Luminous by Perham Focus

Thank You

to the women of

New York Mills Schools

Michelle YoungLecoustre

High School Principal

Megan Argall

ELEMENTARY PRiNciPAL Judith Brockway HiGH ScHOOL PRiNciPAL Michelle Young Lecoustre

Janice Lingen Food Service

Teresa Wenaas Para

Diane Webb Para

Rachel Brock

Elem/Secondary Teacher

ELEMENTARY TEAcHERS Kim Aker Rita Askew Teri Bauck Katie Bjorhus Laurine Braukmann Julie Ekren Cynthia Grothmann Nancy Hendrickx Trudy Irons Ann Myers Megan Myers Angela Paavola Julie Rud Lisa Stroeing Barbara Tumberg Bridget Weller SEcONDARY TEAcHERS Rachel Brock Joy Cooley Amy Drake Heidi Dresser

Secondary Teacher Suzann Everson Tammy Olson Trina Saewert Briana Tower Michelle Vogel

cLEANiNG Nancy Huntley Kelly Leaderbrand Nicole Rogers Kendra Steeke

ELEMENTARY/ SEcONDARY TEAcHERS Megan Argall Debra Blomberg Connie Griffith Rebecca Imsande Marilyn Kunza Jo Ellen Rudnitski Maria Theisen Cheri Tumberg

LiBRARY ASSiSTANTS Lori Newman Nancy Schik DiSTRicT SERVicES Cassiann Anderson Cari Grenier Shari Hendrikson Aimee Keller Kathy Salo Jane Wankel Amy Zamzo

FOOD SERVicE Brenda Finch Heidi Hoffman Denise Hudson Janice Lingen Mary Roggenkamp Anjanette Wiirre OFFicE STAFF Mary Hendrickx Linda Imdieke Marsha Maki Amy Mindermann Arlene Scheidecker Kay Tougas

Nancy Huntley Cleaning

Michelle Vogel

Secondary Teacher

PARAS Maria Bachim Lisa Bakka Heidi Barthel Cindy Becker Alice Dittmann Sher Elkin Vicki Jacobson Missy Keskitalo Denise Kupfer Corrine Meech Kelly Meyer-Flatau Lindsay Miller Karen Oelschlager

Kendra Steeke Cleaning

Briana Tower

Secondary Teacher

Katie Bjorhus

Elementary Teacher

Lisa Rudolph Ashley Sturm Karen Thompson Diane Webb Teresa Wenaas Tonya White Julie Witt cOMMUNiTY EDUcATiON Deborah Baune NURSiNG Deb Ziegler TENDER HEARTS HOME cARE Dawn Barvels Amanda Dahl

Lindsay Miller Para

EARLY cHiLDHOOD / JR kiNDERGARTEN Kendra Geiser Bev Witt Nancy Witt FOSTER GRANDPARENTS Kathryn Albin Nancy Anderson Lavonne Apland Patty Jokela SAcc Irene Sandback

Lisa Bakka Para

Ashley Sturm Para

Corrine Meech Para

A whole new experience in family dentistry

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Dr. Tammy Sturdevant and staff R001983766

4 LUMINOUS 2013

contents brilliant women

GENERAL MANAGER Melissa Swenson

Denise Schornack �� 4 Bonnie Johnson �� 8 Lolita Myers �� 10 Katie and Sarah Hennagir �� 12 Susan Heusser-Ladwig �� 16 Andrea Greiff �� 18

BUSINESS MANAGER Sherri Lefebvre SALES representatives Deb Spiczka • Marc Hartman INSIDE SALES representative Hildie Niemela MAGAZINE editoR Marie Nitke contributing writers Marie Nitke • Elizabeth Huwe Lina Belar • Laura Nyhus Diane Peterson • Melissa Swenson

bright ideas Health �� 20 Food �� 22 Travel �� 24 Outdoors �� 26 Finances �� 26 Fitness �� 28 Decor �� 30

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Cindy Gilster

222 2nd Ave. SE • Perham, MN 56573 p: 218.346.5900 • f: 218.346.5901 www.perhamfocus.com

Tender HearTs Home Care

Thank you to my fabulous team of women!

Kerrie Steinbach, owner new York mills, mn 56567

— Danielle glorvigen, owner

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Kerrie Steinbach, owner; Sandy Barthel, office manager; not pictured: Terry nelson, rn

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Thank You annon & Deb Sh

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Stop in and see Connie Mort, Crystal Collins or Rhonda Olson at 154 1st Ave. S in Perham or call 346-3000 for a quote and information.

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Connie Mort, Crystal Collins and Rhonda Olson

Royale Resources, Inc. is a service oriented company owned exclusively by three women of Perham and surrounding communities. Royale Resources provides three major service lines; payroll processing, flex plan administration and employee leasing.

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We’ve Got Strong Roots and We’re Still Growing Perham Health is committed to providing new services, recruiting new providers, and to you and your family.

Perham Clinic 1000 Coney Street West (218) 347-1200

New York Mills Clinic 20 Centennial 84 Drive West (218) 385-1800

Ottertail Clinic 105 Otter Drive (218) 367-6111

perhamhealth.org

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brilliant women

Denise Schornack, center, with two of her long-time employees, Sarah Wacker, right, and Paula Fischer, left. Denise credits much of her store’s success to her team of employees.

Natural born seller

Denise Schornack, owner of Nadine’s Ladies Fashions, has an innate knack for running a business BY Lina Belar When Denise Schornack was a little girl, her dad would sing her this song: My name is Solomon Levi, my store is in Salem Street; That’s where you’ll find your coats and vests, and everything else that’s neat. When she was nine years old, he took her to his outlet store in Wadena, where she sold more in one day than his manager had sold in a month. That’s when her father told her, “You can do anything you want.” When she was a little older, Denise

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worked at her aunt and uncle’s clothing store in Wadena. In 1979, shortly after graduating from the University of Minnesota Business School with a degree in business administration, she opened her own dress shop. Thirty-four years later, Nadine’s Ladies Fashions is a well-known and popular shopping destination in downtown Perham. “My parents always supported and encouraged me,” said Denise. They also provided her with good examples. Her father, Bob Thompson, devel-

oped a former used-car lot in downtown New York Mills into what is now MidState Auto Auction, a modern four-lane auto auction on 68 acres that serves dealers from all over the United States, Canada and Mexico. Her mother, Bonnie, was a full-time homemaker, and from her, Denise gained a deep love and appreciation for family. Denise and her husband, David, have three children. Their daughter, Jenny, was born deaf, but that hasn’t held her back from succeeding. She has an accounting degree and helps out at Nadine’s with billing and payroll. Their

Denise Schornack has owned Nadineâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ladies Fashions for the last 34 years. The store has been remarkably successful, and is a popular shopping destination in downtown Perham.

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son, Andy, is president of a bank “I do market research while in Eden Prairie and he and his I’m away and bring it home to Trending now wife, Jill, still help out from time the store,” she said. Denise said “more color” is the hot to time. Their youngest son, Joe, She also attends all the major is a salesman with Mid-State clothing markets in Atlanta, Dallas, fashion trend this season. Auto Auction. and Chicago, as well as St. Paul. She Teal, aqua and orange are big, and “My family is still number one likes to find clothing that will make navy is making a come-back. with me,” said Denise. “I would her customers feel good about how always sacrifice a sale for time they look. She looks for quality with my children. One of the lines with great style. things I always liked about having my own business was the For Denise, the needs of her customers come first. That freedom to come and go.” might explain why she’s had a successful business for 34 She also credits the people who work at the store for its years. success. When asked what advice she’d give other women who “They treat it like it’s their own store,” she said, “We have want to be in business, she said, “I’d tell them to go after their fun together.” dreams. Take more chances.” Sarah Wacker has been with her for 20 years, and Paula Fischer for 10. “I was lucky to choose Perham,” Denise said. In all the years Nadine’s has been on Main Street in Perham, there has been only one ‘down’ year. That was 2009. Now, the store makes more in a month than it used to do in a year. The other thing Denise learned from her family was the importance of giving back to the community. She is glad for the opportunity to be part of the Perham community, and both she and David are happy to be involved. Whether it’s church, school, the community center, Chamber of Commerce, hospital or housing, they have given their support 145 2nd Ave. SE, Perham to the whole town. Richard Winkels David is very active with Arvig, and when he travels for 218-346-2924 work, Denise likes to go with him. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9-5 Diane Schmitz & Patty Winkels

Let our fine design staff create a new look for you!

