Generations - June 2020

JUNE 2020

GROWING MIRACLES Nevis gardener enjoys God’s inventions

Doug Scraper, 75, Nevis, offers treats to his beloved horse, Skeeter. He boards Skeeter at Strait Rail Ranch, where he has voluntarily tended a vegetable garden for about eight years.

By Shannon Geisen sgeisen@parkrapidsenterprise.com

Scraper’s grandparents had a “ranchette” in Arkansas, with a horse, a cow, a pig and chickens. “I love for horses brought Doug would spend all of my time with the Scraper, 75, and his quarter horse – just nonstop. Her name was horse, Skeeter, to Strait Rail Ranch Dixie,” he recalled. “Just fell in love in Nevis a little over a decade ago. with horses from then on.”

His love for gardening transSkeeter, 18, was his first opporformed a small area – formerly the tunity to own a horse. Scraper site of a cow barn – into a flourishpurchased the horse 11 years ago ing vegetable garden. and began boarding him at Strait Dylan Schauer, owner of Strait Rail Ranch.

Rail Ranch, said, “As much as I’d That’s when he eyed the footlike to take credit for all of Doug’s print of the old cow barn – the hard work, I just can’t, but it really grassy area where the cow stalls is a beautiful, amazing garden. This had been and the cement aisle down man puts a lot of work into it, and the middle. does things that I couldn’t do.”

“It was the perfect spot for a Originally from Grand Forks, garden,” he said. “The rows are Scraper retired from the U.S. Air just the right length and are Force after 20 years as a B-52 pilot. easily accessible.”

“I was the squadron commander His Lebanese grandparents at the bomber squadron at Minot homesteaded in North Dakota, so when I retired from the Air Force. he grows a giant Syrian heirloom That was in 1988,” he said. tomato plant in his garden.

He and wife Kathy opened an art “It gets big, beautiful tomatoes Scraper's sister and brother-in-law gallery in Fargo for 23 years, along handcrafted signs for his garden. on it,” he said. with a restaurant for 10 years.

Scraper also cultivates heirloom “We bought a cabin on Lake Belle red and yellow sweet peppers, Japanese Trifele black Taine in 1987. We’d go there every weekend until we tomatoes, along with white tomato and yellowretired, then we moved over there full time,” he said. ish-orange tomato varieties.

“It was a cabin when we bought it. We remodeled it three times, and now it’s a home.”

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Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide

Inside this issue...

3 How to make the most of your telehealth Appointment 4

Spring Grilled Pork Tenderloin

5-8 Art Beat 9

The great tomato race

10 I'm sorry what did you say?

11

Aging in place: What does that mean?

12 Minding Our Elders column

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GROWING MIRACLES: Page 2

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Scraper made this row-maker, styled after his father's design. By dragging it, he can make three neat rows 30 inches apart.

GROWING MIRACLES From Page 1

In an homage to his father, Rutger and Celebrity tomato plants populate the garden plot.

“These eight tomatoes here are the varieties that my dad always planted back when he gardened,” Scraper explained. “I’ve always planted those, just like my dad did. An old tried-and-true variety that really produces nice tomatoes.”

Then there are Roma and cherry tomatoes.

“I always plant way too many tomatoes,” Scraper said, chuckling as he counted 14 plants in all.

In addition to bacon-lettuce-and-tomato sandwiches, the Scrapers turn their tomato harvest into zesty salsas and sauces.

Scraper is partial to heirlooms. “It’s just fun to plant some seeds that God invented,” he said. “I really like to plant a few heirlooms that are seeds that are unmarked, that started from day one.”

Pole beans, snow peas, sweet peas, bush beans, potatoes, radishes, carrots, onions, parsnips, beets, arugula, endives, Serrano peppers, jalapenos, cabbage, broccoli, tomatillos, zucchini, cilantro, cucumbers, horseradish and black-seeded Simpson lettuce round out the rest of the garden.

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Kathy plants rows of zinnias at one end. “They make great cut flowers, and just really add to the look of the garden,” he said.

Doug said he plants with specific dishes in mind.

One of the couple’s favorites is steamed carrots with parsnips, dried dill and butter, served with sauerkraut and pork country-style ribs.

“Then we make salad out of endives, bacon, onion and make a slurry out of boiled potatoes, vinegar and water and that’s the binder to hold the salad together,” he said.

“The taste of a tomatillo is a little bit sour, bitter,” he noted. Tomatillos and cilantro “makes the best salsa.”

At home, Scraper has begun growing Tuscan kale from seed. It will be used for Dr. Weil’s Kale Salad recipe, “the best salad in the world,” according to Scraper.

Scraper gathered a tip from an elderly, Southerner on YouTube for growing cukes under a hog fence.

“I’ve got two seeds under each one of these squares on the fence,” he explained. “When these seeds start, put a little dowel by each plant. That will train them to climb” through the fence and the cucumbers will dangle on the fence for easy harvesting.

Scraper receives 10 different seed catalogs.

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Gurney’s is “an old standby,” he said.

He also likes “Seeds and Such” and “Jung Seeds.”

He buys a lot of seeds locally, such as Rhodes Garden Center.

Scraper called this his “neatest gardening experience.”

He’s thrilled simply to see baby cucumber plants emerge from the soil. He watches the tiny blossoms transform into tomatoes.

