A simple life, a solitary hunt
Beryl Novak grouse hunts near his home Nov. 1. On Saturday, as he has for more than 60 years, he’ll be deer hunting. Steve Kuchera / Duluth News Tribune
Beryl Novak has lived alone in his one-room deer shack for 44 years. That’s the way he likes it By John Myers Duluth News Tribune Greaney, Minn. eryl Novak bought 40 acres of forest here in 1966 for $700, eventually moved an old one-room shack to the site for a deer hunting cabin and then liked it so much he moved in for good. That was 1977. He hasn’t lived anyplace else since. He hasn’t slept in any other bed, not a single night away, since May 1993. “I’m kind of a homebody,” Novak said. He also hasn’t hunted deer anywhere else. And on Saturday morning, Nov. 6, Novak will be in his favorite deer “stand,” a 5-by-8foot tarpaper shack with a slide-up window, where odds are he will see some deer. Whether or not he gets a legal buck will be up to the fates, of course, much like the other nearly half-million Minnesota hunters out and about. But don’t bet against him. The stand is just 50 yards from his house – about
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an hour’s drive north of Hibbing – overlooking a mowed clearing with a backdrop of spruce and balsam about 140 yards out. He has shot dozens of deer from this spot, most with his trusty .270 Winchester, some of them just minutes into the first morning of the season. The annual deer hunt has become part of his life’s routine, a rhythm that revolves around nature’s seasons — things like putting up firewood, tending his big garden, planting and grafting dozens of apple trees and walking hundreds of miles each autumn in search of grouse. Already this season he’s bagged two dozen grouse by walking slowly, watching and listening on forest trails. “But it hasn’t been easy. I figure it’s about 5 miles walking for each bird,” he said as we walked and talked in his woods, shotguns at the ready, on a brisk November morning. We flushed a couple grouse that day but didn’t get any shots.
Over the years living out here, Novak has had close calls with wolves and has battled with bears, but it all seems to come in stride for an outdoorsman who doesn’t rattle easily, who seemingly has seen and done everything the northwoods has to offer.
Started young
Novak, 71, shot his first deer at age 10, in 1960, hunting alone. He still has the paper hunting license and aluminum buck tag pressed between pages in a photo album. Since then, Novak figures he’s shot 75 deer in these woods northwest of Cook. He has a memory like a steel trap, and rattles off dates and antler counts from hunting seasons a half-century ago like they happened yesterday. Novak was born and raised in this country and graduated from Orr High School in 1968. He liked cars, of course, and girls. But his passion has always been the outdoors — hunting, fishing and
trapping. “My dad died when I was 5,” Novak said. “But I had a mentor teach me grouse hunting … Joe Kasun. … When I was 7, he gave me a single-shot .22 to use and one .22 short bullet and took me grouse hunting and told me not to miss. … I got one.” Deer hunting, though, “I had to figure out on my own.” And he has. Novak attended a vocational college and then, with a low draft number looming, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and stayed in for nearly four years, from 1970-74. He was stationed at several bases across the U.S. and spent eight months in Vietnam, at the 483rd USAF hospital at Cam Ranh Bay, where the base would come under occasional rocket attack and where he saw the horrors of war firsthand with a parade of wounded on display. Through his military service, he would come home on leave scheduled
around hunting seasons. “I came home to hunt,” he said. “It’s what I thought about when I was over there.”
A northwoods living
Novak’s one-room home is 16 by 20 feet, what city folks these days might call a tiny house. It has no running water. There’s a hand pump outside a few steps, an outhouse, of course, and a sauna shed, too. “I don’t have to worry about pipes freezing,” Novak quipped. “It’s an Armstrong pump.” A big barrel wood stove heats the place when it’s cold, and Novak has a few seasons worth of fuel stacked neatly outside. There’s a gas range for cooking, a bed in the corner and a small TV that gets three stations over the airwaves. “Why would you need any more than that? Everything on TV is all so damned depressing anyway,” Novak said.
HUNTING: Page 4
D ec em b er 2021
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Photos by Sarah Nasello / The Forum
Sarah's Simply Savory Blinis, or small Russian pancakes, are the perfect finger food for your next social gathering.
Make holiday party season savory Russian pancakes are easy to make and versatile Home with the T he holiday party season is just around the corner, and I am already thinking about recipes for entertaining. These Simply Savory Blinis are delightful little finger foods that are easy to make, delicious and versatile enough to serve with a large variety of toppings. These diminutive Russian pancakes require just basic pantry staples to make, including flour, salt, baking powder, milk, egg and melted butter. You can mix everything together by hand with ease, using just a whisk and a wooden spoon, and you can even enhance the batter by adding fresh herbs, spices or cheese. Once the batter is mixed, I melt some butter in a moderately hot pan and use a small scoop or tablespoon to drop the batter into small rounds. Using butter instead of oil or cooking spray enhances the flavor and helps create the wonderfully crisp edges that are this pancake’s signature. Because of their small size, the blinis will cook quickly, so I keep the burner on a mediumlow heat setting to ensure that they don’t burn.
Lost Italian BY SARAH & TONY NASELLO
Columnist I let the blinis cook for about one and a half to two minutes and keep an eye on them to watch for bubbles to form into holes before flipping them over. If you prefer your blinis to be lightly golden, flip them as soon as the holes begin to appear; if you prefer them more darkly golden brown, wait until the bubbles have expanded some before turning. Once the blinis have been turned, they need only cook for another 60 to 90 seconds, just until they are golden brown on the bottom. I place the cooked blinis on a baking sheet or plate lined with a paper towel to soak up any extra butter for a minute or two, and they can be served either warm or at room temperature with whatever toppings you desire. The blinis can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days or frozen for up to three months,
and I will often make a double batch just to have extra on hand. Traditionally, blinis are served with caviar, smoked salmon and creme fraiche, a French cultured cream that is similar to American sour cream (which is what I typically use). However, I like to create a build-yourown blini bar and serve these charming little pancakes stacked high on a platter with an assortment of toppings for my guests to choose from.