Saluting Our Women In Business A special “Thank You” to the outstanding women working at First National Bank! Here’s to all the women in the work place, Thank you!

Henning: Sitting- Lisa Rinicker, Stacy Spaeth, Leah Deuchar. Back Row Left to Right: Carol Witt, Maggie Schultz, Trista Morstad, Tracie Yant, Sue Carlson, Shirley Vye, Julie Umland, Lois Fiskum.

Ottertail: Left to Right: Phyllis Greenwaldt, Kathy Goodijohn, Tina Bladow, Kaeli Dorn, Demi Stokes, Angela Quam, Mary Myers, Shannon Lewis.

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Battle Lake: Front Row Left to Right: Judi Love, Judy Lankow, Patty Johnson, Nikki Olson, Jenny Cameron. Back Row Left to Right: Lisa Buising, Kim Boike, Susan Lohse, Nancy Grossman, Amanda Stramer. 983777

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Perham

Perham, MN

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Thank you to our staff and the community

We STILL make going to the dentist!

FUN!

We salute our working women!

Dean’s would like to recognize all the working women in the area!

for supporting both our stores!

DEAN’S Country Market

New York Mills • 385-2765 Perham • 346-6750 www.deanscountrymarket.com

Level III 159 1st Ave. Dot & Minnie’s 148 1st Ave.

218-346-4180

Hours at Both Locations: Monday-Saturday 10-5:30

• www.dotandminnies.com • LUMINOUS 2013

brilliant women

Bonnie Johnson has been part of Perham’s medical community for 43 years. She began at the hospital as a registered nurse, worked her way up the ladder and is now vice president of patient services at Perham Health.

A life-long career in care After 43 years, Bonnie Johnson is still devoted to moving her patients – and her hospital – forward BY Elizabeth Huwe Imagine staying in the same career for 43 years with the same employer and same goals while adjusting to all of the new challenges and advances that inevitably come along with the passing of time. Meet Bonnie Johnson, who has done exactly that. Bonnie began as a Registered Nurse at the hospital in Perham in 1970. In 1994, she completed her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Minnesota State University in Moorhead. Now, she is the vice president of patient services at Perham Health. In this role, she serves as the overall manager of Perham Health’s nursing departments. She works with heads from the medical, administrative, and emergency departments to keep everyone coordinated and organized. She is also responsible for some departmental budgeting. “A lot of my days are spent meeting

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with the different disciplines, deciding how to move forward,” Bonnie said. “But there is no ‘typical,’ and that’s part of why I like it.” Most recently, the hospital’s forward motion has been centered around introducing a new electronic records system for patients. Not too long ago, Bonnie had another ‘minor’ project to coordinate: moving the entirety of the Perham Health system into its new campus on Coney Street. She also acts as a sort of quality control officer, meeting with staff, families and patients to resolve misunderstandings and disputes that arise. “I’d like every patient to have a good experience and all staff to think it’s a good place to work,” said Bonnie. But, of course, conflict resolution is needed because it doesn’t always work out that way.

Other times, Bonnie’s day could be centered around the more mundane aspects of supervising: developing policy, filling open shifts and reading up on new regulations and best practices. “Bonnie is an outstanding nurse leader and had a huge impact on healthcare in this community,” said Chuck Hofius, CEO of Perham Health. “She led the design of the new hospital, she has an incredible focus on quality that gives me comfort when any member of my own family needs to utilize Perham Health services, and she always puts patients and staff first when making decisions for the organization.” Bonnie said the internet has proven to be one of the greatest resources for her position. Now, she can easily keep up with new developments in the industry and network with others who have similar roles at other hospitals.

“There’s access to a lot more information … if you don’t get lost along the way,” she laughed. After she leaves her 50-hour work week behind, Bonnie will kick back and relax with her favorite hobbies. She knits, quilts, weaves and runs. In fact, she’s taken part in several 5k races. The medals from a few hang on the wall in her office. “My best 5k this year was 33 minutes – nine minutes less than my best time last year,” she said. She was her team’s runner for the Perham Chamber of Commerce Average Joe Triathlon this year, and ran the Friday 5k and Saturday 10k at the Fargo Marathon. She also just likes to go out for a run after having a long day. “I’m an introvert,” Bonnie explained. “I really like people, but sometimes, I just need to recharge in the quiet.” She also looks forward to spending time with her three children, four grandkids, and two “grand-dogs.” The whole clan still lives in the area and gets together for a week every summer. During that time, it’s all good food, books and campfires. “We all love to cook and share recipes,” Bonnie said. “Everyone enjoys experimenting with their recipes and flavors.” Thinking back, she feels somewhat surprised at where she’s ended up. “I do miss bedside nursing, but you don’t know where the choices you make will lead you to evolve,” she said. “With choices in classes and committees …I’ve morphed from one thing into the next. I never would have dreamed I’d be moving into a new hospital.” Bonnie gave credit to other leadership at Perham Health for aiding her growth. “There’s a lot of support here,” she said. “The community should be proud of what they have. I’m looking forward to whatever’s next.”

At Lakeview Trust & Estate Law, attorney Amy Mursu provides guidance about wealth transfer planning and supports people through the legal and tax process after a loved one passes away. Amy concentrates her law practice solely in estate and trust administration; estate and gift tax issues; and, estate and business succession planning. She assists clients with a variety of estate planning issues including: wills, trusts, charitable giving, minimizing estate tax, planning for incapacity, and major gift planning. Amy also advocates for her clients in estate and gift tax audits with the IRS and Department of Revenue.

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Attorney AmyAnn Mursu and paralegal Kelsey Carriere

Big firm experience… Small town values.

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brilliant women

The magnificent Master Taekwondo instructor Lolita Myers is still kickin’ it at age 72 BY Diane Peterson “We fell in love with this Taekwondo is a Korean country and we immediately Martial Art with a simple meanpurchased a farm with 720 acres ing: “The art, way or path of kicknear Nimrod,” she said. ing and punching.” She signed up as the very first But it is really much more Taekwondo student in Wadena, than that. and within 3-1/2 years she Taekwondo is an ongoing test earned her 1st degree black belt. of physical and mental fitness, of Loving it, she continued stamina, perseverance, courage to progress, even traveling and creativity. It combines the to Korea three times for her best of mind and body discipline Taekwondo instruction, and at into an art form that can become one point learning from Great a way of life. Grandmaster Moo Young Yun, a When correctly learned and 10th degree black belt (the highused, it is the perfect physical est rank awarded). fitness activity, as it utilizes “I didn’t ‘decide’ to become a every muscle in the body while Master,” she said. “It is progresnaturally regulating a person’s sion; a stepping stone in the weight. The training aids the progress of my learning. We development of balance, speed, learn more with each degree and agility, power, rhythm, muscular it makes us feel good.” endurance and strength. Each student of Taekwondo Master Lolita Myers has been begins with a white belt, which teaching Taekwondo for the last continues to orange, yellow, 20 years. green, blue, purple, purple trim, She opened the Midbrown, brown trim, red, red trim Minnesota Tae Kwon Do School and then 1st degree black. in Pelican Rapids at age 52 and, Today, Lolita is a 5th degree soon after, began offering classes black belt. She’s also a two-time in nearby communities, including state and national champion in Perham. Master Lolita Myers started teaching Taekwondo 20 both forms and sparring, having Now 72, Lolita is still kicking years ago, at age 52. Today, she’s still going strong, won the gold medal in 2002 and butt. In Taekwondo, age is only a running her own Taekwondo school and teaching 2003. number. classes in Perham and other nearby communities. Not that every moment along “It is interesting,” she said the way has been that glamorduring a Monday evening class in ous. teach any adult up to 102!” Perham recently. “The students I have “When I competed in nationals A native of Gordon, Neb., Lolita grew are all ages. They can begin at age 4-1/2 with a tall gal, my back went out and I up on a farm. She married her husband to 5. But if a mother and father want to couldn’t move,” she recalled. “They had Tom, 54 years ago, and it was during learn Taekwondo, I am fine with their their first camping trip that they discov- to call my hubby down, and he and two 3-year old child. They won’t test, they ushers carried me out. I laugh out loud ered the Lakes Area of Minnesota. will just have fun. And I will be able to

