Generations & Art Beat ~ June 2023

Larson has seen the world, OFTEN SINGING & DANCING

By Robin Fish Park Rapids Enterprise

Jim Larson of rural Nevis has seen a lot in just 89 years of life.

“I’ve been a lot of places,” he said. “I’ve been in all 50 states, I don’t know how many times, and I think 30-some countries.”

Larson retired from a 20-year career in the Air Force in 1974, then bought the Green Valley Resort south of Nevis and retired again 21 years later.

During that time and in the 18 years since, he has seen and done a

lot – from building a house by hand and collecting classic cars to rubbing elbows with country music legends and recording 42 CDs of his own karaoke singing, plus music videos.

Once you sit down to reminisce with him, you’re in for a long session of storytelling and show-and-tell, with lots of infectious grins and laughs.

Larson and partner Adele Nelson have been together since 2000.

“We sang all over,” he said. “We’ve made three trips to Alaska in a motorhome. We sang in all the

provinces of Canada and in just about every state in the United States, and a lot of countries.”

He takes a lot of his inspiration from country music. He’s seen many of classic country’s greats perform, and mixed with some of them socially.

A good friend of his played guitar with country singer Del Reeves.

In the 1960s, while competing with the Air Force pistol team, he once sat at a banquet next to “Hee Haw” star Minnie Pearl. “We talked all night, and I laughed so hard,” he says.

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During a visit to Graceland in Memphis, Tenn., he mistook Elvis Presley’s dad for a member of staff.

He told a man sitting at his table in a bar that he looked like Conway Twitty, and the man said, “Well, he’s my uncle.”

Later he met Twitty’s son and Johnny Cash’s brother at the same time. The latter told him a story about how the Man in Black played a whole show while too drunk to stand up, and nobody knew the difference.

LARSON: Page 2

ROBIN FISH / ENTERPRISE

"People don't know me without my hat," says Jim Larson, pictured in front of a wall of Western-style art at the home he built by hand in rural Nevis.

One of Jim Larson's

decorated this Western-style embroidered shirt with tiny crystals. "If you can't sing, you can at least look like a singer," he said.

LARSON

From Page 1

Moving freely

Larson’s ability to do that seems to come from a spirit of going where and doing what he likes. He tells tales of jumping on “Space-A” (space available) military flights – a privilege of being retired Air Force – and going wherever the planes went. He was in New Jersey and wanted to catch a flight to the Azores, but no planes were going there. So he

drove his motorhome to Charleston, S.C., parked there and flew to see the Panama Canal, by way of Honduras. From there he flew to Washington, D.C. and spent a few days there before returning to Charleston.

Another time, he meant to fly from Japan to Korea, but when there wasn’t a plane going that way, he flew to Singapore instead and ended up singing karaoke to a Chinese-speaking crowd. “Nobody in there knew a word I was singing,” he laughs, recalling a theater-like setting with curtains, a spotlight and everything.

He says the two biggest disappointments in all his travels were Plymouth Rock and the leaning tower of Pisa, both much smaller than he expected.

He’s been over and under San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, once on a troop ship coming home from Korea and later after a pleasure trip to Fisherman’s Wharf.

He used to make an annual, winter circuit from Delaware to the U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Greece and

Turkey, then California, Hawaii, maybe Japan or Guam, then Okinawa, where one of his sons and some grandkids lived at the time – some still do. Then to Korea to do some shopping, and maybe the Philippines.

Cutting a rug

Several of Larson’s stories feature parties he attended uninvited, sometimes without knowing it. In Halifax, Nova Scotia, Larson, Nelson and another friend waltzed into a fancy-dress party where they drank expensive wine, danced and took home a set of commemorative crystal wine glasses, not realizing it was an invitation-only affair that charged $75 per person.

At Christmas Mountain Village in Wisconsin Dells, Larson and Nelson had a good time dancing and singing, and when they hit the dance floor, everyone gave them room and watched.

After cutting a rug in Key West, Fla., the owner of the club told them they’d been captured on television

Jim Larson and partner Adele Nelson's series of karaoke-singing CDs and music video DVDs are "Rated C for Cute" and include such hits as "Hard to Be Humble," "I'm My Own Grampaw" and "Hard to Kiss the Lips That Chew Your Ass All Day Long."

and asked them to come back the following night.

“We had so many experiences!” he exclaimed, recalling buying beignets on New Orleans’s Bourbon Street, driving on dirt roads from Turkey to Jerusalem, and seeing places most of us just read about in the Bible.

“We stayed overnight in Damascus,” he says. “Went to the Jordan River, where Christ was baptized. Went to the Dead Sea, the Inn of the Good Samaritan. Went to the temple, went to Christ’s tomb, went to where he was born.”

In Turkey, he was stationed 15 miles from Paul’s Well in the Cicilian Valley. He also visited such Bibleland destinations as Rome, Ephesus, Corinth and Mars Hill in Athens, where the apostle Paul preached a famous sermon. “Came back up through Syria,” he said. “Couldn’t do it at all today.”

Asked which destination he would most like to go back to, Larson said, “All of them. Because they change, see.”

Robin Fish can be reached at rfish@parkrapidsenterprise.com.

ROBIN FISH / ENTERPRISE

daughters

ROBIN FISH / ENTERPRISE

Jim Larson pauses for a moment to look at pictures of his two sons and two daughters. He also has 10 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and one greatgreat-grandchild.

ROBIN FISH / ENTERPRISE

The basics of perennial gardening

Growing Together

BY DON KINZLER Gardening

Do you know why bees are good at job interviews? Because they know all the buzz words.

Bees are certainly busy little insects, responsible for producing everything from cucumbers to apples. Mother Nature created quite a system; flowers provide the pollen and nectar bees need for food, and while the bees are foraging, the flowers get pollinated, resulting in fruit and seed production. Cooperation at its finest.

A well-designed perennial garden provides plenty of bee nutrition, and while the bees are visiting our flower gardens, they’re attracted to the cucumber and squash plants in our vegetable gardens. Besides being bee-friendly, a perennial garden is a grand addition to any yard.