“That’s, to me, the joy in it,” he said. “It’s such a miracle to me that you can take a seed and it would lay on the shelf for 10 years and as soon as you put it in the ground, a little clock starts ticking. Then that seed becomes a plant and produces, maybe, a thousand seeds, and can feed a whole family easily.

To me, it’s always a miracle to watch that process.”

Weeds, or “little friends,” as Scraper calls them, are “the humbler. Gardening wouldn’t be fun without them.”

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3

June 2020

How to make the most of your telehealth appointment The Savvy Senior

BY JIM MILLER Columnist Dear Savvy Senior, I manage a large doctor’s clinic that treats hundreds of seniors each month. We are moving to more telehealth visits to help keep our patients safe at home during the coronavirus pandemic, but this new way of seeing a doctor is befuddling to many of our elder patients. Can you write a column educating patients on how to prepare for a telehealth appointment? ~ Regular Reader Dear Reader, I’d be happy to help! To help keep patients safe and at home during the coronavirus crisis more and more doctors and other health care providers are turning to telehealth (a.k.a. telemedicine) appointments, which are remote e-visits using a digital communication device like a smartphone, tablet or computer.

Although telehealth has been around for a few years now, recent updates to regulations and a surge in demand has made it the easiest way to get many different types of medical care. Most telehealth appointments today tend to be primary care or follow-up visits that can assess symptoms or check on people who have had a medical procedure. Telehealth also works well for some specialties like dermatology or mental health care (counseling/therapy) services.

So, what can patients expect from a telehealth visit, and how should they prepare?

The first step is to call your doctor’s office to find out whether telemedicine visits are available and whether you will need to set up an account or install special software on your computer, phone or tablet.

Until recently, doctors were required to conduct telehealth visits through platforms such as Doxy, Thera-Link or MyChart that were compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA. But some of those requirements have been relaxed in the current crisis, so many providers are using popular apps such as FaceTime, Skype and Zoom to conduct visits.

Once you know what technology you will be using, get familiar with it. You don’t want to spend the first 10 minutes of your visit trying to figure out how to unmute the audio.

For older patients that aren’t familiar or comfortable with technology, ask a relative or friend with a smartphone, tablet or laptop to assist you.

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Adobe Stock Take the time to clarify the purpose of the televisit before it begins. Prioritize a written list of three or four issues you want to discuss with your doctor and make a list of the medicines you’re taking, along with the dosages.

Also, have relevant medical devices or logs on hand, such as a penlight or smartphone flashlight for viewing a sore throat, a blood-pressure cuff and thermometer (or recent readings), blood-sugar logs if you’re diabetic or a food log if you have gastrointestinal problems.

If you’ve received medical care at different places, such as an urgent care facility or another doctor’s office, have your latest medical records with you during the telemedicine visit.

Wear loose clothing that will allow you to show your medical provider what is concerning you.

The length of the appointment may depend on the problem.

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A routine visit could be very quick, while others, such as a physical-therapy appointment, may last as long as a session at a clinic. Waiting rooms are sometimes replaced by virtual waiting rooms.

Before the visit ends, make sure you know the follow-up plan. Do you need to schedule an in-office visit, fill a prescription or get a referral to a specialist?

Right now, Medicare and Medicaid are covering the cost of telehealth visits (see medicare.gov/coverage/ telehealth for details), and most private insurers are following suit.

If, however, you don’t have a primary care physician or need urgent care, you can get help through virtual health care service like Doctor on Demand (doctorondemand.com) or TeleDoc (teladoc.com).

These services currently do not accept original Medicare, but they may be covered by private insurers including some Medicare Advantage plans – be sure you check.

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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Photos by Sarah Nasello / The Forum

The pork tenderloins are marinated for several hours and then grilled over high, direct heat.

Fire it up After weeks and weeks of sheltering at home, the new freedom of going outside without a coat seems even more luxurious this year. Suddenly, my available square footage has more than doubled, and this new infusion of vitamin D has given me new energy.

I have never been so excited to fire up my grill.

Instead of seeking the comfort foods of my winter quarantine like pasta, homemade bread and cookies, I now find myself naturally craving colorful platters of well-seasoned vegetables and savory, smoked meats like this Springtime Grilled Pork Tenderloin.

Pork tenderloin is one of my favorite meats for grilling. Not only is it a terrific source of healthy, lean protein and other nutrients, it is also affordable and amazingly easy to cook.

In fact, the first time I ever grilled a pork tenderloin by myself was during the photo shoot for my We have an abundance of fresh chives in our garden this year, which were the inspiration for the flavorful marinade in this recipe. Chives sing of springtime and I wanted to create a dish that is full of fresh, bright flavors.

This simple marinade is made with a blend of fresh herbs, including chives, parsley and basil, as well as minced garlic and lemon zest. For the liquid components, in addition to extra-virgin olive oil, I used a variety of acids to help tenderize the meat and add more flavor, like white wine, fresh lemon juice and red wine vinegar.

To prepare the pork, first, use a sharp knife with a narrow tip, like a boning knife, to remove the layer of silverskin membrane from the tenderloin.

While fat is inherent to the meat, and brings a ton of flavor with it, the shiny, silver connective tissue cannot be digested and will cause the meat to be tough and chewy. This step will help ensure that the texture of the pork is tender and juicy.

Bring out your grill for savory Spring Grilled Pork Tenderloin Next, place the tenderloins in a baking dish and season each generously with kosher salt and black pepper, then cover with all of the marinade. The liquids, herbs and seasonings will infuse the meat with flavor and tenderness. I recommend letting the pork tenderloin marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours before grilling, and overnight is even better.