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about that now. I can go inside my body and make my muscles relax, so I was fine, but it still is funny!” As a teacher, Lolita helps her students by showing them the correct movements, talking with them and always giving them positive encouragement. In class, students must use formal addresses like, “Yes, Ma’am” and will occasionally bow to their Master. Lolita has also taught them some Korean words to use. One of Lolita’s favorite parts of teaching is watching a troubled or disadvantaged child make strides thanks to her classes. “After they have started to learn Taekwondo, they get a light in their eyes and smile,” she said. Lolita teaches a number of students, including about 10-15 in Perham, with classes sometimes reaching up to 50 in other communities. She loves what she does, not only for her students, but also for herself. “On nights that I can do kicking, it gets rid of my daily stress,” she said. “It is a sense of satisfaction of how many (students) have accomplished techniques. I go home, rest up my feet and

Master Lolita and her Monday evening Perham class strike a pose with a punch.

relax.” Lolita and her husband have four children, 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. They all enjoy Taekwondo with “Grammy.” Do they straighten up when she’s around? “Yes, Ma’am!”

Master Lolita teaches classes in Perham every Monday and Wednesday evening at the Perham Area Community Center. For more information, visit the Mid-Minnesota Tae Kwon Do School’s website at www.midmntkd.com.

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brilliant women

The mother and daughter team of Katie and Sarah Hennagir run Bay Window Quilts in Perham. They are the fourth and fifth generation of business owners in their family.

The family fabric

Mother-daughter quilt shop owners carry on a family tradition in business BY Lina Belar When Katie Hennagir was 10 years old, her mother put a box on the floor behind the counter of her craft shop so her daughter could see well enough to help customers. Katie had other jobs, as well, like sweeping the floors and emptying the garbage. She worked at her mother’s store on-and-off for the next eight years, through high school. Then she went away to college at Moorhead State, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in marketing. Sarah Hennagir always thought her daughter would take another job eventually. She had always encouraged all her children to be independent. Caroline has a separate life as an up-and-coming

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fashion designer in Minneapolis. Maggie is a teacher and Matthew works for CI Sports, which handles promotional materials, some of which can be seen in the store. They each have separate lives, but have all worked at the shop in the past and can help out when needed. In Katie’s case, there was independence without separation. When it became obvious that Katie was interested in pursuing a job in the family business, she and her mother negotiated as though they weren’t related. There was a complete job description and a five-year plan. “There was even a signing bonus,” laughed Sarah. “A new set of silverware.” When Sarah first began her business in 1989, the store was primarily a

craft shop. It was located in the Bauck Building, owned by her parents, George and Catherine Bauck, who had a paint and supply business that is now owned by Sarah’s husband, Ed Hayden. Over the years, Sarah’s own store transitioned from arts and crafts into a creative sewing center. Bay Window Quilts is now one of the most successful quilt shops in the region. Sarah remembers her early days in the business. At that time, there were a few other women in the retail community. “We learned from each other,” said Sarah. “It was like a business incubator.” They all had stores of their own, but they realized they weren’t competitors so much as collaborators in Perham’s

Sarah Hennagir, inside Bay Window Quilts in Perham, one of the most successful quilt shops in the region.

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growing retail industry. During those years, the idea of the Specialty Shop brochure was launched, as well as dozens of other ideas that helped people promote their businesses. It wasn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. “If it didn’t work for my store, I wasn’t expected to participate,” said Sarah. Katie watched this sharing and learned from it. “She’s older than her years,” said her mother. “Watching us taught her how to make decisions that will make good sense in the future.” Katie also remembers being 10 years old and standing on that box so she could reach the counter. “Mom gave me little areas I was responsible for,” she said. “I never felt excluded from the growth of the store. She never treated me like a child in the business.” When Katie went away to college she was uncertain, at first, where her path would lie. She began to notice that whenever she went home, she was bothered if things in the store had changed while she wasn’t there. That’s when she realized she wanted to have a part in those changes. One of the changes she has brought to the business is the development of her own pattern company. It has started slowly, and she still doesn’t think of it as full-time. Another is the design of her own fabric lines. “When my son was born, I couldn’t find what I wanted to decorate his room,” said Katie. “I mentioned to our fabric rep that I wished I could design something.” She was told to go ahead and try. It took some time to get her courage up, but the sales rep encouraged her and even contacted the company on her behalf. Katie put together a proposal for a line of fabrics and the company loved it.

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“I think I just happened to be the right person with the right idea at the right time,” she said. She now has two lines of fabric, one called “Chirp” and the other, “Little One,” both with Robert Kaufman Fabrics. A year ago, she signed up with Andover Fabrics. “It’s a smaller company and I feel very much at home with them,” she said. Katie works mostly behind the scenes, doing things like organizing events. There are usually two or three events each month. Her husband, Jace Hennagir, purchased a long-arm quilting machine from Mary Gerken several years ago and does the machine quilting in the store. He is the director of the Perham Area Learning Center, as well as a history teacher, and he shares in the daycare of his and Katie’s children. Katie is still the only full-time employee of the store, and, as she and Sarah agreed in the beginning, she has to pay for herself. Sarah expects that gradually she will retire and Katie will take over the business. It’s a family tradition. This is the fourth generation of Baucks to have a business in Perham. Each has taken what their parents and grandparents built and improved on it. Sarah watched as her grandparents, and then her parents, transitioned Bauck Hardware into Bauck Paint and Glass. “I looked at my parents’ lives and I liked what I saw,” Sarah said. “I can see my kids continuing this,” added Katie.

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brilliant women

Susan is only the second paid librarian in Perham’s history. An avid reader and ‘people person’ who loves to organize, she’s a perfect fit for the job.

Susan’s story

Getting a read on Perham’s book-loving librarian BY Marie Nitke At any given time, Susan HeusserLadwig is reading at least three books. She’s got one or more on her bedside stand, an audio book playing in her car, a minimum of one on her e-reader, which she always carries with her, and then, she says, “I usually have another couple going, just in case I don’t feel like reading any of the other ones.” Given this apparent love of books, it’s clear Susan’s in the right profession. As the director of the Perham Area Public Library, she gets to be constantly surrounded by books. Not only that, but she also gets to be constantly surrounded by other people who love books – and talking to them is one of the things she loves most about her job. “I enjoy talking about books,” Susan said during a recent interview. “It gives me a more well-rounded picture of a body of literature. I enjoy gathering that knowledge and then sharing it with other people.”