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December 2021
How to help a loved one with dementia B
ehavior must be one of the most difficult pieces of dementia, especially for families. When I was a nurse’s aide and family would be visiting their mom and she was having a rough day, she may resist care and swear a string of words that would totally shock the family! “I didn’t know Mom even knew those words!” Some tips that I have learned over the years are these: ► Don’t say “you can’t” or “shouldn’t;”
The Family Circle BY LAUREL HED
LSW GCM, works for Security First, SBC Adult Care Management Services
instead say “let’s try it this way.” ► Don’t say “remember when,” but instead reminisce. “I remember what a good cook you were.” ► Don’t argue, just agree. They are no longer able to reason
so divert and distract. Remember: we are the healthy ones, they have the brain disease. ► Don’t try to force, but offer reinforcement, and always help them feel in control, not controlled. Whenever they feel heard and
respected, they will be more willing to cooperate. We all want to feel heard and respected. We want to feel encouraged and reassured. Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t take that away from a person. Also, using music therapy can assist with behaviors in ways beyond belief. What was their favorite kind of music? Did they play any instruments? Download some of their favorite music onto an iPod, use soft headphones and watch
SARAH’S SIMPLY SAVORY BLINIS
Sarah Nasello / The Forum
The blinis cook on one side until holes begin to form in the batter, then are flipped over and cooked until golden brown, about three minutes from start to finish.
ITALIAN From Page 2
In my recipe, I provide a list of additional garnishes as inspiration, including
more humble toppings like corn salsa or cheese. Their small size makes the edges of the blini curl up as they cook, which gives them the perfect shape for holding in the toppings so feel free to get
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creative. Whether you dress them up or eat them just as they are, blinis go best with bubbles, so be sure to serve
Ask
the
1 cup all-purpose flour 3/4 tsp. kosher salt 1/2 tsp. baking powder 1 cup milk (whole or 2%) 1 large egg 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted 1 Tbsp. unsalted butter, plus more as needed for frying In a small bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking powder; set aside. Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, egg and melted butter until combined. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and switch to a wooden spoon or spatula to combine the mixture until fully incorporated. The batter
them with your favorite Champagne, prosecco or sparkling water. Simple, elegant and delicious, build your own fun this party season with my
Simply Savory Blinis. Cheers! “Home with the Lost Italian” is a weekly column written by Sarah Nasello featuring recipes by her husband, Tony
Laurel Hed, LSW GCM, works for Security First, SBC Adult Care Management Services.
smoked fish) with sour cream or creme fraiche and chives. ► Corn salsa atop a small smear of sour cream or creme fraiche. ► A slice of good blue cheese drizzled with honey. ► Fig jam topped with soft cheese like brie or chevre. ► Olive tapenade. To store: Store in an airtight container stacked between layers of wax paper. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw to room temperature and reheat in the oven (350 degrees) or serve at room temperature. Sarah’s tip: For lighter colored blinis, flip the pancakes over just as holes begin to form on the surface; for darker blinis, let the holes expand for 30 to 60 seconds and then flip.
Nasello. The couple owned Sarello’s in Moorhead and lives in Fargo with their son, Giovanni. Readers can reach them at sarahnasello@gmail. com.
Dermatochalasis is most commonly found in patients over 50 years of age, and involves excess skin of the upper eyelids.
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will appear lumpy, which is normal. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large pan over mediumlow heat. Use a tablespoon or small scoop to drop the batter onto the hot pan. Cook until small bubbles form on the surface, about 1.5 to 2 minutes; flip and continue cooking until golden brown on the bottom, about 1 minute more. Place cooked blinis on the paper towel-lined baking sheet and use a new paper towel to wipe the hot pan clean. Repeat the process until all the batter is used. Makes 20-24 blinis. Serve the blini warm or at room temperature with the following topping suggestions: ► Caviar with sour cream or creme fraiche and chives. ► Smoked salmon (or any
hands and feet as though he was dancing. When the song was over the staff asked him what memories that brought to him and the dam opened. He talked of his childhood and love for music. The bands he played in and his favorite singers. Just amazing! So, be gentle, respectful, use kind facial expressions and welcoming body language and try a little music on the side.
What can I do with my droopy eyelids?
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the magic happen. Use a positive approach because for many this will be very new and could be sort of scary. There was a gentleman who was advanced in his dementia, as a younger man he used to go to dances and sing all the time. He had not communicated in a very long time, always sitting in his wheelchair with his eyes closed and head in his hands. They put the headphones on him, and his eyes popped open, he started to sing and move his
What are the symptoms of dermatochalasis? Symptoms can vary depending on the severity of the condition. The most common symptoms include brow ache, eye fatigue and reduced peripheral vision. Many patients will notice their eyelid skin resting on their eyelashes, and may see their eyelid or lashes interfering with their upper visual field. Many patients also report their eyes get tired later in the day, and they struggle with reading and other tasks due to fatigue. Many of these patients will also have horizontal wrinkles across their forehead from constantly lifting their brow to help hold their eyes open wider. What treatment options are available? The excess lid skin can be removed in a minor outpatient procedure called a blepharoplasty. During the procedure, a wedge of skin is removed from the upper lids, and the lids are sutured back together. Occasionally during this surgery, the patient’s upper eyelid muscles are also tightened to assist with lifting the lids. There are rarely any complications and patients enjoy brighter vision and less fatigue after the surgery. Where do I start? If you are having symptoms of dermatochalasis, your first step is to see your optometrist for a comprehensive eye exam. If your dermatochalasis is significant enough, we will have you perform a peripheral vision. We will then send all your information to a lid surgeon, who you will see to discuss treatment options. In many cases, ance may cover a portion of the surgery.