To cook the pork, first make sure that your grill is clean, hot and lubricated. I grill the tenderloin on direct, high heat, searing each side first for several minutes to achieve grill marks before turning.

The ideal cooking temperature for pork tenderloin is 145 degrees to ensure a light pink center and optimum texture. I remove the meat from the grill when my thermometer reaches 135 to 140 degrees, as the temperature will continue to increase as the meat rests before carving.

This Springtime Grilled Pork Tenderloin is full of bright, fresh flavor with a satisfyingly smoky finish that can only come from grilling outdoors.

Happy grilling!

Springtime Grilled Pork Tenderloin

2 Tbsp. fresh chives, finely chopped ¼ cup fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped ¼ cup fresh basil, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced Juice and zest of 1 lemon ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar 3 Tbsp. white wine (or add an additional tablespoon of vinegar and 2 Tbsp. water) 1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. kosher salt, divided 2 tsp. + ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided 2 whole pork tenderloins (about 1.25 lbs. each)

In a medium bowl, stir together the chives, parsley, basil, garlic and lemon zest until combined.

Home with the Lost Italian

BY SARAH & TONY NASELLO

Columnist

Add the lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar and wine and whisk to combine. Add 1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper and whisk again until incorporated; set aside.

Use a sharp knife to remove the entire layer of silverskin from each tenderloin, and any fat as desired (remember, fat is flavor). The silverskin cannot be digested and will make that part of the tenderloin tough and chewy.

Place the tenderloins in a baking dish or roasting pan. Season each tenderloin with the remaining tablespoon of kosher salt and 2 teaspoons of black pepper, sprinkling each on top and bottom. Pour all of the marinade over the tenderloins and use your hands or a brush to cover the tenderloins completely with the mixture. Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours before grilling, or up to 24 hours.

Once the grill is hot, brush some oil on the grates and then add the pork tenderloin. Let the meat sit for at least 2 to 3 minutes on the grill before turning, and then cook for about 13 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally and periodically basting the meat with the remaining marinade.

To check for doneness, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the tenderloin. The ideal temperature for pork tenderloin is 145 for medium rare, and 160 for medium. The meat will continue cooking for several minutes even off the grill, and it’s best to remove it when the thermometer is 5 to 10 degrees below your desired temperature, as the meat will continue cooking for several minutes as it rests.

Once done, remove pork from grill, cover lightly with tin foil and let rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes before carving into slices 1/4-inch thick. Serves 4 to 6.

“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.

Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide

JUNE

June 27

JULY

July 3 July 9 July 17 July 23-24 July 24 July 26

SUMMER 2020 ARTS CALENDAR July 31

Park Rapids Sculpture Trail Unveiling, starting at Red Bridge Park

Tonic Sol-fa at Sounds of Spirit Lake, Menahga

AUGUST

August 15-16 August 22

Robinson Roundup at Sounds of Spirit Lake, Menahga Nemeth Art Center opens for the season City Mouse at Sounds of Spirit Lake, Menahga Crazy Days in Downtown Park Rapids Monroe Crossing at Sounds of Spirit Lake, Menahga Itasca’s Evening Under the Pines: Northern Bass

Art Fair at the Winery at Forestedge Winery Nemeth Art Center Artists Reception

SEPTEMBER Sept. 24 Sept. 26 & 27

Heartland Concert Association: Seeger to Springsteen Art Leap 2020

(Event dates subject to change. Please check organizers’ websites.)

Blank Canvas Gallery reunion show paused Blank Canvas Gallery (BCG) opened its doors in June 2010, after a two-year investigation and planning effort led by numerous local artists and supporters.

The initial effort provided 20 plus artists an opportunity to exhibit in the gallery. Subsequently, 80-plus additional artists were included for at least a one-month show along with the original group.

After a successful five-year operation, BCG closed its doors in September 2015.

Staying in contact, several artists determined that June 2020 would be an excellent opportunity for a BCG 10-year Reunion Art Show. Planning included numerous artists with new exhibits to be held at The Armory Arts and Event

Center based on the significant progress in developing that venue.

Meanwhile, we all struggle to maintain a safe and healthy life knowing that the adjustments are necessary to protect ourselves, our family, our friends, our neighbors.

BCG plans are intact – just paused. A show will proceed when appropriate. Watch for the 11-year BCG reunion announcement. Thanks to all patrons for their continued support.

Community Ed offerings will go online The executive orders from Gov. Tim Walz mean no Park Rapids Community Education classes, events or trips.

The early childhood families and preschool students are participating in distance learning, but all other activities are postponed.

What will life be like this summer for early childhood children, students, families, adults and senior citizens without the classes and activities that are offered in our community? Luckily, you won’t need to find out!

What’s an easy way to reach everyone when there are socialdistancing restrictions? Technology!

Community Education staff are busy exploring what they can do to offer

classes and activities via technology so everyone can take a class in the comfort of their home while staying safe.

Several online classes are already available. Check out basket weaving for adults and art classes for youth.

Community Ed has many other things in the works, so check the website often at www. parkrapidscomed.com to see what is waiting for you. If you have questions or are interested in offering a class, call Community Education at 237-6600.

Stay safe and remember, Community Ed is thinking creatively to inspire and encourage you to try things you have never done before – that’s Community Ed!