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While she reads a wide range of genres and authors, Susan’s favorite stories are the ones that just make her laugh and keep her entertained. “I don’t like to read books that make me emotionally upset,” she said. “I just want to have fun.” That puts light classics like Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” on her list of faves, right alongside new adventure and fantasy books like the “Harry Potter” series. “My book club friends roll their eyes at me sometimes,” she said with a laugh. Susan has been in her position at the library for the last 19 years. Growing up in Pelican Rapids, she always loved to read, but it wasn’t until college that she discovered her passion for libraries. It was a simple work-study job at the campus library at Gustavus Adolphus that led her to her future career. She found a love for the sense of order that libraries operate under, and she enjoyed things like coordinating and cataloging. After earning her bachelor’s degree,

she worked in the public library system in Mankato, Minn., before moving with her husband to Indiana, where she went back to school for her master’s degree in library science. Soon after that, the couple got the itch to return to their home state of Minnesota. A farmhouse in Pelican Rapids that used to belong to Susan’s grandparents went up for sale, and they bought it and moved back. That was in 1994, the same year that Perham happened to be looking for a new librarian. Catherine Drahmann, who had headed up the library for decades and was the town’s first ever paid librarian, was retiring. For Susan, the timing was perfect, and she happened to be looking for a job at a smaller library like Perham’s. While she liked her experiences at large and academic libraries, she felt ready to work at a place with a more diverse job description; somewhere she could ‘do it all’ and experience something different

every day. “Here, I can do cataloging, I can stand up at the front desk and talk to people, I can suggest to people what to read next, I can read a story to kids at story time, I can do research for someone...,” she said. “In a small library, you get to do everything, and that’s what I like about it.” When she was hired, she earned the distinction of being only the second paid librarian in Perham’s history. “It was a fun time to come into Perham,” Susan said, explaining that it was a time of exciting change and transition. The old card catalogue system was beginning to go digital, and the library itself was poised for a big move into a new building. The city was in the early stages of that when Susan started, and she was able to get in on the planning and fundraising for the new location. It was a busy first few years for Susan, and even after the move, things didn’t exactly slow down. The library settled into its current location in 1997, and in the years following, the cataloguing system became completely computerized and the library was set up for web streaming. More children’s programs were introduced, including a summer reading program that brought – and continues to bring – hundreds of kids

through the library doors every week in June and July. In more recent years, e-readers have become available for checkout, as have downloadable books. And the use of Minnesota’s inter-library loan system “has expanded exponentially,” according to Susan, “because as people realize they can get books from almost anywhere, then they request more.” She said the library currently gets about 100 books or more with every inter-library loan delivery, and those deliveries come every two days. “Libraries are adapting to meet the needs of how people are reading, and how people are reading is changing,” Susan said. “They also use the internet a lot more to find information or to find books; they do a lot more computerized searching and research techniques. So library service is changing.” In the future, Susan said, the library board will continue to push for more and better technology. Their hope is to make the library a community center for technology, a place where people can go to access Wi-Fi, use Skype or watch videos without worrying about a slow or spotty connection. “Not everyone has internet at home,” Susan said. “We want to be able to offer

those types of things.” They’d also like to start offering short informational sessions on things such as how to use an iPad or how to download an electronic magazine. As technology continues to evolve, the library wants to stay on top of it. Amid all this change, some things have remained the same. For one thing, the library continues to offer hardcover and paperback books for borrowing, and the reference service will always offer help to those in need of finding credible information. For another thing, people still enjoy reading. There’s a strong population of readers in Perham, Susan said, and that’s good to see. Perham readers tend to favor best-selling fiction books, and books about politics. “If you are a reader, you have so many worlds open to you,” she said. “It broadens your mind, it broadens your experience, it broadens how you look at the world.” In addition to reading, Susan likes to broaden her mind by getting outside and being active. She and her husband like to garden, camp, hike and snowshoe; they also make their own wine. They share their home with two dogs and three cats.

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brilliant women

Andrea Greiff is the founder and owner of Dot & Minnie’s and Level III in Perham. After working as an accountant for 17 years in Nebraska, she decided to come home to Perham.

Taking her shot

After 17 years away, Perham woman returns to pursue her dreams BY Elizabeth Huwe Andrea Greiff wanted to come home. The Perham native had been living in Nebraska for almost 18 years, working as a controller for a distribution company. There was always, “lots of corn, lots of football,” Andrea said. “Those people are crazy with all of their red.” She had fun there and got along great with her boss. But after a while, she said, it just wasn’t enough anymore. She started thinking, “I don’t want to keep working for somebody else all my life.” “I had wanted to get back (to Perham) for a long time, but it takes a while to get that in motion,” said Andrea. “You have to quit your real job, have money to start a business and then talk your husband into moving.” Finally, she and her husband, Arnold DeWeerd, made up their minds. It was time to move back to Perham.

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“We decided on a Labor Day weekend, on the drive back from visiting, that maybe we should just do it now,” Andrea said. “What this country’s all about is taking your shot, taking opportunities and risking it.” So she started brainstorming. Eventually, the idea of a clothing store came to mind and stuck there. “I really don’t know how that happened,” she said. After all, she was an accountant without any sort of fashion or retail background. But, she laughed, “I shop! I said, ‘But I don’t know anything about running a retail store!’ My mom said, ‘But you know how to shop. That’s got to count for something!’” As the retail plan snowballed into reality, one consistently elusive element was the store’s name. Then, one day, it just came to her.

All of a sudden, “Boop!,” she said, like it was meant to be. The “Boop!” was to name the store Dot & Minnie’s after her grandmothers, Dorothy (Dot) Greiff and Lenora (Minnie) Hartwig. Another challenge was location – she needed to find the right place, fast. In the retail business, clothing and other inventory needs to be ordered six months in advance of when it will be on the rack, and she needed a place to put it. “I was ordering in October (2011) for spring, assuming I’d be open in March or April some time,” she explained. “I called my husband and said, ‘You need to find me a place, or I’m going to be selling out of the trunk of my car on the corner.’” Arnold came through, and they bought an open storefront on First Avenue North, next to the Comet Theater.

Andrea and her family did most of the renovations to the property themselves, getting it ready for opening in the spring of 2012. “The first day we opened was crazy,” she recalled. “My mom helped me that day. The two of us worked all day, by ourselves, after we’d stayed up until 2 a.m. the night before putting clothes out.” “I looked at Mom that first day, after we were done and said, ‘…we’re going to have to order more inventory!’ I knew I’d made the right decision after that day.” In December of that same year, Andrea learned that Jezebel’s (a women’s clothing store across the street) would be closing. Things were going well with Dot & Minnie’s, so she decided to open up a second store. “The looks on my family’s faces at Christmas time when I said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to open another store…’” chuckled Greiff. They were thinking, “We just got finished renovating that one, and you want us to what?” But she assured them that this time around would be “much easier,” and before they knew it, it was a done deal and Andrea was trying to think of a name for the new shop. “We were kicking around ideas for

Photos of Andrea’s grandparents are featured in her Dot & Minnie’s store. On the left are Dorothy (Dot) and Melvin Greiff, and to the right are Lenora (Minnie) and Wilfred Hartwig.

it; and because of my grandmothers, I thought ‘Third Generation,’” she said. “But Third Generation sounded like … a name that is out there a lot. So then, one of the girls who worked for me said, ‘In my family, we call them levels instead of generations.’” And so, the name Level III was born. Andrea said it can be a challenge to prevent overlaps in inventory between

the two stores, but emphasized that it’s still been a fun experience. “It’s just great,” she said with a grin when asked how her return to the area has been. “I really wanted to for so long. You never know what it is really going to be like when reality hits. I haven’t wiped this silly smile off my face since I’ve been back.”

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bright ideas: health

Swim. Bike. Run.

