seniors – should have at since advanced directives do little to protect you least four essential legal documents to protect your- from unwanted emergency care like CPR. To create self and your family. These documents will make a DNR, ask your doctor to fill out a state appropriate sure your wishes regarding your estate are legal and form and sign it. clear and will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family and your health care pro- Do-it-yourself If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated viders if you become seriously ill or when you die. Here are the key documents you need, along with family situation, there are do-it-yourself resources that can help you create all these documents for some tips to help you create them. Will: This document lets you spell out your wishes very little money. Some options to consider include of how you’d like your property and assets distrib- Quicken WillMaker & Trust 2020 software (available uted after you die, whether it’s to family, friends or at Nolo.com) that costs $90 and works with Wina charity. It also allows you to designate an executor dows and Macs and is valid in every state, except to ensure your wishes are carried out and allows you Louisiana. And LegalZoom.com, which offers an to name guardians if you have dependent children. In addition to a will, if you own real estate or have considerable assets, another option you may want to consider is a “revocable living trust.” This functions like a will but allows your estate to avoid the time and expense of probate (the public legal process that
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If, however, you want or need assistance or if you have a complicated financial situation, blended family or have considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases – especially when writing a will or living trust – which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone. Costs will vary depending on where you reside, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $500 and $2,000 for a basic estate plan that includes a will, power of attorney and advance directive. If you want your estate plan to include a living trust, that can run anywhere between $1,500 and $5,000. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org) and the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils (NAEPC.org) are two good resources that have directories on their websites to help you find someone in your area. If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (see www.FindLegalHelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 for a referral. 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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Protect yourself from radon found in soils and rocks. Minnesota soils are rich with uranium due to past glacial deposition about 10,000 years ago. The arrowhead of Minnesota tends to be less of a radon threat area because the iron ore in the soils acts as a cap, or lid, to prevent radon from diffusing from the soil. Radon is a radioactive gas. It is formed by the natBY KARIN HAUGRUD ural radioactive decay of uranium in rock, soil and Columnist water. Naturally existing, low levels of uranium occur widely in Earth’s crust. If there was something you could do to prevent the Radon is colorless, odorless, tasteless and chemsecond leading cause of lung cancer, would you do it? ically inert. Once produced, radon moves through Performing a radon test is easy, inexpensive, and the ground to the air above. It can be found in all 50 can be done privately. This simple test can tell you if states. Unless you test for it, there is no way of telling you have elevated radon levels in your home. how much is present. On Jan. 13, 2005 the Surgeon General of the U.S., How does radon get into a building? Most radon Dr. Richard Carmona, issued a health advisory warn- enters a building from the soil or rock beneath it. ing Americans about the health risk from exposure Radon and other gases rise through the soil and get to radon in indoor air. The nation’s chief physician trapped under the building. The trapped gases build urged Americans to test their homes to find out how up pressure. Air pressure inside homes is usually much radon they might be breathing. lower than the pressure in the soil; therefore, the Why is radon a common problem in Minnesota higher pressure under the building forces gases homes? Much of the soil in the Upper Midwest con- through cracks and openings in floors and walls into tains widespread uranium and radium. These min- the building. erals continuously break down to release radon gas; Every home is unique due to its local soil, contherefore, Minnesota’s geology provides an ongoing struction details, maintenance and degree of depressupply of radon. surization. For this reason, test results from nearby A study conducted by the Minnesota State Univer- homes cannot be relied upon to predict the radon sity-Mankato discovered radon is a cancer-causing, level in another home. radioactive gas commonly found in various concenIt is recommended that all Minnesota homeowners trations throughout the Midwest, especially in the test their homes for radon. The results of a properly south-central Minnesota area. performed radon test will help homeowners deterRadon is a product of the breakdown of uranium mine for themselves if they need to take further
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action to protect their family from the health risks of radon in the home. A simple test can tell you if you have elevated radon levels in your home. Do-it-yourself, short-term (3-7 day) radon test kits are sold at hardware stores and local public health offices. 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.