A basket-weaving class for adults is already among Community Ed programs that will be available online.

2020-2021 CONCERT SEASON DON’T WAIT TO BE ASKED. JOIN NOW! The Heartland Concert Association presents

Real artists - Professional entertainers who have thrilled audiences everywhere.

Real entertainment - Enjoy the presence live of performers who focus on you.

Real economy - Less than $10 a show!

Real “in” crowd - A night out with the family. Good performances. Good friends.

Seeger To Springsteen Barron Ryan Duo Baldo The Chipper Experience Ball In The House Remember When Rock Was Young

Thursday, September 24, 2020 Monday, November 2, 2020 Monday, February 22, 2021 Sunday, March 7, 2021 Sunday, March 21, 2021 Saturday, April 17, 2021

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION

www.heartlandconcertassociation.org This activity is funded in whole or in part by a Region 2 Arts Council Grant through an appropriation by the MN Legislature, and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund passed by MN voters on Nov. 4, 2008

Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide

Heartland Concerts offer exciting lineup As with many arts organizations, Heartland Concert Association (HCA) had to cancel their final concert of the 2019-20 season. Organizers were as disappointed as everyone else to miss Ball in the House.

Thankfully, the Ball in the House Concert is rescheduled in HCA's 2020-21 concert series! For those who have been members, season ticket information will be mailed shortly.

Season ticket information also will be available at Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery, Park Rapids; Northwoods Cafe, Nevis; and Thrifty White Drug, Walker.

Anyone unfamiliar with HCA is welcome to check out the schedule and come out to enjoy the shows. HCA provides a year of quality entertainment at affordable prices for the entire family.

This season's line up will lead off with Seeger to Springsteen, the music you grew up with. Barron Ryan will entertain ragtime and boogie-woogie, intermixed with some classical piano.

Duo Baldo presents light classical piano and violin, performed with a bit of comedic fashion.

The Chipper Experience features comedian and magician, Chipper Lowell, who has been described as an "artistic cyclone of talent and comedy,” amazement for the entire audience.

Ball in the House (rescheduled from last season) performs R&B/Soul/Pop a capella. This is “music that'll move ya" with beat box and vocal bass under their cool harmonies to songs we all know.

The season will end with Remember When Rock Was Young. Transport yourself back to big hair, outrageous clothes and Superstardom – it's Sir Elton John.

Each concert allows for variety and for the audience to experience a genre of music they might not even know they enjoy.

For more information, visit heartlandconcertassociation. org and visit us on Facebook.

Husband and wife duo Max and Darcy Demers will invite the audience to sing along during the Seeger to Springsteen concert Thursday, Sept. 24.

Library initiates curbside pickup, online programs Staff at the Park Rapids Area Library are learning to operate in a different way during the time of prevaccine COVID-19.

Though the building is closed to the public, the library is offering contactless, curbside pickup by appointment during limited hours. Library staff is available to answer the phone Monday through Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Calls at any other time will be picked up by voicemail informing the caller of available services and hours.

The library will still host a summer reading program, but it will look completely different this year as it will all be done online. Currently, regional library staff are deciding what software to purchase for record keeping.

Typically, the summer is filled with in-house programs and events. Staff is in the process of contacting artists, authors and other guests to see whether they can help provide virtual programs, either pre-recorded or live streamed. Activities that, in the past, have been “make and take” will become “take and make.”

Those interested in specific activities will be asked to notify staff, who will supply materials as part of

contactless curbside service. Then participants will create projects together through an online meeting format.

For the time being, the library’s weekly story time online (Facebook Live at 10:30 a.m. on Fridays), and some

staff members have been recording and posting educational (and entertaining) videos of themselves reciting poetry, doing science demos, and taking viewers through the stacks visually in order to help patrons see and experience the library. In the weeks and months to come, patrons will be invited to participate in activities centered around literature and the arts via social media.

For example, users may be asked to create a poster featuring a quote from a favorite author, or book, and share it online so it can be printed and displayed on a bulletin board for all to see once the library can open its doors to the public.

Subscribing to the library’s digital newsletter/event notification is another great way to feel connected to the library. Along with updates on the local library and information about digital services, Leann has been including links for boredom busters, and literature- and arts-related virtual opportunities for people of all ages.

To receive the newsletter, email parkrapids@krls.org, and ask to be added to the e-newsletter address list.

NLOKids Theater Camp plans on hold

Linda Diaz leads planning the day’s NLOKids activity during a 2019 work session at the Pine Point School gym.

Early in the Northern Light Opera Company’s (NLOC) history, there were families with both parents involved in productions. It became obvious that their children also loved to sing and act, so in 2010 NLOC’s directors created NLOKids for 8- to 13-year-olds.

In 2016, when NLOC was producing “Annie Get Your Gun,” collaboration between the Pine Point Community and NLOC incubated a new expansion of NLOKids. An equal number of 8- to 13-yearolds from each community would spend three weeks in a Theater Camp led by NLOC directors and assistants. At the end of the

three weeks, an original musical was presented for parents and friends.

The kids involved have gained selfconfidence, learned new skills and have developed many new friendships.

Now it’s COVID-19 intermission time.

At this time, it is not clear how NLOKids Theater Camp will emerge in summer 2020.