Triathlons benefit your body, both above and below the neck BY Laura Nyhus muscle and for the physical Who would have known that a benefits. It’s the above-the-neck simple sign advertising a running benefits, though, that keep me group would lead to the compleinterested. tion of multiple triathlons, the Fast-forward nine years. development of many friendThe finish line of several more ships, and relieve my anxiety isSprint, Olympic, Half-Ironman, sues, as well? and Ironman races have been That’s what happened to me. crossed, and the reasons I am Having moved to California in drawn to this sport became more 2003, I found myself searching and more clear: for a way to meet like-minded 1) Friends; people. One evening while out to 2) Fitness; and eat, I noticed a sign advertising 3) Mental wellness. a running group twice a week. Triathlons take me outdoors, I joined the group, ran, met giving me an extra boost of friends and found myself being self-love, plus Vitamin D from talked into a short triathlon. soaking up some sun (even in Swim. Bike. Run. Triathlons the winter). Many people see come in many distances, from a the three sports of triathlon 400-meter swim, 12-mile bike as a daunting task. To me, the and a 3.1-mile run to a 2.4-mile three sports keep things interswim, 112-mile bike, and a maraesting, decrease boredom with thon. workouts and prevent repetitive That first triathlon took place injury from one sport. in 2004 in Lake Arrowhead, Calif. Through my journey of Fifty yards into the short swim, I triathlons, I found that as my found myself in a panic. physical and mental health im“I’ll never be able to finish proved, my perspective on what this,” I thought. I can achieve and how far I can While hyperventilating, the push myself improved, as well. lifeguards detected my distress It is simple to see the myriad and sent a boat to my aid. This of physical health benefits to boat stayed by my side as I backLaura Nyhus raises her arms in victory after this sport, but let’s not overlook stroked to shore. An hour and a completing an Ironman triathlon in Switzerland. the mental aspects of improvehalf later, I had finished my first Nyhus has found triathlons to be a perfect outlet for ment and happiness. triathlon! stress and anxiety, good for both her mind and body. The decision to participate in Being physically fit is importhat 2003 group changed my life. tant. Personally, mental wellness I met lifelong friends who share is even more important. As somethe goal of bettering themselves Often, when anxious, exercise seems one who suffers from anxiety, while cheering others along the way. like the last thing on the list to do. But triathlons provide a healthy outlet for Now, many of us are thousands of miles once motivated, it makes a big differme. Exercising produces endorphins, ence. Training for triathlons (or any type apart, but we remain friends and share which are good for relieving anxiety the same connection of achievement. of exercise) and working out helps me symptoms. The success of finishing a Laura Nyhus is a Speech Pathologist at race helped me improve self-confidence, relax and feel better. Perham Health. Many people hit the pavement to reduce stress, alleviate anxiety and inimprove cardiovascular health, build crease relaxation.

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LUMINOUS 2013

bright ideas: food

Have a ‘Pastry Affair’ Sweets so easy to make, even an astroparticle physicist can do it! BY Elizabeth Huwe She’s one part astroparticle physicist, one part baker extraordinaire. Kristin Rosenau is one in a million. Recently hired as a science teacher at Perham High School, she was on track to become an astroparticle physicist, but changed course. “Right after I graduated with my physics degree, I was completely drained of everything,” said Rosenau. “I just needed some sort of creative outlet. I’d been reading a few food blogs and thought ‘well, that looks like fun.’” So she started baking, writing a blog called “Pastry Affair,” and taking photos of her baked goods along the way. “I didn’t know how to bake at that point … my main baking skills were box mixes,” said Rosenau. “I’d never done real photography, and I’d never been much of a creative writer. So it was like, let’s do all three of these at once!”

That was in 2010. Since then, Rosenau has taken an estimated 40,000 or more food pictures for her blog. Eventually, part-way through her master’s degree, also in physics, Rosenau made the decision to quit school. “Somewhere along the way, I lost my passion for physics,” she wrote in a blog post from 2010. “But when physics broke down into equations full of Greek symbols and endless computer programming … my curiosity was lost. The magic was gone.” After that, Rosenau baked for a patisserie in Bismarck, N.D., and then worked as a tutor before eventually finding herself in Perham. Here are two of Rosenau’s favorite recipes for fall. Find more goodies like these at pastryaffair.com

Bismarck, N.D. native Kristin Rosenau, now a teacher at Perham High School, started baking at a patisserie after quitting grad school mid-way through her master’s degree in physics.

Apple Cinnamon Scones Yields 8-10 scones Ingredients: 2 large apples, peeled and diced 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, plus extra for sprinkling 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed 1 large egg, slightly beaten 1/2 cup heavy cream 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Photos by Kristin Rosenau, from “Pastry Affair”

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Directions: ❖ Preheat oven to 350 degrees. ❖ In a frying pan over medium heat, combine apples, cinnamon, and sugar. Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring frequently, as the sugar caramelizes on the apples. Remove from heat and cool completely before adding to the rest of the batter (I placed the pan on a pot holder in the freezer for five minutes to hurry the process). ❖ Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. ❖ Cut in butter with pastry blender or your hands until mixture resembles coarse sand. Stir in cooled apples. ❖ Add in egg, heavy cream, and vanilla mix until the dough comes together. ❖ Turn out on a lightly floured surface, form a ball, and flatten it until it is about 1-inch thick. Using a sharp knife dipped in flour, cut 8-10 equal pie wedges. Sprinkle the top of the scones with cinnamon and sugar. ❖ Transfer scones to a baking sheet and bake for 2025 minutes, or until lightly browned. ❖ Serve warm or at room temperature. Best eaten the day they are made.

“I got an email last year from a coffee house in like, Georgia, saying ‘We sell this every day.’” — Kristin Rosenau

Come in and see our great selection.

Pumpkin espresso bread with brown sugar espresso topping Yields one 9 x 5-inch loaf Ingredients: 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 1 cup canned pumpkin puree 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1/4 cup milk 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda 1 tablespoon espresso powder 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves 1/2 teaspoon salt Directions: ❖ Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. ❖ In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, pumpkin, oil, milk, eggs, and vanilla extract. ❖ Fold in the flour, baking soda, espresso powder, spices, and salt. Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. ❖ Prepare topping and sprinkle evenly over batter. ❖ Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool before cutting and serving.

Topping Ingredients: 3 tablespoons brown sugar, packed 1/2 teaspoon espresso powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon Directions: ❖ In a small bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, espresso powder, and cinnamon. Sprinkle over pumpkin batter

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LUMINOUS 2013

bright ideas: travel

This group of friends has known each other for about 40 years, and takes regular trips together. Here they are in front of the Dakota Building in New York City. From left to right: Julie, Judy, Diane, Melissa, Dawn and Stacie.

Take a ‘girlfriends getaway’ BY Melissa Swenson

I have the travel bug; permanently. It never goes away with me. Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing sweeter than coming home, and for the most part, I am a homebody. But traveling gets in your blood, and once you see something amazing, you long to see more amazing things. I have been lucky enough to see mountains and oceans, walked upon roads that have been traveled for thousands of years, on my way to structures that have been used since the time of Christ. Yet there is still so much more to see, so many more people to meet! Few of my travel excursions are sweeter than the annual pilgrimages taken with my high school girlfriends. We make it a priority to get together every year for a weekend (or maybe a little longer depending on the trip). As the years have gone by, this has become more and more important to me.

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It’s amazing that, at 47 years old, I have known all of these women for right around 40 years. We have cried together, laughed together and poked fun at each other more times than you can shake a stick at, and I never get sick of spending time with them. We also pick up right where we left off, which makes for easy traveling. There are no weird personality surprises with this group. Dawn will always be the responsible one; she will always get us back home. Judy has become a great reader of public transportation routes and is fearless in her exploration of large cities. Stacie never quits smiling as she says, “Whatever you want, Doll!” Diane has finally learned to wear comfortable shoes but will be blinged out to the max, so even though she’s short, she’s easy to spot (a mile away, or possibly from outer space). Julie will be very quiet as she takes it all in, but

after a stop at a watering hole, she will become best friends with everyone at the bar. Jill, when she does decide to grace us with her presence, is also pretty even-keeled and often attempts to be the voice of reason. And then there’s me. A big dork that loves to laugh and always seems to have some stupid, probably annoying fact, about whatever it is that we’re looking at, wherever that might be. Together, we have fun – so much fun that our sides hurt from laughing and our faces are sore from smiling. I think we can all agree that the destination isn’t what always makes the trip. Last October, six of us went to New York City for an extended weekend. It was a fabulous trip that left us tired but happy. Yet we also had a blast a couple of years ago for the 125th Celebration in Madison, Minn. – Lutefisk Capitol USA (which happens to be our home-

Places we have gone: Minneapolis, Detroit Lakes, Frazee, Perham, Madison, Minnesota-“Lutefisk Capitol USA,” Stillwater, New York City, Alexandria town). We have had fun weekends attending concerts from bands that were cool in our day (think Journey and REO), long weekends in Stillwater, Alexandria, Minneapolis, Detroit Lakes, Frazee (Turkey Days was a blast!), and Perham. We are hoping to be able to do a trip to London, England in the very near future. And the weekend that this magazine is published, I will be with the girls staying near the Mall of America for a fun weekend of shopping, cocktails and dining.