De ce mbe r 2 02 1
4 HUNTING From Page 1
There’s a 2017 calendar on the door still, next to a reminder note for next year’s dental appointment. Dusty CDs and DVDs and piles of outdoor and gardening magazines cover much of the “kitchen” table. A few old buck antlers,
trophies from long-past seasons, are stashed in the corner. A few mounted fish adorn the walls. Novak worked the usual northwoods jobs over the years, including as a logger and then on a sand and gravel crew. He trapped and sold furs — beaver, otter, fisher and pine marten — until the bottom dropped out of the fur market and prices plummeted. He
picked wild blueberries and sold them to grocery stores in town. He cut and sold balsam boughs and firewood for a spell, too. Novak formally “retired” in 1995, meaning that’s the point he stopped trying to earn a living and focused on the living part. “It doesn’t cost much to live up here. I get by pretty cheap,” he said. It’s not that he doesn’t
like people, Novak said, just that he found it hard always trying to get along. “You can’t satisfy people. So I said the hell with it, and here I am,” he said, adding that he doesn’t consider himself a hermit. “I get visitors … just not as many as I used to. Everyone is dying off.” His last car broke down in 2005 and he hasn’t driven one since, although he does
have a four-wheel ATV that can get him the mile or so down the road to another 43-acre parcel he owns and hunts on. He keeps mowed trails on his land that attract deer, grouse and other wildlife and make for easy walking. He has planted hundreds of apple, plum and pine trees along the trails.
HUNTING: Page 9
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Art Beat
Winter 2021
Quarterly Regional Guide
A Magical Medora Christmas returns to Park Rapids
The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation (TRMF) has announced a traveling holiday favorite is going back on the road. A Magical Medora Christmas is coming to Park Rapids Thursday, Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Area High School Auditorium. Park Rapids will be one stop for the cast of eight stars from Medora’s past and present traveling across North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Minnesota for performances in November and December in 22 communities to help audiences get into the holiday spirit. A Magical Medora Christmas is a
family-friendly holiday show that’s full of spirit, humor and expertly-performed music audiences have grown to expect from Medora. The 2021 tour is anchored by veteran Medora entertainer Bill Sorensen. “The response to our tour has been overwhelmingly positive, and extremely rewarding,” Sorensen says of A Magical Medora Christmas. “This year, folks are in for a lot of fun. We’re bringing back some of our most well-received songs, and adding a lot of new material - all performed by some of the very best talent Medora has ever offered.”
Show anchor Bill Sorenson and Taylor Leet, a member of the 2021 Medora Musical cast, are among the cast who will entertain in A Magical Medora Christmas Thursday, Dec. 16 at the Park Rapids Area High School auditorium. The cast includes five cast members fresh off the 2021 Medora Musical: Taylor Leet of Bismarck and J’Kobe Wallace of Minot, as well as Jessica Bradish, Travis Smith and Adam Vogel. Medora Musical alumni Chad Willow and Amberly Rosen round out the talented cast.
Tickets are on sale now for all tour locations. The Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation reminds ticket-buyers that Medora.com is the only official ticketing location for A Magical Medora Christmas.
MEDORA: Next page
Heartland Concert Association concert series returns After a lengthy hiatus due to a pandemic that shut down live performances, Heartland Concert Association returns to the stage with five shows for all ages and a variety of entertainment. Season tickets are now available for adult, student and family memberships. The season opens with Duo Baldo, a violin and piano musical duo who combine virtuosic performances, theatri-
cal humor and pop culture. Duo Baldo made their debut with tenor Andre Bocelli. Violinist Brad Repp performs on a 1736 Testore violin and pianist Aldo Gentileschi performs on any piano he can find. Mark your calendars for Monday, Feb. 7. The Chipper Experience is a show for the whole family. Chipper Lowell will entertain with his endless barrage of unusual thing-a-ma-bobs
and gadgets out of his prop trunk creating a wonderful evening of high-energy laughs and amazement. This show is on the schedule Sunday, March 6. Not content drawing on one type of music influence, Barron Ryan, a virtuoso pianist, will perform music genres ranging from Mozart to Michael Jackson. His classical training shines through a musical adventure that is vintage yet fresh on
Sunday, March 13. Those who enjoy vocal performances won’t want to miss seeing Ball in the House. This a cappella group has been entertaining audiences for over 18 years. Ball in the House makes “music that’ll move ya” with classics like My Girl, Stayin’ Alive, YMCA, Sign Sealed Delivered, That’s the Way I Like It and many
CONCERT: Next page
The violin and piano musical duo, Duo Baldo, will entertain at the opening concert of the new Heartland Concert series Feb. 7. Season tickets are available now.
ARTS CALENDAR DECEMBER Dec. 6 Middle School Choir Concert 7 pm at Century School Dec. 12 Holiday music, story time in Downtown Park Rapids Dec. 13 Park Rapids Area High School Choir Concert 7 pm at the Area High School Auditorium Dec. 16 A Magical Medora Christmas
7:30 pm at the Area High School Auditorium Dec. 22 & 23 Jolabokaflod! at the Park Rapids Area Library JANUARY Jan. 1-Feb. 28 Snow Time to Read at the Park Rapids Area Library Jan. 15 & 16 Night In/Morning In at Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery
Jan. 20 Grades 6-12 Combined Band Concert at Century School Jan. 24 Mass Band Concert (Grades 6-12) 7 pm at Century Middle School gymnasium FEBRUARY Feb. 2 Deadline to register for Community Ed trip to see “Footloose” Feb. 7 Heartland Concert Association: Duo Baldo
Heartland Concert Association DON’T WAIT TO BE ASKED. JOIN NOW!