It definitely is a program that NLOC intends to continue. Stay tuned for updates.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

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Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide

NLOC plans virtual review of past productions A dream became a reality, when on Sept. 20, 2001, a group of friends gathered to create the bylaws and elect officers of the Northern Light Opera Company (NLOC).

The meeting was halted mid-way to hear the televised address of President George Bush to Congress and the Nation concerning the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers of New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, DC. 2020 finds us again in stressful times dealing with COVID-19. Like most arts organizations, NLOC has had to cancel the planned summer production of Big Fish. This summer has been labeled Intermission. However, NLOC’s directors are busy creating plans for a virtual presentation.

Recent and past cast members with known addresses have been contacted. But, if you’ve not been contacted because your information was unknown, this is an invitation to connect with this fun project by emailing info@ northernlightopera.org.

Many delightful memories have been created over the past 18 summers of NLOC productions. Who knows what creative scenes can be re-created two to 18 years later or how singers from distant locations can join a mass chorus and deliver a musical message to inspire listeners?

NLOC’s directors are creating plans for a virtual presentation by current and past cast members of some

Jacob Berg and David Caliri (left) and Philip Bender and Julie Kjenaas in one of the colorful scenes from 2019’s NLOC production of "The Drowsy Chaperone."

memorable scenes from the past 18 years’ summer productions. Plans are also to have all join in a mass chorus of a special song.

Stay tuned for new creative answers to existing limitations. Plans are for NLOC’s gift to you, our supporters, to be posted on Facebook or website – www. northernlightopera.org – end July or early August.

During challenging times with uncertainties about health and financial conditions, the arts, especially music, help people cope. Music helps soothe anxiety, enhances community connections and acts as a cheerleader for community spirit. Ponder your reaction when you see on TV, New Yorkers cheering the essential workers, Italians singing from their balconies or YouTube views of strangers singing via ZOOM. Music creates a sense of belonging and participation. Examples: https://youtu.be/HezxInuN1YA, https://youtu.be/rqzkn-jX-JU, https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=DO0kAtg9dRw&feature=emb_rel_end.

Check out these examples, and you will have a smile on your face and you’ll feel better.

Be well, keep safe and know we will meet the challenges ahead and emerge wiser and more compassionate.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through a grant from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

HCLL looking ahead Back in March, before the pandemic hit with full force, senior citizens all over Park Rapids and outlying Hubbard County, knew, without even looking at the calendar, where they would be on Tuesdays at 1 p.m.

For eight Tuesdays in the spring, the Park Theatre was contracted to host Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning (HCLL), with a wide variety of interesting speakers presenting an

equally interesting variety of topics. The season began, as planned, with speakers on March 3 and 10. Then came an email from the March 17 speaker, who was nervous about the news we were hearing from the Minnesota Department of Health and decided she needed to cancel her program.

It was all downhill from there. As everyone knows, the rest of HCLL’s season was cancelled

– in hindsight, a wise decision. The good news is that most of the speakers have been rescheduled, assuming the community is ready to move ahead in September and October.

The HCLL board will keep an eye on the situation, and the public will be informed through the Enterprise and an updated brochure when HCLL programs are able to resume. See you in the fall!

Nemeth Art Center opens shortened 2020 season on July 9 The 2020 season at the Nemeth Art Center (NAC) was originally set to include major shows with three nationally recognized artists as part of the gallery schedule.

Due to the impacts of coronavirus precautions, NAC has had to delay the gallery opening and these artists have been hindered from being able to prepare their work.

Consequently, the Nemeth will not be presenting gallery shows with T.L. Solien, Dana Schutz, and Ryan Johnson this season as previously announced. However, NAC is pleased to announce that all three artists have agreed to switch to the 2021 season, so NAC will still be bringing these extraordinary shows to our community.

Meanwhile, the other half of NAC’s exhibit schedule is set to continue. The gallery season will open Thursday, July 9 with the exciting group show: Of Course, Where Else, curated by our gallery director Tessa Beck. Tessa has brought together a multimedia exhibit with the work of five exceptional artists from Minnesota and North Dakota: Meghan Duda, photography; Amber Fletschock, collage; Alonzo Pantoja, weaving and installation; Galilee Peaches, painting and drawing; and Lauren Roche, painting.

Shown collectively throughout the entire gallery, the artists’ work covering a wide range of subjects will engage audiences in a conversation about landscapes of the body and the embodied histories they encounter in the social realm. The show will also explore how an upper-Midwestern sense of place influences individual expression.

Of Course, Where Else opens to the public July 9, and will be on display through the end of September. An artists’ reception for visitors is planned Saturday, Aug. 22, conditions permitting.

Audiences will have a chance to absorb the work and ask questions directly of the artists about their work and their process. In addition, several of the artists will host arts workshops, either in person or via online link. Please check back for details as NAC adjusts its schedule to the fluid circumstances of the pandemic.

The NAC is still looking forward to hosting another Youth Art Exhibit showcasing and celebrating the creative works of local teens. Due to the late season start, NAC will host this in September, rather than June. Guest artists will judge the works, and prizes will be announced during a reception. The public is welcome to cast their votes in the popular “People’s Choice Awards” for their favorite works.

This year, NAC is introducing a monthly series of young artist workshops led by guest artists

called the A RT Explorer’s Workshops, made possible by a generous grant from the Region 2 Arts Council with funding from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

In addition, throughout the entire season, the ART Explorer’s Corner will be open during all gallery hours for artists of all ages to drop in and explore their own creative expression. Thematic activities corresponding with the workshops and exhibits will provide endless inspiration.