The most important thing to remember is, do what you like to do. If it’s shopping, mani-pedi’s or sight-seeing, make sure that is on the agenda, but remember to build in plenty of freetime. Gabbing with your girlfriends and reconnecting is what it’s really about.

Cocktails at the Pig and Whistle in New York City made for a great start to our ‘girlfriends getaway’ last October.

Travel tips for the girls about town

❖ Pack your suitcase, then take about a third of it out ❖ Bring plastic bags for dirty clothes ❖ If you are flying , agree ahead of time (as a group) whether or not you are going to check baggage or go carry-on only ❖ Set a budget that fits everyone’s income level ❖ Strategize ahead of time how you will break down expenses (meals, bar tabs, cab fare) ❖ Travel size containers for your toiletries are a must ❖ Facial cleaners/make-up remover wipes are easy to pack (and convenient to use when you’re sharing a bathroom) ❖ Only one or two of you need to bring hair-styling appliances (especially if you’re flying with carry-on luggage only)

❖ Travel mirrors are nice to have so you’ll always have mirror time to apply makeup ❖ Make sure there are enough comfortable places for people to sleep ❖ Bring your jacket ❖ Bring or be ready to buy an umbrella ❖ Function before fashion if you’ll be doing a lot of walking ❖ Don’t pass up a ladies room ❖ Set a date a year in advance ❖ Communicate everything to everybody (on our first trip to NYC, I found out that we were doing carry-on luggage only the night before we left!) ❖ Appoint a leader (everyone needs a Dawn in their group) ❖ One of you should know the area, or be willing to research the area for optimum fun

❖ Safety first. The buddy system is still a good idea, even at our age ❖ Take tons of pictures ❖ Bring photos from past gatherings ❖ Snacks are a must (the junk food of your youth as well as some healthy options) ❖ Go, even if you think you are too tired to go. You’ll be glad you did ❖ Go, even if you really have to scrimp and save to make it happen. You’ll be glad you did ❖ Cherish it like it’s your last trip. You don’t know when schedules, age, health reasons will make it impossible to continue ❖ Depending on your age, you probably can’t party like a rock-star anymore…just know that you are not a failure if you’re back at your hotel by 10 p.m. with your jammies on (it happens to the best of us)

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bright ideas: outdoors

Take up a new sport that’s right on target BY Elizabeth Huwe What’s a fun way to get outdoors, get some exercise, and feel like Robin Hood? If you said ‘robbing the rich and running into the woods before the Sheriff of Nottingham shows up,’ technically, you would be right. However, I was thinking more along the lines of archery. The first time I picked up a bow and arrow at summer camp, I fell in love. Sure, I was just shooting at a stuffed target hanging on a tree. I don’t think my first five arrows even stuck in the target at all. But that was what I liked about it. Archery challenged me. Since then, I’ve continued shooting –

both for the sport and the fun of it. I’d recommend it to anyone. If you’re interested in giving archery a shot, you should keep these quick tips in mind: Always put safety first Even arrows with plain practice tips can injure or kill. NEVER let loose an arrow when a person or animal is between you and your target. Also, use a sturdy backboard behind your intended target, just in case your aim is off. Bend your elbow When getting ready to shoot, after

Archery provides a workout for your upper body, without making it seem like work. It’s also a great way to get outside (almost) year-round.

drawing back and before releasing the string, check that your bow arm is slightly bent. If you let an arrow fly with a straight arm, you’ll most likely get slapped by the string. It hurts (believe me, I know), but you’ll have a lovely bruise as a reminder for next time. Have fun! Honestly, this is the best advice I can give. When you’re just shooting at a target, forget about the bulls-eye. Focus on having fun and learn what works best for you.

bright ideas: finances

Be the boss of your bank account BY Marie Nitke Properly managing your money is one of the best things you can do for yourself. By establishing or maintaining good credit, savings accounts, investments and the like, you’re setting yourself up for a secure and successful future. In the United States today, women hold 89 percent of all bank accounts, 51 percent of all personal wealth, and are responsible for 83 percent of all consumer purchases, according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau. Clearly, there’s a lot of power in women’s pocketbooks. Yet studies largely show that, while women hold the purse strings, men are generally better at saving and sticking to a budget. If money management isn’t really your strong suit, take baby steps to get yourself on the right track. A great first step to take is to simply assess where you’re at, fiscally. It’s im-

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portant to take an honest look at your financial situation so you can effectively handle those finances going forward. Take stock of your income, expenditures and what you have in savings. Keep your eye on any changes in your accounts and stay current with news and issues that may play a direct or indirect role on your finances. Next, identify any ‘problem areas’ or concerns you might have about your money situation. Are you worried that you might not be saving enough? Do you want to invest in stocks but don’t know where to begin? Are you afraid your credit score’s not so great? Being able to pinpoint the particulars will help you develop a plan of action. Finally, start researching. Gather information and talk with your banker about how to best spend and save what you’re making. Kaeli Dorn, of First National Bank in Ottertail, said one of the most impor-

tant things to do is to save, no matter your age or income level. Though it’s best to start at a young age, “it’s never too late to start saving,” she said. “Open a savings account today; the money you save will provide a cushion for your finances… A fiscally wise man once said, if you pay yourself 10 percent of each paycheck, you will retire healthy, wealthy and wise.” To make sure that happens, “always remember to pay yourself first,” before that 10 percent gets spent elsewhere. Dorn also suggested: ❖ Creating a budget and sticking to it. ❖ Spending less then you earn. ❖ Establishing a retirement plan and contributing to it. ❖ Having a solid understanding of your credit. ❖ Securing your identity. Most banks have programs to help with this.

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Left to right (back row): Pat Johnson, Trisha Satter, Jen Hanson, Linda Salo. Seated: Sally Tobkin and Emily Poulson.

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bright ideas: fitness

Marie Hanson, center, a personal trainer at the Perham Area Community Center, with four of her clients, Deanna Jepson, Jodi Speer, Jessica Kukowski and Mari Truax, left to right. The four women have all made a commitment to get healthy through diet and exercise. Working out might not be the most fun thing in the moment, they all admit with a chuckle, but it feels so good when you’re done that it’s well worth it.

Just do it!