Feb. 22 Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning series starts Feb. 24 Zorongp Flamenco Dance Theatre performance MARCH March 1 Park Rapids Sculpture Trail sponsor commitment deadline March 6 Heartland Concert Association: The Chipper Experience
March 13 Heartland Concert Association: Barron Ryan March 20 Heartland Concert Association: Ball in the House March 25 Park Rapids Sculpture Trail entry submission APRIL April 27 Heartland Concert Association: Remember When Rock Was Young (Elton John tribute)
HEARTLAND CONCERT SERIES FOR 2022 MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Duo Baldo SUNDAY, MARCH 6 Chipper Experience SUNDAY, MARCH 13 Barron Ryan SUNDAY, MARCH 20 Ball In The House WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 Crocodile Rockin’
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
Library will sponsor dance theatre production
A scene from “Casita,” a work inspired by true stories of homeless women, choreographed and directed by Susana di Palma.
The Park Rapids Area Library will sponsor a new production of Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theatre at 6 p.m. Thursday Feb. 24 at the Armory Arts and Events Center. The program was originally scheduled for September 2020, but postponed due to the pandemic. Inspired by true stories of homeless women, the poignant work, “Casita,” premiered in 2019 at the Lab Theater in Minneapolis. This flamenco duet, danced by Zorongo’s Founder/
Artistic Director Susana di Palma and Jeanne d’Arc Casa (Puerto Rico), features original jazz/blues music by keyboardist Billy Steele, gospel singer Tonia Hughes and flamenco guitarist Ben Abrahamson. As part of di Palma’s 2017 McKnight Fellowship for Choreography, she was in residency at Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography (MANCC) in Tallahassee, FL, to further the development of this new contemporary flamenco
Plans under way for Sculpture Trail in 2022 Have you found yourself admiring a sculpture on a Park Rapids downtown street corner or in Red Bridge Park? The Park Rapids Sculpture Trail is a project of the City Arts and Culture Advisory Commission and made possible by the sculptors who enter and bring their artworks to the city every spring and businesses and nonprofits who generously provide funding. The sculpture trail started in the spring of 2019 with six sculptures installed in Red Bridge Park joining the Tube Dude which was added to the park in 2015. Grants from the Park Rapids Community Fund, Minnesota Power, Region 2 Arts Council and others covered start-up costs including the concrete pads and lighting along the Heartland Trail in the park. The project meets three goals and objectives of the city’s Arts and Culture Plan: ► promoting the creation and inclusion of art in public spaces, making it accessible to all. ► making the city a regional destination for unique arts and
Bemidji artist Tim Nelsen titled his sculpture Mechanical Guppy. He created it using recycled steel, retired tools and recycled brass. The sculpture is located at 2nd and Main in downtown Park Rapids. cultural experiences. It can be expected that art in an unexpected location will convey to park visitors and trail users that Park Rapids has much to offer as an arts community. ► adding an element of creative placemaking as an approach to improving quality of life and
economic opportunity. In 2019, the Sculpture Trail was extended downtown with two additional artworks at 2nd Street and Main Avenue. In 2021 13 entries were sponsored and installed. The public is reminded the 13 sculptures they’ve seen and
enjoyed are for sale. Artist contact information, sculpture materials and cost of each piece can be found at https://www. heartlandarts.org/ pages/sculpture-trail/ sculpture-trail.php. Planning is already underway for 2022 with the number of sculptures that will be installed depending only on the number of sponsors willing to participate. The Arts and Culture Advisory Commission has agreed to ask sponsors for $550 for 2022, a $50 increase. Of this amount $500 will go to the sculptor you are sponsoring and $50 will be reserved for additional Sculpture Trail expenses, including printing brochures and signs on all the sculptures. The deadline for artists to enter will be March 25 and a Sculpture Trail opening with a guided walk is planned Saturday, May 21. For information on sponsoring or entering a sculpture in 2022, please contact commission members Lu Ann Hurd-Lof at luann47@gmail.ocm or Laura Grisamore at lauraleephoto3@ gmail.com.
duet. MANCC is the only national center for choreography in the world located in a major research institution and operates from one of the premiere dance facilities in the United States. The center is within The Florida State University School of Dance. It offers unparalleled opportunities for contemporary choreographers to hone their artistic practice and develop new work inside a creative community.
CONCERT From previous page
more. Come get your feet stomping Sunday, March 20. The concert series closes the 2022 season with Remember When Rock Was Young. Transport yourself to the days of big hair, outrageous clothes and Superstardom. Craig A. Meyers takes you on a rock n’ roll trip with the greatest of all-time performers – Sir Elton John! Get out your feather boas and join in an evening of music from the Rocket Man Wednesday, April 27. If you are looking for the perfect gift for the holidays – give the gift of music. Membership packets are available at Beagle and Wolf Books in Park Rapids, Northwinds Café and Grocery in Nevis,and Thrifty White Drug in Walker. For more information, visit www.heartlandconcertassociation.org. All concerts are held in the Park Rapids High School Auditorium at 7 p.m.
MEDORA From previous page
Purchasing tickets from any ticket seller not linked directly to medora.com runs a high risk of receiving fraudulent tickets. The Medora Musical is proudly presented by the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, a public non-profit organization formed in 1986 by a multi-million dollar gift from Harold Schafer and his family most famously known as the founders of the Gold Seal Company, the maker of Mr. Bubble, Glass Wax and other nationally-known household products. For Harold, the beauty and history of Medora and the Badlands was just too much to let disappear with the sands of time so he made it his life’s work to save it for generations to come. He began his labor of love in 1962, revitalized what we know today as the Medora Musical in 1965. Harold continued giving to the historic cow town frequented by Theodore Roosevelt, the Marquis de Mores and many-a rough-and-tumble westerner until his passing in 2001. Today, the TRMF strives to accomplish its mission to preserve, present and serve all that Harold loved about Medora by operating history, education, entertainment businesses that allow the traveling public to fully enjoy the beautiful North Dakota Badlands. Through the contributions and teamwork of a board of directors, a full-time staff of 50, 300 seasonal employees, over 600 seasonal volunteers and financial backing from generous supporters, TRMF connects people to Medora for positive, life-changing experiences.
Art Beat Quarterly Regional Guide
Nemeth Art Center hosted a kids workshop with artist Rachel Collier on the Saturday of Art Leap weekend. They enjoyed creating tufted images.