In a normal year, NAC would host artist receptions during each exhibit to provide an opportunity for the public to meet and converse with the artists directly, as well as provide a chance to hear the artists describe their work and process. The NAC board is still trying to determine whether we can have these events in person and what adjustments will be necessary to assure everyone’s safety. Please check the website or watch your email inbox for updates.

The Nemeth Art Center is located in the historic Hubbard County Courthouse at 301 Court Ave., Park Rapids. All exhibits are free and open to the public, July through September, due to generous support of sponsors, members and patrons, and grants. Open hours are ThursdaysSaturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please visit www.nemethartcenter.org.

Alonzo Pantoja is among five artists whose works will be on display at Nemeth Art Center through September. This drawing study is colored pencil on paper.

Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide

Noon Hour Concerts summer 2020 postponed until 2021

By Carolyn Spangler I like listening to live music. I grew up with it because my mother played the piano every single day. She had a repertoire of music that included Chopin, Debussy, Bach and every once in a while, if she was in the mood, she’d play the Bumble Boogey. I loved that. I’d dance through the dining room and living room while she played her Chopin Preludes so engrossed in her music I’m not sure she knew I was there. And sometimes we’d sing from song books that I know reminded her of days singing with her three sisters in her growing up years in Iowa.

When I got married and started traveling with my husband, I discovered that you could walk down the sidewalks in cities like Prague or Boston and hear the stream of music coming from doorways that lured you in to hear a concert of unbelievably talented musicians playing the music of my childhood. I just loved it.

Why can’t we do that in Park Rapids, I thought? We could offer the concerts to tourists and maybe the locals would be interested? We could do it at noon during their lunch time. Why not, I wondered?

And so it happened. That was in 2006. We first had concerts every other Thursday during the summer months of June, July and August. They last for 30 minutes.

Folks would come in before the concert, bring their lunch, and listen to the wonderful music of Bach, Beethoven, vocal jazz, Big Band music, bluegrass, Celtic singers, and old-time music performed by local talent. It grew throughout the years with more concerts and larger audiences.

I was encouraged by my musician friend, Paul Dove, to offer concerts every Thursday, but thought that would be too much work. In recent years, I met another amazing musician from Bemidji, Sarah Carlson.

She would give me suggestions for musicians for our concerts here. They always said yes to me and they were alway amazing. I loved meeting them. And then I was doing concerts every Thursday. I didn’t even have to try, it just happened. And it really wasn’t that much more work.I loved the music and so did the community.

Folks now wait for the concerts, we have big crowds and I look forward to every Thursday to listen to live music like in my childhood. Although the variety is different from what I grew up with, I love it all.

Then the coronavirus came. The decision to postpone the concerts until 2021 was very difficult and I will miss the concerts, and I know the musicians and community will as well. But, we will meet again next summer and I will be able to listen to the live music of my childhood.

My Mom is gone now, but I can still see and hear her playing the piano.

Sculpture Trail unveiling set for June 27 The City of Park Rapids and Park Rapids Arts and Culture Commission invite the public to an unveiling and tour of the Park Rapids Sculpture Trail at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27.

The event will start at Red Bridge Park, located at 175-199 Beach Road (east of US Hwy. 71/Park Avenue North, about a block north of the stoplights at the junction of Hwy. 71 and state Hwy. 34).

The tour will end in downtown Park Rapids where four additional artworks will be installed this year.

Ten new sculptures will be selected and will remain in place for a year. The artists whose works are selected will be invited to the ceremonies to provide information on their works as part of the tour.

This year’s sponsors are CHI St. Joseph’s Health, Heartland Arts, Klein Insurance, Northview Bank, Northwoods Bank, Park Rapids Downtown Business Association, Park Rapids Rotary Club, Russel Skoe Family Trust, Thelen’s Excavating & Septic and Thielen Motors.

Solar lights were added at the park sculptures last year, thanks to grants from the Region 2 Arts Council and Minnesota Power.

Red Bridge Park is the trailhead for the Heartland State Trail, which is used year ‘round for walking, running, biking, rollerblading, snowmobiling and other recreational activities. The park is also located near downtown Park Rapids and visitors can access the park from Fish Hook River and nearby Heartland Park.

‘The Talking Stick’ will be published on schedule

Mark Hall’s entry, Sprout and Shard, will be among new sculptures on the Park Rapids Sculpture Trail in June.

Many Heartland Arts activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to legislative appropriations from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the State’s General Fund.

The Jackpine Writers’ Bloc of the Park Rapids/ Menahga area has been around since 1993.

Every year, the writers group publishes a book of poems and stories by Minnesota writers called “The Talking Stick.”

The goal for 2020 is to publish the next book, Volume 29, as usual.

Monthly writers’ meetings have changed to virtual meetings so members can keep in touch.

The Jackpine Writers’ Bloc usually holds a workshop and book release party in September.

The group hopes they still can do that this year, but no decision has been made yet. Contact Sharon Harris at sharrick1@wcta.net for information.

www.heartlandarts.org Facebook: parkrapidsarts

9

June 2020

David Samson / The Forum

Check plant labels for days to maturity to select early, midseason or late types.

Tips for the great tomato race

Gardening and bragging just don’t seem compatible. Quietly enjoying the warm sunshine while digging the soil, gently planting flowers and vegetables while listening to the birds chirp doesn’t mesh with boasting about how good we are.