4 sure-fire, common-sense tips to lose weight and get healthy BY Marie Nitke Forget about all those too-good-tobe-true diet fads, pills and weight-loss trends. The healthy way to lose weight is simply this: exercise more and eat better. As we all know, though, that’s not as simple as it sounds. If it were, everyone would be doing it and obesity would not be the epidemic that it is in this country. Between work, family, friends, “me” time and life’s many other obligations, finding the time or energy to work out can seem next to impossible. And changing your diet requires serious effort and willpower. Those who do make a commitment to get healthy and lose weight, however, are never sorry. Eating right and getting regular exercise is a boon to the human body, making a person feel better both physically and mentally. That’s something that sounds appealing to everyone, but many people have personal hurdles to get through before

LUMINOUS 2013

they can get to that happy place. For those, Marie Hanson, a personal trainer at the Perham Area Community Center, offers the following suggestions. 1. Make time for yourself (and make it guilt free) Marie says this is the number one issue she sees with her clients, especially her female clients, who tend to feel guilty about spending time away from the family to do a little something for themselves. “A lot of moms have full-time jobs and then they want to go home and see their kids and help them with their homework, make supper, etc.,” she says. “I’m a mom of four kids, so that’s my struggle, too. I feel that ‘mother guilt.’” How does she get past it? “I make time for myself by exercising at 5 a.m.” That’s not an hour of the day that

would work for all women, but even the busiest woman is likely to have a free hour a couple of times a week, to fit in a workout. Jessica Kukowski, for example, works full-time and is a full-time student, but she decided 8 months ago that it was time to make a life change, and has been squeezing in workouts with Marie ever since. The extra effort is paying off – she’s already lost 50 pounds. After a while, she said, workouts become part of your routine, to the extent that not working out one day becomes more stressful than just doing it. And the guilt thing? Marie says that usually takes care of itself. A lot of moms who feel bad at first for spending a little time away from the kids later realize that, by taking better care of themselves, they actually become better parents. “My workouts are good for my kids,” says Marie. “I’m a much better mom

when I have built exercise into my life. I’m not a better mom if I’m walking around crabby all day because I didn’t get my exercise.” 2. Make it a routine Think of exercise like you would any other appointment, such as a doctor’s visit or dental exam. Don’t make it an ‘optional’ item on your to-do list. That’s what Deanna Jepson did. After learning that she had high blood pressure, she signed up to start working out with Marie, thinking of each session as an appointment that was necessary for her health. Today, Deanna’s blood pressure is back to normal and she’s still visiting the PACC for regular workouts. “The health benefits are worth it,” she says. As another example, Marie said a number of women who work at Barrel O’ Fun have made it their routine to rush into the PACC on their lunch hour, get in a quick 30-minute workout and then get back to work. “They schedule it into their day,” she said. And that works for them. That routine is also a good example of how women can make time for themselves without feeling guilty about it (tip

No. 1), and is the perfect lead-in to the next tip, which is to: 3. Exercise with a friend Exercising with a friend or other person who is at or near the same activity level as you is one of the best things a woman – or anyone – can do to stay motivated. “That peer pressure keeps you moving,” says Marie. “Especially on those days when you’re tired and you don’t feel like working out, that partner keeps you going.” Jodi Speer and Mari Truax can attest to that. The sisters started working out together last fall, in order to keep each other going. When Mari struggled with making time to exercise, Jodi would be there to keep her on track, and vice versa when Jodi was tempted to stray from her diet. The trick worked – they both lost weight and developed healthier habits, and now, nearly a year later, they both continue to work out. 4. Get a personal trainer If the ‘buddy system’ isn’t an option for you, or if you’d like a more personalized, professional experience at the gym, a personal trainer might be right for you. Personal trainers work one-on-one with clients, showing them how to prop-

erly use machines and weights, and carefully monitoring their diets. They hold their clients accountable, and the fact that they’re being paid to work with you makes those appointments at the gym a nonnegotiable. It’s an option that’s very popular at the PACC right now. According to Marie, she’s never seen the personal training business so busy. “I think people want the one-on-one and will pay for it if they’re getting results,” she says. Her clients often tell her that they’ve been working out and dieting on their own, and just not seeing any results. She helps by giving them “a rhyme and reason to their workouts” and educating them about the foods they eat. “There are so many (diet) myths,” she says. “People think they’re eating healthy and they’re not.” (One tip she shared: iceberg lettuce has no nutrients. It’s great to eat salads, but switch out that lettuce with spinach or romaine.) Balancing exercise with the right diet is the most important thing, she says: “You can exercise all day long, but if you go home and eat poorly, you won’t see results.”

NERESON...

“The place with all the cars!”

•WE HAVE•

Ladies Day EVERY

WEDNESDAY! Your name will also be entered into a drawing for a chance to win one of the fantastic gifts given away from Nereson’s, at the end of every month.

NERESON “The place with all the cars!”

Left to right: Brenda Wilschewski, Jessica Kukowski, Jane Stowman, Erin Salmela

Our Business Women

We appreciate their dedication and thank them and ALL working women in our community. Be sure to check out our Service Specials online.

255 3rd Ave SE • Perham • 346-6250 www.overlandinsurance.com

(Service) 800-422-3317 (Sales) 218-325-4146 923 US HWY. 10 EAST • DETROIT LAKES, MN

www.nereson.com

HOURS: Service & Parts MON-FRI 8AM-5:30PM, SAT 8AM-4:30PM, Parts SAT Closed

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Ladies, Bring your vehicle in on any Wednesday of the month and we will give you the Royal Treatment. You will receive service specials, just for choosing us!

Whether you need an oil change, your tires rotated or a full point inspection, Nereson’s will provide you with the service you deserve.

Independent Insurance Agent LUMINOUS 2013

bright ideas: decor

Fall in love with the colors of autumn – inside the home

Easy and affordable updates that can be done in a snap BY Elizabeth Huwe Need a little inspiration to dress up your abode for fall? Stephanie Ellingson, of Periwinkle in Ottertail, shares some of her own bright ideas. Nature “Head outside and use items from your yard,” suggests Ellingson. “Pick up twigs with leaves or cut some birch branches to change up those summer floral arrangements.” Vines are another great way to add a touch of natural fall color. Ellingson suggests using vines in large wood bowls or glass hurricanes. “The texture and nice shades of oranges gives your home that nice fall touch,” she said. When it comes to fall decor, the clas-

LUMINOUS 2013

sic pumpkin never fails. “They are great for table centerpieces, candle holders, food serving and, of course, your exterior doors,” she said. Texture “Burlap is still a hot trend,” according to Ellingson. “Use it on your dining table or drape over a window. It’s so easy to use!” Rusty metal works great for fall settings, she said. Dig out old washtubs and cream cans from the garage: “They usually have a great patina which lends itself to fall decorating.” Washtubs can be used in the bathroom for towels or outside by a front door to hold all of your gourds and pumpkins. Cream cans make great metal vases

for larger branches and corn stalks. Leather is another of Ellingson’s favorite fall textures. “It is easy to clean and gets better with age,” she said. “Throw some leather pillows on the sofa or add some leather ottomans to give your living room a new look for fall.” Color There are so many great fall colors to pick from, it can be somewhat overwhelming. “This year, we are seeing colors such as emerald green, deep plum, golden yellow and grays,” said Ellingson. Don’t want to commit to painting? Ellingson suggests changing out throw blankets, pillows and rugs to bring fall colors into your home.

Thanking our employees for all their contribution, dedication and hard work -

Mentor a child, create a future.

Thank You Ladies!

983813

“What you do today can make a difference in all your tomorrows” Left to Right: Marlene Boedigheimer, Sharon Ericksrud, Deb Matti, Angela Flatau, Lori Quiram. Not Pictured: LeeAnn Berndt, Karen Selander, Abby Salo, Jean Feller, Desiree Varner

Mentors provide a sense of stability, emotional guidance and personal strength. 50 children waiting in Otter Tail County for mentors.

Convenience Store HWY. 10 N.Y. MILLS • 385-4620 5am - 10pm • Sat & Sun 6am - 10pm

THANK YOU! GREAT

To all our women employees! We saluTe all Working Women!

of the Perham Area

PO Box 281, Perham 218-346-7102 www.perhamkinship.com

Caring for patients and their caregivers in Otter Tail County and the surrounding communities of West Central Minnesota.

(218) 998-1400 Staff Available 24/7

Downtown Perham 121 2nd Ave SE 346-7890

LUMINOUS 2013

s e k a m t a h W ine? us sh Spending time with family and my dogs, traveling, books and movies, playing guitar, hanging out with friends, making others laugh.

Spending time with my family...days at the lake.... baking/cooking...sharing a glass of wine or cup of coffee with good friends.