Following is a brief introduction to perennial gardening, tailored especially to those who might be new to the topic, although I never tire of hearing the basics myself.

► The preferred pronunciation of perennial is per-EN-ee-ull. It’s sometimes mispronounced preannual.

► A perennial is a plant that lives from year to year with a root system that’s winter hardy in the region in which it’s adapted. Perennials adapted to North Dakota and Minnesota are classified as winter-hardy in Zones 3 or 4.

► Perennial flowers, also known as herbaceous perennials, die back each winter and arise in spring from ground level.

► The underground part of a perennial can be a bulb, rhizome, tuber, fleshy roots, or fibrous roots.

► A perennial that blooms all summer hasn’t yet been created. Each type has its specific season of heaviest bloom, such as spring, early summer, mid-summer, late-summer or fall. In designing

a perennial flowerbed, include types from each of these blooming seasons to ensure continuous color.

► Perennial flowerbeds change throughout the growing season, which keeps it fascinating.

► Perennial types vary in light requirements. Tags or descriptions indicate whether a perennial needs full-day sunshine, shade, dappled sun or half-day sun.

► Literature describing the best soil for perennials usually indicates “well-drained,” meaning they won’t tolerate soil that stays wet and soggy for long. Most perennials thrive with organic material added to the soil, such as peatmoss or compost.

GROWING TOGETHER: Page 4

Columnist

Perennials emerging is a sure sign spring has arrived.

MICHAEL VOSBURG/THE FORUM

GROWING TOGETHER

From Page 3

If you can’t amend the whole flowerbed, work organics into the soil surrounding each plant.

► There are many sources of perennial flowers. They’re sold bare root or potted from mail-order companies or local garden centers. Friends and neighbors will often share divisions. Perennials can be started from seed, but it takes much longer to reach flowering stage.

► Perennial gardening teaches patience. Most types require two growing seasons after planting before reaching their full blooming potential the third year. Some, like peonies, can take longer. While waiting, interplant annual flowers for color.

► Perennials love the soil surface mulched, which conserves moisture and mitigates summer heat. Shredded wood products are more natural than rock

mulch, which retains heat and compacts soil with its weight.

► To avoid overcrowding perennials, give each plant its own circular footprint of space, determined by the plant’s width listed on its description.

► Most perennials benefit from digging and dividing every three to five years, including iris, daylily and phlox. Some types, though, don’t like disturbance and can remain in place for decades, such as peony and gas plant.

► To determine the best season to dig and divide a perennial, select the season opposite its bloom time, which is why peony, tulip and bleeding heart are divided in September, while mum and fallblooming aster are divided in spring. The worst time to disturb a perennial is when it’s flowering.

► Although perennials by nature come back year after year, some types last longer than others. Long-lived types include peony, iris, daylily and hosta. Those with shorter lifespans averaging four years are lupine, coneflower, delphinium, dianthus and baby’s breath.

► For greatest impact, plant groupings of three or five of a type, rather than singles. Planting in drifts adds interest.

►  Removing spent flowers as they fade, called deadheading, can prolong blooming on many types, plus conserving their energy.

► The above-ground parts of perennials, called the “tops,” are best left intact over winter, which collects snow and improves winter survival. Remove the tops in spring when new growth barely starts at ground level. Some types, though, like peony, should be cut back in fall for disease sanitation, or because they turn mushy over winter, like hosta, daylily and iris.

► An excellent resource book for Northern gardeners is “Growing Perennials in Cold Climates” published by University of Minnesota Press. Its 448 pages are filled with detailed growing information about every perennial adapted to our region.   Don Kinzler, a lifelong gardener, is the horticulturist with North Dakota State University Extension for Cass County. Readers can reach him at donald.kinzler@ndsu.edu.

Books tailored to northern climates are good information sources for perennials.

MICHAEL VOSBURG/THE FORUM

Art Be At

STARTS JUNE 15

2nd Street Stage will celebrate summer with free concerts in Downtown Park Rapids June 15 through Aug. 17. Every year people say they look forward all year long to these special nights that celebrate summer, time to reconnect with friends and enjoy some great music. Just remember to bring a chair.

The beer garden opens at 5 p.m. for a social hour, time to meet social hour sponsors and buy this year’s collectible button designed by Mary Weaver, Menahga, for $2 off all beverages at the beer garden.

The 2nd Street Stage concerts run from 6 to 8 p.m. except on Aug. 10 when the concert will follow Water Wars. Social hour and band sponsors offer a variety of activities and give aways as well as a prize at the end of the evening to someone with a lucky ticket.

JUNE

Bands are chosen for their musicianship and stage presence and to represent various musical genres, including folk rock, modern bluegrass, rock ’n roll, soul, blues, reggae, funk and country. Many of the bands have played at First Avenue and other venues in the Twin Cities and/or are part of the Duluth music scene.

The 2023 line up is:

► June 15 Joyann Parker Band

► June 22 Ty Pow & The Holy North

► June 29 Rich Mattson & the Northstars

► July 6 Pert Near Sandstone

► July 13 The 4onthefloor

► July 20 The Limns

► July 27 Corey Medina & Brothers

► Aug. 3 Boxcar

► Aug 10 The Whips

► Aug 17 Jon Sullivan Band

For more about all the bands, go to www.parkrapidsdowntown.com/ events. For weekly updates, go to 2nd St Stage on Facebook.

Weekly major sponsors are Monika’s Quilt and Yarn Shop, R.D. Offutt Farms and TruStar Federal Credit Union.