Nemeth Art Center season featured exciting contemporary artists and art By David Welle NAC Board Chair The doors closed Oct. 2 on the Nemeth Art Center’s 2021 season. In keeping with our core mission, the Nemeth highlighted three Minnesota-grown artists at different stages in their careers, and all with substantial places in the contemporary arts scene. Our season opened in May with a career survey from T.L. Solien titled See the Sky, which was guest curated by Christopher Atkins, former curator of exhibitions at the Minnesota Museum of American Art. The show included over 40 years of paintings and sculpture from the beloved Fargo-Moorhead born, Madison-based artist and instructor. The work on display covered an exhaustive range of subject matter, but ultimately related back to Solien’s efforts to depict and work through his own autobiographical narrative. He succeeded in deftly meshing historical, pop culture and personal references into images that provoked empathy, and occasionally outrage, in viewers. Solien’s career gained traction throughout the 1980s90s while he and his family were based at their Pelican Rapids homestead. We were excited to host an artist with an international collector base and national reputation as an instructor of painting at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It made for an especially captivating start to our season. In mid-summer, we became the first institution to show the full Minnesota portion of the 2007 Paris/Minnesota series by Minneapolis-based photographer, Alec Soth. Commissioned by W Magazine and later picked up by Magnum Photos, these images feature area teens styled in high fashion while occupying their own domains in the Hubbard County region. This body of work tells a complicated and
As part of our commitment to engaging the local community, this year we held several Art Explorer workshops for children with professional artists. These included a session on self-portrait painting and collaging with T.L. Solien, and playful experimentation with wool felting technique led by Rachel Collier, as well as a nature photography workshop led by our friends at the Itasca Biological Station in Itasca State Park. We also hosted two artist’s receptions where over a hundred community members got to meet, ask questions and mingle with the artists as well as likeminded friends over drinks and snacks. We were thrilled at the positive feedback from the audience. Looking ahead to 2022, our season is already taking shape. We’re fortunate to have a major exhibition of new works by internationally recognized painter Dana Schutz, paired with her husband, sculptor Ryan Johnson. They will Barry Simonson helped prep the outdoor display be traveling to join us from their studios in Brooklyn, for an at Nemeth Art Center as part of Art Leap weekend audience reception as they have family ties right here in activities. the northland. We will also be presenting Mary Ann Papapoignant story about self-presentation from subjects who nek-Miller with a show of mixed media, politically charged are often overlooked by the fashion and art worlds. Having works based in printmaking techniques, a solo show of cethe opportunity to host this exhibition and share it with the ramic and painting installations from Ginny Sims, and more to be announced. local community was extremely fulfilling. The Nemeth Art Center galleries at the historic Hubbard Alongside Alec Soth, we paired emerging Minneapolis-based mixed media artist, Rachel Collier exhibiting an County Courthouse are open to the public free of charge, extensive body of new original work in our galleries. Thursdays through Saturdays, May through September. Though she was trained primarily as a painter and film- Our goal is to bring highly accomplished contemporary artmaker, Collier’s work has always been driven by pushing ists with regional ties and exciting vision to join in the vimaterial boundaries and endless experimentation. Her brant artistic community of our area. The Nemeth is dreamy, escapist landscape paintings, tufted textiles and carving a place for Park Rapids in the contemporary art site-specific sculptural works were the perfect contrast to world. Our 2022 season begins May 5. We hope to see you there! Soth’s more wintry introspective photographs.
Art Beat
Show some love; get a sticker The Park Rapids Wayfinding Committee made up of members of the community and facilitated by Heartland Lakes Development Commission has been working to provide an opportunity to complement the brand of Heartland Lakes and create a unique identity for Park Rapids within that brand. Heartland Lakes is about the lakes and experiences that draw people to live and vacation here and Park Rapids is at the center or Heart of the area. How better to depict that identity than with art-
work that includes the lakes in the shape of a heart? Committee mem-
ber Liz Stone created a design that is now available as a sticker. The stickers can be
found at Aunt Belle’s Confectionary, Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery, Enjoy, Molly Poppin’s Gourmet Snacks and Trading Post for a $5 donation. Ultimately, the expectation is to commission a sculpture and place it in a prominent location to attract visitors and travelers to stop for a photo and create a starting point to visit all that Park Rapids has to offer. The Wayfinding Committee hopes you will proudly display your sticker to show your support of this effort.
NLOC completes 3 ambitious projects Summer 2021 was a busy time for the Northern Light Opera Company (NLOC) as they planned three projects and all were completed successfully.
Head downtown for holiday music, story time
Park Rapids Century School choir and band students will be brightening the holiday season for holiday shoppers from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12. They will sing and play at Bella Caffè starting at 3 and move to Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery for story time and more music at 4.
Library plans winter events
Look for these and other events at the Park Rapids Area Library this winter: ► “Take and Make” craft kits for adults (on or around the second Monday of the month) ► Jolabokaflod!: Inspired by the traditional “Christmas Book Flood” in Iceland in which people snuggle up with books and chocolate on December 24, the library will give out chocolate with every checkout on Wednesday, Dec. 22 and Thursday, Dec. 23 ► “Snow Time To Read” Winter Reading Program for Adults Jan. 1 through Feb. 28 ► Book Folding Workshop: Create a heart shape with the pages of a discarded hardcover book - sometime in January.
Community ed offers winter respite
Park Rapids Community Education staff are working on the Winter Brochure so many of classes and trips are “in the works.” Anyone who would like to share a hobby with others is invited to contact Community Education about teaching a class. A trip to see Footloose at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre is planned March 2. Registration deadline is Wednesday, Feb. 2. Stay in touch with what’s happening on the Community Education website www.parkrapidscomed.com and Facebook page (Park Rapids Community Ed) for the most up to date information on classes and instructors or call 218237-6600. Always learning. That’s Community Ed!