Sherri Lefebvre

Business Manager

Melissa Swenson

General Manager

Quiet moments: Naps in the hammock, days spent outdoors, singing along with my old records, and cuddling up on the couch with my ﬁance’ and our pup.

Marie Nitke

Spending time with Lyle, and the grandkids, golfing, time on the pontoon, ﬁnding good buys, providing top-notch customer service to my clients!

Editor Traveling (yes, that is Stonehenge behind me), wandering, learning and creating (make me shine).

Deb Spiczka

Advertising Sales

Elizabeth Huwe

I “shine” when I’m creating and being helpful: quilts, hearty meals, pies, surprises, new looks in an old house, relationships, events, marketing plans/ad materials, anything!

Reporter

Cecily Johnson

Special Projects Sales

Being outdoors is what makes me shine! Whether it’s at home, on a motorcycle ride, or the occasional vacation, being outdoors helps me to rejuvenate!

Cindy Gilster

An inspirational book, a good comedy, good conversation with friends or family, meeting new people, speaking or interacting with a good audience and loving up a cat or a dog.

Editorial Coordinator What makes me shine is being able to help dogs by being a foster home and also train service dogs for a very special program.

Hildie Niemela

Special Projects Sales

Jessica Honer Receptionist

phone 218-346-5900

LUMINOUS 2013

fax 218-346-5901

P.O. Box 288

Perham, MN 56573

www.perhamfocus.com

983117

cheers.

It’s time to decorate your windows for the holidays. It’s time to decorate

your windows for the holidays. $100* Save

SEPTEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 17, 2013

$100 rebate

or more with rebates

Duette® Architella® Honeycomb Shades

on qualifying purchases of Hunter Douglas window fashions.

4 Duette® Architella® Honeycomb Shades ® $25 rebate Vignette each additional unit) Modern Roman Shades SEPTEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 17, (plus 2013 2 Pirouette® Window Shadings or 2 Silhouette® Window Shadings or 2 Vignette® Modern Roman Shades (plus $50 rebate each additional unit)

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View Products installed at these locations:

Carol Myhre, Design Consultant Priority Dealer

Shades

See our Hunter Douglas Showroom located within the PS I Love You Boutique, 138 West Main, Perham

Save $100*

or more with rebates

on qualifying purchases of Hunter Douglas window fashions.

At the WindoW

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1) Silhouette® window shadings 2) Provenance® Vertical Drapery 3) Provenance® Roller Shade 4) Designer Roller Shades 5) Duette Vertiglide® Shade 6) Vignette® Modern Roman Shades 7) New Pleated Shade

LOCATION

TWISTED ROOT ZORBAZ MA’S LITTLE RED BARN THRU HIM PHOTOGRAPHY P.S. I LOVE YOU (Hunter Douglas Display) CACTUS UNTANGLED

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with any of the following purchases:

Window Coverings Specialist

218-758-2486 (office) • 701-261-4939 (cell) www.hdspd.com/atthewindow

Commercial & Residential

* Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 9/14/13 –12/17/13 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Offer excludes Nantucket™ Window Shadings, a collection of Silhouette® Window Shadings. Rebate offers may not be combined; for each qualifying purchase, the higher applicable rebate amount will apply. Rebates will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 7 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations apply. Ask participating dealer for details, rebate form and information on qualifying purchases. © 2013 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas. ® ™ Window * Manufacturer’s rebate offer qualifying purchases made 9/14/13 –Certification 12/17/13 from participating in the U.S. only. Offer excludes Nantucket a collection Window Shadings. * For tax credit detailsmail-in and restrictions and avalid list offor qualifying products, see the Manufacturer’s Satement and FAQsdealers at hunterdouglas.com/taxcredit. Hunter Douglas and its dealers areShadings, not tax advisors. Consultofa Silhouette tax professional regarding your individual Rebate and offers maytonot beacombined; for each the higher applicable rebate amount tax situation ability claim tax credit related to thequalifying purchase purchase, of the qualifying Duette Architella honeycomb shades.will apply. Rebates will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law,

a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 7 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations apply. Ask participating dealer for details, rebate form and information on qualifying purchases. © 2013 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas.

Perham-Dent Public Schools

u o y k n a h T

PPrairie Wind Middle School

Teaching Staff

to all of our outstanding staﬀ for “Providing the Best for All so that All may be their Best.”

Ali Bormann Janet Buchin Kelly Collette Jodee Ebeling Erin Gaffaney Amber Gullingsrud Lauren Hanson Shelly Januszewski Brittany Johnson Sue Jones Deanna Kovash Roberta Kuhlemeyer Marica McEachran Jenni Melvin Kay Peloquin Lana Schultz-Julin Melody Scott Kristine Schuldt Sue Seip Ronna Severson Mallory Stoderl

Jennifer Hendrickson Principal

Teaching Staff

Teresa Anderson Marilyn Barry Tricia Barthel Michelle Bormann Nancy Brekke Danielle Brenk Kersten Buskirk Tammy Christenen Emily Crabb Teri Cresap Danya Dahlin Kim Flatau Jillian Froh Erin Gaffaney Kelsey Gerszewski Carrie Grindall Darla Guehna Lauren Hanson Deb Hart Diane Hausrath Tracy Hein Amy Kimball Megan Kirchenwitz Daidre Klinnert Ann Kostynick Chelsea Marthaler Dena Mekalson Eryn Moser Sarah Olsen Kay Peloquin Jill Pirrotta Tammy Richter Mary Schmidt Susan Seip Heidi Solberg

Elementary Chelsie Tatge Julie Vomacka Faith Wokasch

Support Staff

Heidi Anderson Patty Anderson Deb Aufdenkamp Diane Bachmann Marge Berg Kathy Bickell Teresa Bontrager Melissa Bunkowski Denise Callander Annie Carey Ruth Cooper Cindy Dewar Nicki Doll Jordan Dretsch Darcy Ekse Joan Fudge Katelynn Gaffaney Jolene Goeson Jill Januszewski Nancy Kratzke Laurie Krueger Denice Kunze Sherry Larson Ramona McKibben Marcella Mills Amber Perala Sally Roe Brenda Sandahl Staci Schmitz Crystal Shepersky Amanda Starzl Mary Stoll Jessie Werner

Support Staff

Tanya Beachy Stephani Berry Connie Foltz Melissa Graham Lori Groff Sally Hofland Kathy Johnson Colleen Kroenke Barb Krumwiede Wanda Kupferschmid Roberta Miller Kathy Pesch Sue Ruther Deb Shannon Kellie Speicher Deb Troje Vickie Wagenman Teresa Wiebe

ff ol Sta eling o h c S Eb gh Jodee hnert am Hi

Perh

Pam E Flatau Betty Flatau Linda esonke Jenn y Bunkow Sue Fr ne Guck Shelle Butenhoff Franci Johnson Becky hristensen Anna ehman Sally C Hagen Lynn L Lehmann Alison aire Mary wis Amy H Hanson Jan Le Markgraf LaurenKarkela Linda cClellan Mary Palubicki Trish MMycke Soleil loquin Anita y Palubicki neider e P h y c s a K Tamm e Schattsch dra Pe Kassan ey Rooney Corinn Schreader n t r u u a o C Angie eibert Rosen Kristin Rosenow Amy S ip a s s t y d l l A Sue Se enner e Schu Kristin y Scott Doris W erner d o n l o e s M Kristi WWoodard Tosten Susan umberg Jayne aff s Shell T Wacker w e tth ALC Sy tAnderson on-Otto Kasey a Wieser-Ma Sand tte Anders Sandr Zepper Marle rignan n Kare ff hl a t S t Lisa Carine Lehmku r o p p a Su e Aakre Kath Pesch Angi nderson sen Kassie Porath Kim A en Christen Diana e r u a M Cordes Kayla

g Staff n i h c Tea ifer Bain ske

R001980694

Heart of the Lakes

Nancy Stromstad Rondi Ulmer