There’s an exception, though. The neighborhood gardener who beats the rest of us to the first decent-sized ripe tomato deserves bragging rights, and the rest of us gladly give our kudos. After all, growing an early radish is child’s play compared to the holy grail of all vegetables: the first ripe tomato of the season.

The speed at which tomatoes grow and ripen can be hastened with the following tips.

• Tomatoes are a warm-season crop. Everything that can be done to encourage warmth of both air and soil will hasten growth and yield.

• When deciding which tomato varieties to plant, check the tag for days to maturity, which is an average indicator of the time from transplanting into the garden until first harvest. The listed days aren’t from seeding, but rather garden transplanting.

• Early tomatoes are listed as 55 to 65 days from transplanting to ripe fruit, such as Early Girl, Park’s Whopper and Better Bush. Midseason, main-crop tomatoes are 68 to 78 days as in Celebrity, Big Beef, Beefy Boy, Sheyenne, Superfantastic and Mountain Spring.

Late-ripening types list maturity days of 80 to 110, which includes many Beefsteak types as well as some of the heirloom varieties.

• Combine early, midseason and late types for season-long production.

• Check tags for the terms determinate or indeterminate. Determinate types grow to a certain plant size, then ripen fruit in a concentrated time span, which is handy when desiring a larger quantity of fruit for processing or canning at one time. Growth habit is more bushlike. Indeterminate types produce vines all season, and cages or stakes are necessary for their sprawling habit. Fruit ripening is less consolidated but spread over a longer time frame.

• When shopping for tomato plants, look for rich green color and stocky stems.

• Tomatoes are best grown in full, all-day sunshine. If that’s not an option, six hours of direct sun is considered a minimum.

• Newly planted tomatoes must have warmth. Frost protection isn’t the only temperaPark Rapids Office ture-related issue.

618 1st St. E., Park Rapids Tuesdays 10 am - 3 pm, other times by appt.

The roots of tomato BRIAN HILLESLAND, NBC-HIS transplants won’t National Board Certified grow until soil Hearing Instrument Specialist Toll - Free 1-800-631-4946 temperature reach218-631-4966

Growing Together

BY DON KINZLER Columnist •

•

•

•

• • David Samson / The Forum

Tomato plants require both warm soil and warm air temperatures for rapid growth.

• •

Weight the edges with soil and cut an "X" in the center at planting time. The plastic mulch can even be laid down a week or two before planting to kick-start soil warmth.

Before planting, “harden off” tomato plants in a wind-protected area outdoors for seven days.

Gradually expose to full sunshine and breeze.

Plant tomatoes deeply because roots will form along the buried stem, making a stronger plant that’s less exposed to wind whipping.

Remove lower leaves first.

Ideal plant spacing is 24 to 36 inches apart. If cages or stakes are planned, the closer spacing can be used.

Water-soluble “starter fertilizer” supplies nutrition for faster takeoff.

Plants can be protected from chilly air temperatures with clear plastic bottomless jugs, hotcaps or other protective devices, such as the “Wall-O-Water” circular water-filled plastic tent.

I’ll share one last secret. Early blossoms often drop without setting fruit when night temperatures drop below 50 or 55 degrees.

A naturally occurring plant hormone called “Blossom Set,” sold by garden centers, greatly aids fruit set on early blossoms.

• es about 55 to 60 degrees. If planted in cold soil, tomato transplants can be permanently damaged. By May 20-25, air and soil temperatures are usually satisfactory for quick tomato plant takeoff.

Plant a tomato or two in the warm microclimate of your home’s sunny south side for faster production.

Soil can be warmed early in the garden using Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, is the horticulturist with North clear plastic as a soil mulch to capture the Dakota State University Extension for Cass County. Readers can reach him at kinzlerd@casscountynd.gov or call 701-241-5707. greenhouse solar heating effect.

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10

J u n e 2 02 0

I’m sorry, what did you say?

More than 21 million Americans suffer from hearing impairment.

Hearing loss is defined as any alteration of hearing capacity. According to the UCSF Health Medical Specialists, hearing loss can be of various degrees from mild, moderate, severe, profound or total. Hearing loss can be classified as four different types: conductive, sensorineural, central and mixed hearing loss.

Conductive hearing loss can be characterized by the loss of sound conduction to the inner ear (cochlea). It can result from a blockage of wax, a punctured eardrum, birth defects, ear infections or heredity. It can be either temporary or permanent, but many times treated with medication or surgery.

Nerve or sensorineural hearing loss involves damage to the inner ear. It can be caused by aging, birth-related complications, viral or bacterial infections, heredity, trauma, exposure to loud noises, the use of certain drugs, fluid buildup or a benign tumor in the inner ear. This is usually permanent loss of hearing sensitivity, often more in the high frequencies or pitches than the lower.

Sensorineural hearing loss usually affects the ability to understand conversations, especially in difficult listening situations. Sensorineural hearing loss usually affects men more than women, due to job placement and social activities rather than genetic makeup. This kind of hearing loss can successfully be treated with hearing aids.

People who have central hearing find it difficult

Boomers on the Move

BY KARIN HAUGRUD Columnist to understand and comprehend conversations when there is background noise. Mixed hearing loss is any combination of the above types of hearing loss.

WebMD defines a hearing aid is an electronic device that picks up sound waves with a tiny microphone. The microphone makes weaker sounds louder and sends them to the ear through a tiny speaker.