June 1-June 30 Pao Houa Her and Mary Ann Papenek-Miller Exhibit at Nemeth Art Center

June 1-July 4 Youth Art Show at Nemeth Art Center

June 1 Noon Hour Concert: Bob Madeson, euphonium; Sarah Carlson, piano; Tyler Bublitz, drums, at Calvary Lutheran Church

June 8 Noon Hour Concert: Timothy Pinkerton, violin, and Sarah Carlson, piano, at Calvary Lutheran Church

June 9 Northern Light Opera Company Volunteer Kick-off & Celebration

June 10 2nd Saturday STEM program at the Park Rapids Area Library

June 11-18 WorkBench Playwright’s Intensive

June 15 Noon Hour Concert: Carson Binkley, bass; Dean Will, piano, at Calvary Lutheran Church

June 15 2nd Street Stage: Joyann Parker Band

June 16 Library Story Time Guest Presenter: Northern Lights Dance Academy

June 17 Hubbard County Historical Society Antique Appraisal Event at the Historical Museum

June 17 Author Fest at the Park Rapids American Legion

June 19-July 15 NLOKids Theater Camp

June 22 Noon Hour Concert: Tamara Moore, soprano; Denise Laaveg, collaborative pianist, at Calvary Lutheran Church

June 22 2nd Street Stage: Ty Pow & The Holy North

June 25 Park Rapids Area Community Band Concert at Itasca State Park

June 27 “Finding My Voice: A Journey Through Nature and Music,” Park Rapids Area Library program at Deane Park

June 29 Noon Hour Concert: Matthew Lorenz, piano, at Calvary Lutheran Church

HEARTLAND CONCERT SERIES ANNOUNCED

The Heartland Concert Association series for the 2023-24 season promises great entertainment.

All concerts are at 7 p.m. at the Park Rapids High School auditorium.

You are invited to join the series to see all four concerts at the low price of $55 per person! You will also be able to attend reciprocity concerts in Wadena with your season ticket. Find a printable season ticket form for download on the website, heartlandconcertassociation.org. Membership packets will be available later this summer.

The Heartland Concert Association presents these artists for their 2023-24 concert series:

► Sept. 6, 2023 - Church of Cash, a Johnny Cash tribute.

► Oct. 20, 2023 - Yesterday Once More, The Sound of Karen Carpenter.

► Feb. 3, 2024 - Yu & I, violin and classical guitar duo playing traditional music from around the world.

► April 28, 2023 - Feels Like Home, Tina Scariano pays homage to the wonderful female composers/singers/entertainers of the 1970s.

Visit heartlandconcertassociation.org for more information about each concert.

Arts CAlendAr

June 29 2nd Street Stage: Rich Mattson & the Northstars

June 30 Jolly Pops Concert at the Park Rapids Area Library

June 30 Park Rapids Area Community Band Concert in Menahga

JULY

July 1 Artists reception for Brad Kahlhamer and Waverly Bergwin at Nemeth Art Center

July 1-31 Brad Kahlhamer and Waverly Bergwin shows at Nemeth Art Center

July 2 Evening Under the Pines: Jim and Molly Bauer at Itasca State Park

July 4 Park Rapids Area Community Band Pre-Fireworks Concert in Heartland Park

July 6 Noon Hour Concert: Gwen Youso, piano, at Calvary Lutheran Church

July 6 2nd Street Stage: Pert Near Sandstone

July 7 Parking Lot Party at the Park Rapids Area Library

July 8 2nd Saturday STEM program at the Park Rapids Area Library

July 13 Friends of the Library Book Sale

July 13 Noon Hour Concert: North Wind Clarinets at Calvary Lutheran Church

July 13 2nd Street Stage: The 4onthefloor

July 14 NLOKids Theater Camp performance at Pine Point Community Center

July 15 NLOKids Theater Camp performance at the Armory Arts & Events Center

July 16 Evening Under the Pines: Julie and Bill Kaiser at Itasca State Park

July 20 Noon Hour Concert: Melanie Hanson, violin and piano; Michael Hanson, soprano saxophone, at Calvary Lutheran Church

July 20 2nd Street Stage: The Limns

July 21-22 Nevis Muskie Days Music Festival

July 22 Hubbard County Historical Society: Quilt Show at Riverside United Methodist Church

July 23 Evening Under the Pines: The Hoot Owls at Itasca State Park

July 27 Noon Hour Concert: Sarah Kaufenberg, piano; Luke Helm, bass guitar, at Calvary Lutheran Church

July 27 2nd Street Stage: Corey Medina & Brothers

July 28-30 Northern Light Opera Company: “Little Shop of Horrors”

AUGUST

August 1-31 Brad Kahlhamer and Waverly Bergwin shows at Nemeth Art Center

August 2-5 Northern Light Opera Company: “Little Shop of Horrors”

August 3 Noon Hour Concert: Blake Staines, baritone; Dan Will, piano, at Calvary Lutheran Church

August 3 2nd Street Stage: Boxcar

August 4 Friends of the Library Crazy Days Book Sale

August 6 Evening Under the Pines: Jim and Molly Bauer at Itasca State Park

August 8-12 WorkBench Filmmaker Intensive

August 10 Noon Hour Concert: Beverly Everett, organ, at Calvary Lutheran Church

August 10 2nd Street Stage: The Whips

August 12 2nd Saturday STEM program at the Park Rapids Area Library

August 13 Fawn Fun Fest at Sleeping Fawn Resort

August 17 Noon Hour Concert: The Hoot Owls at Riverside United Methodist Church

August 17 2nd Street Stage: Jon Sullivan Band

August 19-20 Art Fair at the Winery at Forestedge Winery

August 19 Evening Under the Pines: Basement Brass at Itasca State Park

Art Be At

Hubbard County DAC plans gallery, studio openings

Hubbard County Developmental Achievement Center (DAC) is opening a gallery and store on Main Street called The Tin Ceiling Gallery. It will be an extension of the fine arts programming offered by the nonprofit day services and employment provider.

The gallery and store will showcase work by artists with and without disabilities side by side in an effort to create a more inclusive community for all.

The art program was started in 2019 with grants from the Region 2 Arts Council and has continued to grow and become an avenue for community engagement and employment for the people served by the program.

Hubbard County DAC artists work with teaching artists to learn new skills and express their creativity. Some will create their art in a new studio at 1008 Park Ave. So. and show it at the new Tin Ceiling Gallery in downtown Park Rapids.