Workbench, New Play Workshop
An inaugural project of NLOC held June 12-18, Workbench offered aspiring writers, led by acknowledged playwrights, in creating 10-minute original plays that were read/enacted by NLOC performers for a delighted audience. All involved expressed hope that this workshop would become an annual event.
NLOKids Theater Camp
NLOKids Theater Camp is NLOC’s collaborative project with the Indigenous community of Pine Point. It was held June 21-Aug. 16. “A Whistle in the Dark” was the title of the original musical inspired by Elder Mike Swan’s storytelling about Nanaboozhoo and the Wendigo. Participants shared great memories and family and friends enjoyed the musical at the Pine Point Community Center and the Armory Arts and Events Center.
Plan for Night In/Morning In
‘Pippin’
NLOC’s Production of Pippin was performed at the Armory Arts and Events Center July 29-Aug.7. Virtual auditions were held in April, choral rehearsals began in May and July was spent building sets, rehearsing lines and learning dance steps. The joy of again performing live on stage was apparent in the enthusiastic and professional
HIGH NOTES
Kids participating in theater camp created an original musical titled “A Whistle in the Dark” and performed it at Pine Point and in Park Rapids. fun shared by cast, crew and musicians and the expressions
of delight shared by audiences. It was good to be back!
Beagle and Wolf Books & Bindery’s popular winter event for book lovers will again be offered twice. The nearly identical sessions will be at the store at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15 and at 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 16. To avoid overcrowding, participants are asked to make reservations (no charge). Call 218237-2665 or email sally@beagleandwolf. com to reserve a spot. Ask your friends and book club members to come, too. Night In/Morning In will have everything you love about the event: ► Recommendations of great books! ► The company of other book lovers! ► Prizes! ► Goody bags filled with bookish swag! ► Refreshments! Scheduling is subject to COVID, of course. If necessary, the event will be virtual, Saturday night only.
Proud sponsor of Noon Noon Hour Concerts Leap 2022 2021 and Art Leap 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 States General Fund.
www.heartlandarts.org Facebook: parkrapidsarts
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December 2021
Astronomer find solar system with right-angled planets
P
lanets and stars form within collapsing clouds of dust and gas. As gravity crunches the material into a smaller space, the cloud’s spin increases, and it flattens out. At the center, where the greatest amount of material is concentrated, BOB gravity forges KING hydrogen into Astro Bob helium to liberate energy, and a star is born. Planets spring from the remaining gas and dust in the disk and orbit in the equatorial plane of their parent star. Nearly all of the 4,868 extra-solar planets discovered to date circle their suns like runners on a circular race course. Just the other day someone asked me if there were any planets that go around the poles of a star instead the equator. At the time I wasn’t aware of any. But I’m happy to share that an international team, led by astronomers from the University of Geneva (Switzerland), recently announced the discovery of planets that orbit perpendicular to one another around the star HD 3167 in the constellation Pisces. The innermost planet, named HD 3167b, is not much bigger than the Earth, with a diameter of 13,460 miles (21,662 km). It orbits an orange dwarf — a cooler and less massive star than the sun — within the star’s
Contributed / NASA, JPL-Caltech
Our solar system (and many others) formed when an interstellar cloud of gas and dust collapsed under the force of gravity. As it compressed it also spun up and flattened out. Planets congealed from clumps of material within the disk. equatorial plane in just 23 hours. That short period means it’s incredibly close to its host sun. Intense radiation has probably stripped away its atmosphere, rendering the orb uninhabitable. The system’s other planets, HD 3167c and d, are larger and orbit in 29.8 days and 8.5 days, respectively. But instead of joining their sibling on the same plane they pass over the star’s poles, nearly 90 degrees above the equator. HD 3167c in particular stands out, with an inclination of 102° to HD 3167b. Seen from “b,” the other two planets would travel up and down in the night sky instead of from right to left as the planets do
in our sky. HD 3167b and c were found by the transit method, where astronomers measure a dip in a star’s light as the planet passes in front of it. HD 3167d betrayed itself by its gravitational tug on the host star, which makes it wobble slightly to and fro. The smaller the planet the more difficult it is to detect no matter the method. Critical to the new discovery was a special instrument called Echelle Spectrograph for Rocky Exoplanetand Stable Spectroscopic Observations (ESPRESSO), which can measure the minute tugs a planet exerts on a star. Although the
HUNTING From Page 4
Novak depends on the kindness of a few friends and neighbors to get him to his annual doctor and dental checkups or to bring him fresh food on occasion. In return, he shares crops from his garden or maybe a cleaned and packaged grouse breast. He stocks up on provisions in town a few times each year. Most everything else he grows or shoots on his own. Conservation officers occasionally add to his larder by dropping off an illegally killed deer. This year’s drought cut into his sweet-corn crop. But his melons, onions and carrots did well with him carrying water from the pump. A late-May hard freeze crippled Novak’s apple crop, though, nipping the buds. “It’s the first time I’ve ever had a total failure for apples,” he noted. His last dog died eight years ago and he’s not planning to get
CONTRIBUTED / BERYL NOVACK
A 10-year-old Beryl Novak poses with the buck he shot in 1960. another. “I didn’t feel it was right to have a dog and not have a way to get him to the vet,” he said. “It’s bad enough for people to have to take me to the doctor’s, but it’s too much to ask someone else to take my dog to the vet.”
Simplifying life
At his annual checkup in August in Hibbing, doctors proclaimed Novak perfectly fit. He takes no medications and goes years between suffering a cold or the flu because he doesn’t mix in crowds.