Because a hearing aid is an amplification device, a person must have some hearing to benefit from its use. In addition, because hearing loss has a variety of patterns and degrees of severity and affects people in different ways, no single hearing aid is right for everyone.

Research at the Mayo Clinic has found that hearing loss can have a significant effect on your quality of life. Older adults with hearing loss report feelings of depression. Because hearing loss can make conversation difficult, some people experience feelings of isolation. Hearing loss is also associated with cognitive impairment and decline.

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The Food and Drug Administration recommends that you have your ears examined by a licensed physician. This will ensure there are no underlying diseases or medical problems causing hearing loss.

Hearing loss may be a symptom of another medical problem that needs a doctor’s attention. Have your hearing tested to assess your ability to hear with and without a hearing aid. This will enable your hearing professional to select and fit a hearing aid to your individual needs.

Many manufacturers and hearing specialists recommend that consumers be given at least a 30-day trial period with only a small service fee if the consumer returns the product. A trial period is a strong protection for such an important purchase, so be sure to ask before you buy.

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11

June 2020

Aging in place: What does that mean?

In all my years of working in this field the main theme I hear is “I want to stay in my own home.”

And my response is always, “I can sure understand that, so let’s start to pre-plan to try and make that happen.”

Aging in place is being able to stay in your home of choice until end of life, and safely if possible. This can be successful at least for a while if you pre-plan.

So how do you do that? It is important to assess your loved one’s home setting along with what types of health and physical issues they may be dealing with. Does the home have steps? Where are the bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry located? Do they live in town or out in the country? What type of transportation is available to them should they need it? Are they living alone or caring for an ill spouse? What are their ages?

A person should also pay attention to simple things, such as loose rugs on the floor or poor lighting, especially to the kitchen and bathroom. These are easy things to fix and can prevent serious falls.

Another helpful tip is to make a list of contacts –

time for the freezer or Meals on Wheels. They may benefit from someone assisting with bill paying. Now would be a good time to set up auto pay for the bills so there is no guesswork on whether they have been paid or not.

As time goes on, it may become evident that some of these services are needed and your local homecare LAUREL HED agencies can offer homemaking services as well as Columnist home health care. Sometimes all a person needs is a neighbor to check in on them once or twice a day to such as family, primary physician, trusted neighbors. make sure all is well.

Get their names and phone numbers. This is helpful And as time goes on and your loved one needs more for the elder but also for anyone who may be at their help in the home that can become overwhelming for home and need to reach out for help. the family. Always know that you are not alone on If a person is quite healthy and physically doing this journey and can reach out for help through counwell one tends to not want to think about these ty services if they qualify or a geriatric care manager. things. But that is when these areas should be looked The goal is always to help people stay at home if into when the elder can be a part of the conversation safely possible and there is a great team of people in and planning. the community ready to help to make that happen!

Knowing what diagnosis they are living with will help lead in a good direction of what services may Laurel Hed is a licensed social worker and geriatric care manager be needed in the future. It may be a housekeeper, a for the elder law attorneys of Thomason Swanson and Zahn handyman, someone to make a few meals ahead of Law Firm.

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J u n e 2 02 0

Will visitor bans erode Mom's memory?

Dear Carol: My mother lives with dementia and has been in memory care for two years. She was already somewhat spotty about remembering who I was when I visited, which was nearly every day. The good part though is that often she would remember the next time when I saw her and that gave me something to look forward to.

Now, because of the visitor ban which is still in effect in our area, we’ve gone weeks without seeing her in person.

The staff puts Mom on video for our chats, but she seems confused about who we are and what is happening. Will she recall who we are after we can see her again or are those memories going to be gone forever? ~ GT Dear GT: Letters like yours remind me daily of the heartbreak that caregivers and the people they love are facing now because of COVID-19. Sadly, it could still take some time before all facilities can safely allow people from the outside.

Perhaps I can offer you some comfort. Even though your mom doesn’t respond as you’d like when she sees you on video chats, she is seeing your face and hearing your voice.

Most of us who have helped care for people with dementia know that even visiting in person during later stages is no guarantee that our loved one will show recognition of our presence.

Minding Our Elders CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK Columnist Did they hear our voice? Feel our touch? Recognize our face? Remember our visit? We often don’t know. Yet we still visit because we know that our presence matters.

Connecting electronically is far from perfect, but it’s still a connection, so keep it up. I’ve always felt that people with dementia know on some level that we are there for them, so don’t count out the fact that your mom is registering your virtual presence even if she doesn’t respond.

As far as what she’ll remember when you finally see her, I would offer this hope. People with dementia, particularly of the Alzheimer’s type, generally hold onto memories of the past even when recent memory has faded. That means that her chance of

recognizing you for who you are will still likely vary day by day, but she may occasionally still be able to tap into who you are. Hang onto the fact that you reside in your mom’s heart and always will.

Yes, it’s awful to think that our parent or spouse can’t recognize us as family, yet that’s the reality of the disease, and caregivers learn to live with it.

Your mom may remember you as a little girl or a teenager, or when you got married, so you could try to show her pictures of that time during your chats.

Other than that, keep doing what you’re doing.

This separation has changed the dynamic for caregivers and those they care for, but you’re being a wonderful caregiver in the only way that you can be right now.

Let’s hope that you are allowed to visit in person very soon.

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 through the contact form on her website.

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