Check out NLOC’s summer events

In existence for 22 years, Northern Light Opera Company (NLOC) has been fortunate to have many valuable volunteers who have helped make the productions fun and rewarding. You’ve seen many friends performing on stage and playing in the pit orchestra. Also, there have been many volunteers, who though unseen, have spent hours constructing and painting sets, sewing and altering costumes, and creating many fun props. More than several have been involved for 15-20 years and we want to celebrate them for their dedication. We invite you to join in recognizing them at 7 p.m. Friday, June 9 at the Armory Arts & Events Center. NLOC also invites and challenges you to become involved and participate in the creation of this summer’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. You will be able to tell friends, “I helped build, paint or sew that.”

WorkBench Playwright’s Intensive

Playwriting & Improv, assisted by guest artist Melanie Goodreaux, Week 2 June 26-30– Design & SongWriting, assisted by guest artists Gina Singer and Lisa Dove, and Weeks 3-4 July 3-14— Rehearsal & Production, assisted by guest artists Jeffrey Nolan and Hawken Paul Performances will be July 14 at Pine Point Community Center and July 15 at the Armory Arts & Events Center in Park Rapids. There will be a fee of $15 each for Weeks 1 and 2 and $25 for Weeks 3 & 4. Bus transportation and lunches are provided. For more information and an application, go to www. northernlightopera.org/nlokids or Park Rapids Community Ed.

‘Little Shop of Horrors’

The artists we support are mostly self-taught and able to enhance their skills through partnerships with local artists, who share their skills and talents to teach new techniques.

The Tin Ceiling Gallery plans to host special exhibitions with themes to highlight emerging artists in addition to DAC artists. The first show will feature works done in a spring workshop with artist Jill Odegaard where artists created art from poured paper pulp techniques and incorporated collaged elements.

DAC will also be unveiling our new art studio located at 1008 Park Ave. So., which will offer classes and professional development opportunities with DAC teaching artists Hannah Spry, Alisa Boushee, Emily Whitaker and Cecilia Nelson. They will all continue to challenge artists to grow their skills and

continue to express their creativity using new techniques and materials. The studio will include equipment for screen printing, ceramic arts and general art. The facilities will offer a place to create items that will be for sale in the new Tin Ceiling Gallery. Summer workshops will include printing classes with local artist Dawn Rossbach, who will teach classes in monoprinting and more. Considering herself a teacher first, Rossbach believes that art instructors need to be active artists themselves. We look forward to her sharing new challenges with the DAC artists.

Local ceramics artists Chris Boedigheimer and Terry Schroeder will share their talents and introduce a variety of different ceramic techniques to DAC artists as well. Watch for announcements of grand opening events for both new DAC locations.

Returning for the third year, playwriters Melanie Goodreaux and Greg Paul, both from New York City, will again challenge aspiring writers to create an original 10-minute play in an intensive week’s time June 11-18. These writers will be given prompts and guidance as their thoughts and ideas become a play, which will be read/enacted by NLOC actors before an audience Sunday, June 18 at the Armory.

NLOKids Theater Camp

This will be the eighth year NLOC has collaborated with the Indigenous community of Pine Point for a month-long Drama Camp for 8- to 13-year-olds. It doesn’t take long for kids, who were strangers, to become good friends as they create and play together.

The camp is divided into three sessions: Week 1 June 19-22–

Auditions have been held and the cast has been chosen. Directors, cast and crew members are eager to launch rehearsals and set construction which will begin mid-June. You will recognize some of the cast members from past productions, and you will be introduced to some new folks as well. Be sure to mark the dates of July 28-Aug. 5 on your calendars; you’ll not want to miss this show.

WorkBench Filmmaker Intensive

This second annual workshop, led by award-winning Los Angeles filmmaker David Leidy and NLOC’s tech director/playwriter Greg Paul, will again teach cinematic storytelling and techniques to aspiring filmmakers. Creative writing exercises will be assigned, and the new filmmakers will take turns filming, directing and editing their newly created work. Last year’s filmmakers shared their films with the public at a showing of their films in the Armory Arts & Events Center. More information will be found later, on NLOC’s website: www.northernlightopera.org.

ProudsponsorofNoonHourConcerts andArtLeap2021

Proud sponsor of Noon Hour Concerts and Art Leap 2023

ProudsponsorofNoonHourConcerts andArtLeap2021 ProudsponsorofNoonHourConcerts andArtLeap2023

andArtLeap2023

www.heartlandarts.org

ManyHeartlandArtsactivitiesaremadepossible by the votersofMinnesota,throughthe Region 2ArtsCouncil, thankstolegislativeappropriationsfromtheArtsandCulturalHeritageFundandtheStatesGeneralFund.

ManyHeartlandArtsactivitiesaremadepossible by the votersofMinnesota,throughthe Region 2ArtsCouncil, thankstolegislativeappropriationsfromtheArtsandCulturalHeritageFundandtheStatesGeneralFund.

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.

www.heartlandarts.org | Facebook: parkrapidsarts

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www.heartlandarts.org

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SUBMITTED PHOTO

Art Be At

Library launches fun summer activities

The Park Rapids Area Library plans a full summer of programs, many geared to kids of all ages.

Summer Reading Program 2023: Find Your Voice!

(Ages 2-18) Reading log and instructions are supplied at time of registration. For an online version, register on Beanstack. Registration is open now. Program begins Monday, June 5 and ends Saturday, July 29.

Story Time!

Story Time at 10:30 a.m. Fridays offers stories and activities for preschool age children and the adults who care for them. School age siblings are welcome. See library schedule to determine which weeks are at the library and which weeks are off-site (Heartland Park, Pioneer Park, Depot Park). Story Times that are scheduled off-site will be moved to the library in the case of rain or stormy weather. (Special events, such as the Jolly Pops Concert and Parking Lot Party scheduled during this time will replace regular story time.

Story Time guest presenters:

Northern Lights Dance Academy

A dance instructor from Northern Lights Dance Academy will lead the story time at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 16. It will include music and demonstrations of different types of dance by boys and girls who are students at the school.

Take-and-make kits

(Ages 2-18) Art, craft and science projects to go! Supplies are limited. First come, first served. Dates the kits will be available are June 12 and 26, July 10 and 24 and Aug. 7.