And Novak noted that he has been perfectly situated to guard against the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’ve been social distancing out here for 20 years,” he said. Sometimes he goes weeks, even months, without leaving his home area. During one stretch between October 2020 and February
planetary trio had been detected several years earlier, when the team re-observed the system with ESPRESSO they were able nail down the orbit of the smallest, HD 3167b. They discovered that it circled around the star’s equator perpendicular to the plane of its polar-orbiting siblings. So what would cause planets to orbit at nearly right angles to each other? Remember that HD 3167b is on a very short leash, circling ultra-close to its host sun. So close in fact that the star’s gravity has forced it to maintain its alignment since birth. The other planets, which orbit farther away,
2021, he went 134 days without leaving — more than four months between trips to Cook, just 25 miles away. “I didn’t have any reason I had to go,” he said. He hasn’t shaved or had a haircut since 2001, when he grew it out to spite his mom who had been nagging him about his appearance. She’s long since passed, but he still hasn’t relented. “I don’t have to live to suit anyone else,” he said. His shoulderlength hair “falls out a lot. It doesn’t get that long.” Novak cut off his landline service in 1995, tired of telemarketers, and went 20 years without a telephone. “There wasn’t anyone left calling me who I wanted to talk to,”
Andy Froelich 218-255-5080
“Astro” Bob King is a freelance writer for the Duluth News Tribune. Read more of his work at duluthnewstribune.com/astrobob.
Novak said. “People would say, ‘But we can’t get ahold of you,’ and I’d say, ‘That’s the point.’” In spring 2015, a neighbor whose hunting land he keeps watch on gave him an inexpensive cellphone to report problems on. ”He got me one new one since. And he’s still paying the bills,” Novak said. It’s definitely not a smartphone. He has no computer, no email and no Facebook. It’s as if the last 25 years of technology have passed him by. And it’s clear he doesn’t care. As long as he has his rifle and shotgun, and is fit to walk in the woods, he’s happy. Novak keeps a
tattered, dog-eared paperback of Henry David Thoreau’s essays on the virtues of selfreliant, backwoods living near his bed. It’s become a sort of guidebook for his lifestyle. It might even be in his pocket on Saturday for the deer opener. “If people would read what Thoreau wrote in the 1800s it might help them today,” Novak said. “Simplify your life. That’s what I’ve done. … People out there working to make more money are just chasing their tails.” John Myers reports on the outdoors, environment and natural resources for the Duluth News Tribune. He can be reached at jmyers@ duluthnews.com.
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are less strongly bound. The team suspects that gravitational interaction with another yet-to-be-discovered planet gradually misaligned their orbits, nudging them from equatorial paths to polar ones. This is the first cockeyed planetary system we know of. And as you might suspect, the search is now on for the suspected companion. In the meantime, when I’m asked about planets in perpendicular orbits I can happily nod and offer an example.
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DAVID SAMSON / THE FORUM
Some of the easiest houseplants to own are, from left, Peperomia, Succulents, Arrowhead plant and peace lily.
The no-fail recipe for houseplant success
D
o you have a green thumb? Hopefully your thumb isn’t actually green, but the age-old term simply means you’re giving plants what they need to thrive. Plants’ needs are pretty basic, including air, light, water and nutrition. Everyone can learn to provide what houseplants need, making green thumbs possible for everyone. With a can-do attitude and a few guidelines, anyone can enjoy success with plants. Here’s a recipe that, if followed carefully, is guaranteed to help anyone grow houseplants. ► Begin with healthy, well-branched houseplants purchased from a garden center or
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Growing Together BY DON KINZLER Gardening Columnist florist, or well-grown plants gifted from friends or relatives. Spindly, weak plants are difficult to nurse back to health and can be discouraging. Begin your houseplant journey with good stock. ► Garden centers are filled with exciting new varieties of houseplants, and improvements on old standbys. Among the most successful types are heartleaf philodendron, cacti
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and succulents, dracaena, snake plant, pothos, spider plant, peperomia, peace lily and arrowhead plant. ► Plants that are purchased small might need repotting into a slightly larger
container right away. As plants get larger, repotting once every two to three years is average. Most plants enjoy being slightly pot-bound, rather than wallowing in a toolarge potful of soil. ► Plants will grow in pots made of clay, plastic, metal and ceramics, but traditional unglazed terra cotta clay pots are more tolerant of watering mistakes, because air and water can exchange through the pot’s sides.
► Top-quality potting mix is essential. Inexpensive bargain mixes are heavy, poorly aerated and contribute to overwatering problems. Use high-quality products like MiracleGro Potting Mix, or mixes recommended by your locally owned garden centers. Because these mixes are usually sold dry, add water to the bag and mix well the day before using to create a mellow, workable material.
► Skip the pebbles, stones or other material in the bottom of the pot. Although they were standard practice years ago, research has shown these materials cause a layer of change that impedes the drainage they were intended to provide. Best drainage occurs when a pot is filled top to bottom with potting mix. There’s no need for a coffee filter or diaper lining the inside.
KINZLER: Page 11
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December 2021
Focus on competency instead of age D
ear Carol: I’m a new reader so maybe you’ve written about this topic, but I’ll ask anyway. My mom’s 78 and my dad’s 82. They seem to be doing great. For example, they recently updated their legal documents, and they’re open with me about their end-of-life wishes. They tell me that if one of them dies, I should help the survivor manage their finances. This is all good and I’m grateful, but I read so many articles about adult children missing red flags about parental health that I constantly wonder if I should already be doing more. How do I know? — DL. Dear DL: You’re right that I’ve addressed this, but I’ve received several similar questions
Minding Our Elders BY CAROL BRADLEY BURSACK Columnist within the last couple of weeks, so we’ll take another look. The articles you’re referring to are probably about the current research stating that early signs of dementia may show up in the way older adults manage money. Therefore, adult children are urged to watch for unpaid bills and missed routine payments as a sign that their parents are losing ground cognitively.