‘Finding My Voice: A Journey Through Nature and Music’

Pam Arnstein recently retired after four decades as a professional violinist in the Minnesota Orchestra. Her book, “Doctor May’s

Cabin,” is based on her childhood experience. Her grandmother’s unusual life is gradually revealed during an unexpected visit to a rustic cabin in Minnesota’s north woods. The book hopes to inspire readers to discover their own talents and desires. She will combine a book talk with violin music, sharing the story of how she was inspired to find her own voice by her trailblazing grandmother and aunt. This event will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 27 at Deane Park, unless weather is not conducive, in which case it will be in the library meeting room.

Jolly Pops concert

The Jolly Pops are a children’s music and entertainment group founded by Billy Hartong, aka “Mr. Billy.” The band was built around Dads who love to play music for kids. Their programs involve music, movement and fun learning through experience and they bring puppet friends who often get in on the fun. The concert will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 30 at the library meeting room.

July Parking Lot Party

A Parking Lot Party is planned from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, July 7 in the library parking lot with games, projects and activities for children and families. The party is planned in conjunction with the Summer Reading Program, but attendees are not required to be registered for Summer Reading. (If the weather is not conducive, we will move the party to the library meeting room.)

Finding Animal Voices: Frogs and Toads

Trill, croak, ribbit……come check out the many voices of frogs and toads of Minnesota. Join a naturalist from Itasca State Park and investigate why frogs make these sounds. Learn how to identify frogs by their voice and help make a frog chorus at this program at 10 a.m. Monday, July 10 at the library.

Friends of the Library book sales Bag a bag of books at Friends of the

Library book sales. The next one will be Thursday, July 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. A Sidewalk Book Sale will be held as part of Crazy Days from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 4.

2nd Saturday STEM programs

STEM programs are held at 11 a.m. on the second Saturday of every month! Open to all, but participants 8 years old, or younger must be accompanied by a parent or older sibling. The summer schedule is:

Saturday, June 10 - Tie-Dye with Sharpies: Explore Tie-Dye with less mess and more creative control. Permanent markers do not dissolve in water, but they will dissolve in other liquids including rubbing alcohol. Draw a design onto T-shirts or bandanas, drop on the rubbing alcohol, and voilà, tie-dye!

Saturday, July 8 - Explore Light-Up Art: Explore the world of circuits! We are going to create paper circuits to add light to a piece of art or a greeting card!

Saturday, Aug. 12 - Explore Pop-Up Greeting Cards: Have you ever seen a pop-up greeting card and thought, “It would be so cool to make those myself?” Well, you are in luck! We will learn two methods of creating pop-up cards, then you’ll create them!

Tuesday Morning Explore & Create!

These programs are at 11 a.m. Tuesdays, June 13 and 20, July 11, 18 and 25, Aug. 1, 15 and 22 in the library’s large meeting room and explore the world of STEM and create amazing things! They are part of the library summer reading program with activities designed for ages 8 and older. Anyone younger than 8 needs to be accompanied by an adult or older sibling.

Tuesday, June 13 - Create a Cabochon Necklace: Cabochons are glass domes laid into a metal tray. In this project, you create your own artwork or find an image that you like. Cut the image to size and glue into the tray! Thread the pendant onto a cord for a necklace or use as a key ring!

Tuesday, June 20 - Explore Chain Reactions: Do you like creating chain reactions like setting up dominoes and watching each block knock over the next? We are going to create a chain reaction by weaving a chain of popsicle sticks and watching their potential energy transform in an explosion of fun!

Tuesday, July 11 - Create a Duct Tape Wallet: Let your personality show in your accessories! We’ll use a strong envelope as the base of the wallet and decorate it to your personal taste with brightly colored duct tape! It’s the perfect opportunity to let your creativity run wild!

Tuesday, July 18 - Explore Decoupage: Lanterns: Have you ever made a string ornament with a balloon? This project takes the concept to a new level. We’ll use a balloon as the base and decoupage tissue paper onto it. When it dries, all you need to do is trim the top, add a hanger and light it up!

Tuesday, July 25 - Create a 3D Sculpture: Express yourself abstractly. Through your choice of color, beads and bends in the wire, create a sculpture that you love!

Tuesday, Aug. 1 - Weaving: Weaving has been such a popular activity in our Summer Reading Program and 2nd Saturday STEM events that we’re bringing it back. Weave a 4-inch by 4-inch square that can be used as a coaster or whatever you like!

Tuesday, Aug. 15 - Faux Stained Glass: Love the look of stained glass but want a low stress project? This one’s for you! We’re creating faux stained glass by drawing a design on the glass with a permanent marker and using rubbing alcohol to give it a more authentic stained glass feel.

Tuesday, Aug. 22 - Create a Collage: We will supply magazines, stickers and other supplies; you supply the creative spark to make a collage. Some of these activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota, through grants from the Region 2 Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Pam Arnstein

Art Be At

Nemeth Art Center showcases diverse media

The Nemeth Art Center (NAC), housed on the second floor of the historic Hubbard County Courthouse appointed Mark Weiler as their new executive director, beginning in April.

Weiler hails from Fargo where he established a successful art gallery and was instrumental in guiding the revitalization of the city’s downtown cultural scene. Mark and the NAC announce a thrilling 2023 season in Park Rapids with new work from several contemporary artists.

NAC’s season opened May 4 with the work of St. Paul-based photographer Pao Houa Her. Pao Houa Her was born, in her own words, in the northern jungles of Laos. She fled Laos with her family when she was a baby, crossed the Mekong on her mother’s back, lived in refugee camps in Thailand and landed in America as a toddler in the 1980s. The artist received her BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and her MFA from Yale University. In 2022, her work was included in the Whitney Biennial, and in 2023, she was named a Guggenheim fellow. Her series of large formal portraits of Hmong veterans of the Vietnam War, reminiscent of 19th century military portraiture, will be on display through June 26.

From May 4 through June 26, the NAC’s chambers galleries will be devoted to a show of new works by

artist Mary Ann Papanek-Miller, whose home base is in the Northwoods lake country of Minnesota. PapanekMiller creates layered mixed media works informed by our human relationships with animals, plants, and water access and use, seasoned with a bit of humor and worry. Quiet color is explored on a variety of surfaces utilizing graphite, thin layers of acrylic paints and photographs taken on-site on the land. Images are drawn from collected childhood and related objects believing in the imbued spirit and inwardness of things and that in every object there is a story.

New York and Arizona-based artist Brad Kahlhamer will show from July 1 through Oct. 1. A multimedia artist who has shown extensively in galleries and museums, both nationally and internationally, Kahlhamer works in a range of media including sculpture, drawing, painting, performance and music to explore what he refers to as the “third place” – a meeting point of two opposing personal histories. Reimagining a subjective vocabulary through a neo-expressionist lens, his work references hallmarks of 20th-century abstract painting, such as German Expressionism, while incorporating highly personal iconography. Drawing on his tripartite identity, Kahlhamer’s work navigates his Native American heritage, adoptive German-American family, and adult

Noon Hour Concerts offer delightful performances

The Noon Hour Concert series, sponsored by Heartland Arts, opened Thursday, June 1.

The 14-week series invites audiences from 12:15 to 12:45 p.m. Thursdays at Calvary Lutheran Church except the concert Aug. 17 which will be at Riverside United Methodist Church. Free will donations are accepted. The schedule is as follows:

► June 1: Bob Madeson, Euphonium; Sarah Carlson, Piano; Tyler Bublitz, Drums

► June 8: Timothy Pinkerton, Violin, and Sarah Carlson, Piano

► June 15: Carson Binkley, Bass, and Dan Will, Piano

► June 22: Tamara Moore, Soprano, and Denise Laaveg, Collaborative Pianist

► June 29: Matthew Lorenz, Piano

► July 6: Gwen Youso, Piano

► July 13: North Wind Clarinets

- Deane Johnson, Beth Hahn, Vicki Magnuson, Peg Rickert and Sarah Sundeen

► July 20: Melanie Hanson, Violin and Piano, and Michael Hanson, Soprano Saxophone

► July 27: Sarah Kaufenberg, Piano, and Luke Helm, Bass Guitar

► August 3: Blake Staines, Baritone, and Dan Will, Piano

► August 10: Beverly Everett on New Digital Organ

► August 17: “The Hoot Owls”Dick Max, String Bass, Vocals; Dave Karem, Guitar, Vocals; Dick Kimmel, Mandolin, Banjo, Guitar, Vocals, at Riverside United Methodist Church.

► August 24: Bemidji Brass - Kyle Riess, Trumpet; Alyssa Konecne, Trombone; Jeff Johnson, Bass, Trombone; Eve Sumsky, Horn; Scott Guidry, Trumpet

► August 31: Ben Bartholomew, Saxophone, and Gwen Youso, Piano

For more information on the weekly performers, go to www. heartlandarts.org, parkrapids. com or parkrapidsdowntown.com, parkrapidsarts on Facebook or call Carolyn Spangler at 218-252-9970.

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

life in New York City’s Lower East Side.

In the NAC’s first-ever (official) artist’s summer residency, Kahlhamer will take up residence for the month of June in a studio/cabin north of Park Rapids, where he will produce a new collection of works inspired by the setting specifically for the NAC. As part of his residency, Kahlhamer will also teach several workshops with students at local high schools in the headwaters area.

Also in July, the Nemeth is proud to welcome Waverly Bergwin, whose intricate wire pieces will be shown in the Chambers galleries from July 1 to Oct. 1. Waverly Bergwin is a nonbinary sculptor and writer who uses wire and organic plant matter to create legendary artifacts from other worlds. They have a deep interest in fairytales and fantasy stories, where they find the essence of the human will and the desire to escape the mundane. Based in New York City, Waverly received their BFA from Pace University, and has worked as assistant and apprentice to Kahlhamer since 2014.

The NAC is pleased to celebrate their 2023 Youth Art Show which includes works by local high school students from around the region on display May 4 to July 4. More than 20 young artists are included, with over 40 works on display. Three artists will receive cash prizes for “best of

Multimedia artist Brad Kahlhamer’s works will be on display at the Nemeth Art Center July 1 through Oct. 1. Kahlhamer also will serve NAC’s first artist’s summer residency. This 48by 48-inch oil on canvas is titled Fort Gotham.

show” honors, funded by the estate of Eleanor and Harold Olson, two of the original founders of the Nemeth Art Center. The first place winner will receive a scholarship to MCAD’s 2024 Pre-Summer College Session.

Artist’s receptions were held at the gallery May 26 for Pao Houa Her and Mary Ann Papanek-Miller and planned July 1 for Brad Kahlhamer and Waverly Bergwin.

New artists grace the walls of Studio 176

One of the missions of Studio 176 Gallery is to provide a space for artists to exhibit and sell their work no matter where they are in their journey as an artist. Last year we were graced with the bold and colorful artworks of Kent Estey, who is now exhibiting and selling at galleries and art fairs beyond our region. With Kent moving toward his goals, the door of opportunity opened for other artists to join and we put out a call for artists who were interested in joining our space.

After considering over 15 applications, the artists who joined us are Jess Aakre, Bickey Bender and Elizabeth Rockstad. All three bring an extensive variety of artwork in their paintings, collages, mosaics and mixed media works to the gallery making the space even brighter!

Aakre describes herself as a mixed-media artist who combines collage, paint and dry media in small narrative artworks. Attending Minnesota State University Moorhead she studied art and art education and currently teaches as a K-12 art educator at a school in our region. She also earned a Master of Art in Art Education from Boston University in 2018. Her works use colors that

emote the tropics and sometimes the carefree moments in life. Jess can be found on Instagram as well at www.jessaakre.com.

Bender describes her art and inspirations “My work reflects my fascination with the simple pleasures of everyday life. A bird, an old building, a texture - all conjure for me the joy inherent in the basic things of our world.” Bickey’s work can be found in our studio and online at www.blankcanvasgallery.com.

Rockstad owns Studio 4:13. There she teaches mosaic workshops, works with groups and creates custom mosaics for residential and public settings, conducts school residencies and community projects. Her work shows the skills of someone who has been working in the medium for years and you’ll be impressed with the materials, composition and colors that show in these works. For more info visit her site at www.studio413.org.