KINZLER From Page 10
► When potting a houseplant, fill the pot to the rim with soil mix, which will settle when watered. If this “headspace” between the pot’s rim and the soil surface is greater than about one-half inch, chances of overwatering and other problems increase. When I’ve observed failing houseplants, I’ve often noticed a headspace that’s too deep. ► Study plant tags or search online for the light requirements of your plants, which can be divided into high, medium and low light. During winter, when days are short and sunshine is weak, most plants appreciate all the light they can get, including
Things to consider: While it’s a fact that nearly everyone will lose some memory capacity with age, there are different types of memory that allow some to compensate better than others. Age-related memory loss doesn’t mean that people have dementia, but it’s true that a significant number are headed that way. This makes them vulnerable to financial abuse. Therefore, how people
some direct sunshine. Summer’s intense sun usually requires filtering. ► When watering houseplants, apply enough to wet the entire soil ball so a small amount seeps out the bottom drainage hole. Then let the soil dry considerably before the next watering, which pulls necessary oxygen inward. When a finger inserted up to the first joint feels dry or barely moist at the tip, the plant is ready to be watered again. If in doubt about whether to water, wait a day or two. More plants are killed by keeping them too wet, than too dry. ► I’m often asked how often houseplants should be watered. Watering on a set schedule is difficult. Instead, schedule certain days to check the plants, but water only if needed. Frequency
manage their money is currently considered a good guideline for their competency levels overall. What’s seldom mentioned is the fact that age shouldn’t be the determining criteria for when assistance is needed — competency should. So, yes, since age is a major risk for cognitive problems, families need to be aware. Yet, individually, people age differently. Reaching a certain age does not make anyone suddenly incompetent. You’re fortunate, DL. Not all older adults are as realistic as your parents. Some refuse to even discuss their finances due to lifelong distrust or current denial. Others can become
varies by size of pot, type of plant, amount of light, indoor humidity and season of the year. Overwatering is a common killer of houseplants, which means the soil is kept continually too soggy. ► Rainwater, melted snow and reverse osmosis water are all good choices for houseplants. Water purified by city water systems using ozone is better than chlorinated water. Avoid using water that runs through a mechanical softener, because its high salt content can damage plants. ► Fertilizer is for healthy plants. If plants are in a downward spiral, poor nutrition is rarely the cause, and fertilizer isn’t medicine to revive sick plants. Fertilize houseplants once a month March through September when daylight is long. Plants
paranoid because they are already showing cognitive deterioration. From what you’ve said here, there seems to be no evidence of either with your parents. It sounds as if they are a close couple and will automatically cover for one another, which is normal, so watch for an unusual amount of one of them stepping in to aid the other’s memory. Be careful not to jump on every small thing. That’s not only annoying but hurtful, and something as common as stress or a bad cold can cause anyone to slip a bit. Simply be aware of how they seem overall. If you notice bills not being paid, medications being missed or risky driving
behavior, talk with them about making some adjustments. Listen carefully without judging. Then, if necessary, gently let them know that you’d like to be more involved with their finances and their health. For now, your parents are aging as we’d all like to age, so celebrate their great health and make the most of it! 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.
DAVID SAMSON / THE FORUM
To see if a plant needs watering, insert a finger into the soil up to the first joint. require less during the short days of October through February. ► Above all, enjoy your plants, give them intentional care, and they’ll respond like
a well-cared-for, happy pet. 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.
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Tips and tools for family caregivers D
ear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend any resources that offer help to family caregivers? I’ve been taking care of my 86-year-old mother and could use some help. ~ Burned-Out Brenda Dear Brenda, Caring for an aging parent or other loved one over a period of time can be very challenging both physically and mentally. Fortunately, there are a number of tips and services you can turn to that can help lighten the load. Here are several to consider. Assemble a care team: A good first step is to put together a network of people including family, friends and even neighbors that you can call on to help out when you can’t be there or need a break. Tap local services: Many communities offer a range of free or subsidized services that help seniors
and caregivers by providing things like home delivered meals, transportation, senior companion services and more. Call 211 to find out what’s available in your community, or call AARP’s caregiving resource center (877333-5885), which provides referrals to local resources. Use respite: Respite services can provide short-term care to your mom so you can take some time off. To locate services in your area, try the ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center at ARCHrespite.org. Hire in-home help: You may want to consider hiring a parttime home-care aide that can help with things like preparing meals, housekeeping or personal care. Costs can run anywhere from $12 to $30 an hour depending on where you live and the
The Savvy Senior BY JIM MILLER Columnist qualification of the aide. To find help through an agency, use Medicare’s search tool Medicare. gov/care-compare. Or to find someone on your own, which is a more affordable way to go, try websites like Care.com or CareLinx.com. Use financial tools: If you’re handling your mom’s finances, you can make things easier by arranging direct deposit for her income sources and set up automatic payments for her utilities and other routine bills. Also, consider setting up your mom’s online banking service at her bank so you can pay her other bills and monitor her
account anytime. If you want or need help, there are professional daily money managers (see AADMM.com to locate someone) that can do it for you. They charge between $60 and $150 per hour. Also, if your mom is lower-income use BenefitsCheckup.org, a free, confidential website that will help you locate financial assistance programs that can help pay for her medications, utilities, health care and other needs. Get insurance help: If you have questions about what Medicare or Medicaid covers, or about long-term
care, your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides free counseling on all these issues. Call 877-839-2675 or visit ShiptaCenter. org to locate a nearby counselor. You can also get help at Medicare.gov or by calling 800-6334227, and through the Medicare Rights Center, which staffs a helpline at 800-333-4114. Tap other resources: There are a number of other organizations you can draw on for additional information like the Family Care Alliance (Caregiver.org/ family-care-navigator), which provides a stateby-state listing of caregiving programs and services; Caring.com, which offers caregiving advice, senior housing information and online support groups; the Alzheimer’s Association (ALZ.org/care), which provides information
unique to the challenges of dementia caregivers; and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (www.caregiver.va.gov), which offers caregiver support services to veterans and even spouses of veterans. And, if you happen to be sharing care responsibilities with others, sites like LotsaHelpingHands.com and CaringBridge.org can help you coordinate together. Take care of yourself: Make your own health a priority. Being a caregiver is a big job that can cause emotional and physical stress and lead to illness and depression. The only way you can provide the care your mother needs is to make sure you stay healthy. Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070 or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
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