We are thrilled to welcome these artists to Studio 176 and watch for events on our Facebook page related to these artists. And if you’re currently in the market for some new art to add to your space or collection, we think we have something that will suit your interests.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Timothy Pinkerton

Beverly Everett

One of my resolutions for this new year is to utilize the items in my pantry as inspiration for new recipes, and the process has been more enjoyable than I expected. This easy Sicilian Baked Salmon is a pantry update from a recipe I usually make in the summertime, and it is the perfect dish to round out my January healthy recipe series.

My pantry includes several staples from Sicilian cuisine, and this dish features some of my favorites, including capers, anchovies, garlic, onion, crushed red pepper flakes, tomatoes and herbs. I first developed this recipe a few summers ago when my son requested a salmon dish with fresh tomatoes and herbs from our garden. The dish was an instant success and has become a favorite for us in the summer months.

When my son recently mentioned craving our Sicilian baked salmon, I endeavored to create a version that could match the season. I already had a side of salmon in my freezer, but none of the fresh ingredients from our garden were available, so I used canned tomatoes and dried herbs from my pantry instead.

The result was just as delicious as the original dish. The taste of each version is nearly the same, but where the flavor profile of the summer dish is light and bright, the winter version is warm and comforting.

This seasonal update was a fun and successful experiment, and the process is the same for both

versions of this recipe. The capers and anchovy are mashed together until a paste forms, and then sautéed with grated onion, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes until well combined and fragrant. Grating the onion makes it almost melt into the sauce so that only the flavor remains, and you could also use finely chopped onion if you prefer.

Once the aromatics are ready, I add the tomatoes and let them cook over medium heat until they soften. The final ingredients are the dried herbs, lemon juice and a cup of chicken stock, and you can also use vegetable stock or just water.

I bring the sauce to a boil and then let it simmer over low heat for a few minutes to allow the flavors to meld together before pouring it over the salmon. The capers and anchovy are naturally salty, so be

sure to taste the sauce before adding any additional seasoning. I bake the salmon until it is fully cooked and opaque inside, which takes about 18 to 20 minutes. The liquid becomes infused with flavor and helps keep the salmon moist as it bakes.

The light and brothy sauce pairs beautifully with pasta, and I love to serve this dish atop a bed of long noodles, like spaghetti or linguine. Versatile and nutritious, this Sicilian baked salmon can be adjusted to match the season for an easy and delicious weeknight dinner.

“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.

SARAH NASELLO / THE FORUM

A paste is made by mashing an anchovy with capers to infuse the sauce with their savory, briny flavor.

SARAH NASELLO / THE FORUM

Grated onion and minced garlic are used to provide aromatic flavor to the Sicilian sauce. Grating the onion allows it to melt into the sauce so that only its flavor remains.

SARAH NASELLO / THE FORUM

A savory Sicilian tomato sauce is poured over the side of salmon before baking.

SICILIAN BAKED SALMON

INGRATIATES:

2 to 2.5 pounds whole salmon filet, skinless

Kosher salt

Black pepper

1 tablespoon capers

1 anchovy

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup yellow onion, grated or very

finely chopped

1 clove garlic, finely minced

¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes or 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes

(quartered)

1 cup chicken stock or water

1 tablespoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon dried oregano or 1 sprig

fresh oregano

½ teaspoon dried basil or 1 sprig

fresh basil

► Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

and grease the bottom and sides of a 9x13 casserole dish with oil. Rinse the side of salmon under cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Place the salmon in the casserole dish and sprinkle the top with kosher salt and black pepper.

Use a mortar and pestle, or a wooden spoon and a small bowl, to mash the capers and anchovy together until well combined and a paste forms; set aside.

In a medium frying pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the grated onion and cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the edges just start to brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic and crushed red peppers. Continue to cook over medium-low, stirring often, until fragrant but not browned, about 2 minutes.

Add the mashed caper/anchovy mixture and cook over medium low

heat for 2 minutes, stirring often. Add the diced tomatoes and increase to medium heat. Stir to combine and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the chicken stock and lemon juice and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce to low and add the thyme and basil. Simmer gently over low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and discard the herb sprigs, if using fresh herbs. Pour the mixture over the side of the salmon and bake in the center of the oven, until the salmon is fully cooked and opaque on the inside, about 18 to 20 minutes. You can insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the salmon to ensure that it has an internal temperature of at least 145 degrees.

Remove the salmon from the oven and divide it into individual portions.

SARAH NASELLO / THE FORUM

Sarah’s Sicilian Baked Salmon is an easy, delicious and versatile weeknight dish featuring staples from her pantry, including capers, anchovy, onion, tomato and herbs.

Serve over long pasta noodles (like spaghetti or linguine) or your favorite grain (rice, quinoa, farro, barley). Serves 4 to 6.

TO STORE:

► The tomato topping can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and added just before baking. Leftovers can be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days.

Tips for transitioning to memory care

The Family Circle

BY LAUREL HED LSW GCM, is a facilitator at Essentia Clinic in Park Rapids

When assisting a loved one to transition to memory care, work to make this move a positive event.

It’s difficult to remember that they aren’t able to understand lengthy conversations or explanations.

So, just know that if you haven’t preplanned with your loved one as to what their wishes are, then you will need to make these decisions for them.

Keep this transition as simple and positive as possible.

Be there for move-in day and assist in having some favorite pictures, personal items set up to feel “like home.”

We had old family photos hung in my mom’s room, with her own bed and recliner all set up. So when Mom walked into the room, she said, “It looks like home!”

Routine is key for someone living with dementia. Providing the staff with as much background information about your loved one as possible can help in creating a much calmer, positive transition. Share

food likes and dislikes, games they may enjoy, when is the usual bedtime and rise in the morning. Do they enjoy a big breakfast for just coffee and toast?

Keep in mind that you are your loved one’s voice, and the more you help the staff get to know your loved one, the better for all concerned.

When staff can visit about familiar things, your loved one feels more comfortable.

My mom loved to read and loved school. In her mind, at this point of her disease, she is back in grade school and loved to talk about her favorite subjects and teachers.

Remember, they may have dementia, but they recognize if they’re being treated with dignity and respect. That feeling never goes away. How people make them feel will have a big bearing on how well they respond to staff and what they may need them to do.

Just know, at this point, you’re giving your loved one a gift by bringing them to a memory care facility where they are safe and cared for by trained staff.

Memory loss is a very confusing and scary time for everyone involved. Once your loved one is settled into their new facility, it’s often very hard for families to leave.

Remember, this is what staff has been

trained for – to assist people in adjusting to their new surroundings. Memory care staff will assist the residents to and from meals and activities.

I had a dear friend whose father was in a memory care center, and when it was time for them to leave, her father followed them to the door and insisted that he leave with them. The family felt so badly and didn’t know what to say or do.

Just like that, a staff person came over and greeted their father by calling him by name and shaking his hand, saying, “I’m so glad I found you. I was hoping you would have a cup of coffee with me and, of course, a cookie or two.”

Their father was all smiles as he walked away with the staff, forgetting all about his family!

There is nothing fun about having to live through this journey, but there are some wonderful people who help to make it a little bit easier.

Laurel Hed is a facilitator at Essentia Clinic in Park Rapids.

Tips for preparing a will

By Jim Miller The Savvy Senior

You also need to be aware that certain accounts take precedence over a will. If you jointly own a home or a bank account, for example, the house, and the funds in the account, will go to the joint holder, even if your will directs otherwise. Similarly, retirement accounts and life insurance policies are distributed to the beneficiaries you designate, so it is important to keep them up to date too.

Do you need a lawyer?

Not necessarily. Creating a will with a do-it-yourself software program may be acceptable in some cases, particularly if you have a simple, straightforward estate and an uncomplicated family situation.

And before you meet with an attorney, make a detailed list of your assets and accounts to help make your visit more efficient.

If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (see FindLegalHelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 for a referral.

If you are interested in a do-it-yourself will, some top options to consider are Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust (Nolo.com, $99) and Trust & Will (TrustandWill.com, $159). Or, if that’s more than you’re willing to pay, you can make your will for free at FreeWill.com or DoYourOwnWill.com.

Dear Savvy Senior,

I would like to make my last will and testament and would like to know if I can do it myself, or do I need to hire a lawyer?

~ Don’t Have Much

Dear Don’t Have Much,

Very good question! Almost everyone needs a will, but only around one-third of American have actually prepared one. Having a last will and testament is important because it ensures your money and property will be distributed to the people you want to receive it after your death.

If you die without a will (a.k.a. dying “intestate”), your estate will be settled in accordance with state law. Details vary by state, but assets typically are distributed using a hierarchy of survivors i.e., first to a spouse, then to children, then your siblings, and so on.

Otherwise, it’s best to seek professional advice. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone.

If you need help finding someone the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org), the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC.org) and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC.org) websites are good resources that have online directories to help you search.

Costs will vary depending on your location and the complexity of your situation, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,000 or more to get your will made.

To help you save, shop around and get price quotes from several different firms.

It’s also recommended that if you do create your own will, have a lawyer review it to make sure it covers all the important bases.

Where to sore it?

Once your will is written, the best place to keep it is either in a fireproof safe or file cabinet at home, in a safe deposit box in your bank or online at sites like Everplans.com.

But make sure your executor knows where it is and has access to it.

Or, if a professional prepares your will, keep the original document at your lawyer’s office.

Also, be sure to update your will if your family or financial circumstances change, or if you move to another state. 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.

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU PUSH TO GET AN OLDER ADULT TO EAT? Minding Our Elders

Dear Carol,

My mom’s got dementia and has stomach-related issues, but even so, she needs to eat. I make her three nourishing meals a day and try to tempt her with healthy snacks, like fresh fruit. Still, it seems what she really wants is ice cream and pudding, so she just picks at the rest. Having dementia shouldn’t make people hate nourishing food, should it? I hate to go to meal-replacement drinks because they aren’t all that healthy, either. Any advice? ~ SO

Dear SO,

This is a common frustration for caregivers, and much depends on why your mom can’t/won’t eat. Check with her primary doctor about her stomach problems in case there’s something that can be done to help. The physician who treats her dementia may also have suggestions.

Even medical professionals can’t provide solutions that work for everyone in this situation, but I’ll list some for experimentation.

► Offer smaller, more frequent meals and snacks.

► Remember that both medications and dementia can affect the taste buds. You may need to increase seasonings in your mom’s food to amp up the flavor.

► For some, a schedule helps their body expect a meal, but others may need to eat when they are hungry, regardless of the time.

► Finger foods can be great. Many foods can be cut into portions that can be managed this way.

► Focus on foods that are lighter on the stomach and experiment. Does she eat better with cool food such as fruit and even cold meat? That worked with my mom. Others may prefer warm foods like soup and oatmeal.

► Nutrient-dense food is best, of course, but depending on your mom’s stage of dementia, you may have to give her what she’ll eat as opposed to what you’d like her to eat. Yes, that includes ice cream or pudding.

► Smoothies! These can be made nutrient-dense yet yummy and are easy to drink even with a light appetite. Keep servings small. You can offer to refill the glass if she wants you to or provide more later.

► There’s no surer way to shut down an appetite than to try to force a person to eat. This also creates tension at mealtime — another sure appetite killer. Instead, offer her something, and if she doesn’t want it, let it go and offer something else. Her refusal isn’t personal.

► Present choices so she has some control. It’s awful

CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK Columnist

to have food forced on you, and no one wins.

You weren’t specific about your mom’s stage of dementia, but all caregivers should understand that once a person reaches an end-of-life stage, the body will start to shut down. This means that food can cause nausea and discomfort since it’s not being digested.

Before your mom ever reaches this stage, you might consider hospice care. They can support you and your mom as they help you deal with your feelings that she needs to eat even when she can’t. Sending a caregiver hug. It’s tough, I know.

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.” Carol hosts a website supporting caregivers and elders at www.mindingourelders.com. She can be reached through the contact form on her website.