Get your car winter-ready
What do runners eat for energy?
A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN SIOUXLAND
Make a Halloween costume on the cheap
OCTOBER 2015
BLENDING SEASONS PUMPKINS & POLITICS MIX NICELY IN FALL
YOU CAN MAKE A GREAT CENTERPIECE QUICKLY SIOUXLAND LIFE IS ON THE WEB! VISIT WWW.SIOUXCITYJOURNAL.COM/SIOUXLANDLIFE SIOUXLAND LIFE OCTOBER 2015
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OCTOBER 2015
Siouxland Life
CONTENTS October
2015
October is one of those transitional months – a time to prepare for winter but also a time to enjoy the bounty of fall. In this issue, we give you some great entertaining hints, some decorating ideas and a leg up on the Halloween season. If you haven’t even thought about the holidays, we’ve got you covered.
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FALL FOLIAGE You can make a centerpiece out of nature’s bounty. (Honest, it’s easy!)
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DRINK UP! A tasty beverage for the season starts with a few key ingredients.
ON THE COVER Artist Brenda Schoenherr-Thelen has chosen political themes for the pumpkins she’s painting this year. It’s a great way to cover all the bases — and show support for a specific candidate. Photograph by Tim Hynds
FEATURES 4 HOME refresh your house 9 FALL READY warming up 12 FALL READY painting pumpkins 15 FALL READY winterize your car 18 FALL READY marching orders 20 FALL READY easy costumes 24 FALL READY quick centerpiece 27 FALL READY appetizers
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FALL READY autumn drinks FALL READY cross country diet FALL READY a great boss FALL READY bridal fair FALL READY apples HEALTH detector season HEALTH medical answers PARTING SHOT
PUBLISHER Steve Griffith EDITOR Bruce Miller EDITORIAL Dolly A. Butz, Tim Gallagher, Earl Horlyk, Ally Karsyn, Michelle Kuester PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Hynds, Jim Lee, Justin Wan DESIGN Mary Garrison ADVERTISING SALES Nancy Gevik ADVERTISING DESIGN Kayla Fleming
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©2015 The Sioux City Journal. Siouxland Life is published monthly by The Sioux City Journal. For advertising information, please call (712) 224-6275. For editorial information, please call (712) 293-4218.
APPLE SEASON It’s fun to pick apples and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
OCTOBER 2015
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FALL READY RefreshYour
House
7 EASY WAYS TO REFRESH
YOUR HOME FOR FALL
1. Falling for Function Your storage solutions should be as stylish as the items that they hold. These rope baskets are a great way to store some of your outdoor gear. You can’t control the weather, but you can keep boots, mittens and scarves in check. 4
OCTOBER 2015
SIOUXLAND LIFE
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Text by Ally Karsyn | Photographs by Justin Wan
IS YOUR HOUSE LOOKING A little scary? Clean out the cobwebs before friends and family arrive for the holidays and freshen up for fall with the help of Lisa Kalaher and Heather Rubel with Mod House Interiors. Their tricks are really treats.
2. In the Cart Bar carts and rolling baskets are all the craze for home interiors lately. You don’t need to be an aficionado of martinis or wine to add this piece to your home. Make it a cozy and functional fireside cart by adding blankets, books and games. When you’re ready, roll it on over to your favorite chair and enjoy simple comforts with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa on a fall morning or night.
3. Contemporary Cornucopia Want an easy, affordable and tasty way to get your house ready for fall? Decorate with something as simple as seasonal fruits and vegetables. The trick to making this look like a high-polished design is to make sure the bowl has standout style to contain your treats. If you’re going to the apple orchard or pumpkin patch this fall, you can put your pickings on display in an artful way.
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4. Fall Mix
Give an old fall wreath new life by adding a pop of color into home dÊcor with something as simple as vases. Mixing blues with traditional fall colors adds contrast and interest to a space. You don’t have to run out and buy all new things. Use what you have and mix in a few new items you really love.
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SIOUXLAND LIFE
5. Pumpkin Patch It may be the season of plenty, but that doesn’t mean you have to turn your home upside down, creating a fall fright. Add a little festive flair by picking a couple spaces you want to redecorate like the fireplace or entryway. There’s no need to have a house overloaded with pumpkins, wreaths and scarecrows to recognize the changing seasons. Bring a fresh fall look to your home by picking a statement piece that’s transitional enough to leave out all year like this golden yellow leather framed mirror. Then, add some small accent pieces to bring a little harvest to your home.
6. Trés Chic
Decorate an ottoman or coffee table with a unique faux fur accent piece and top it with an earthy wood tray and decorative boxes. Smaller items can be swapped out with the changing seasons. Complete the transformation by adding different throw pillows that subtlety suggest fall foliage but could easily weather the winter and blossom in the spring.
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7. Closet Shop Use found objects in your home and repurpose them. Books, knickknacks and cards can add visual interest to your space without breaking the bank. Stack books in different ways and anchor them with small decorative pieces. Update what’s old with polished pieces. Copper is the new “it” metal this fall, and mixing metal remains a strong trend so don’t be afraid to introduce this lovely warm hue.
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SIOUXLAND LIFE
FALL READY Window
of Opportunity
Bruce Kalin displays a gas fireplace at Kalins Indoor Comfort.
FIRED-UP DESIGNS
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FIREPLACES CAN CREATE MOOD AS WELL AS WARMTH Text by Earl Horlyk | Photographs by Jim Lee
IT’S BEGINNING TO FEEL a lot like fall inside Kalins Indoor Comfort. Despite the fact that the mercury was in the mid-80s on this early September afternoon, owner Bruce Kalin had many of the elegant fireplaces in his Sioux City showroom running at full blast. “The great thing about Midwestern weather is that things can turn on a dime,” he said, inside his 1715 Fourth
St., showroom. “It’s never too early to start thinking about updating one’s fireplace.” Once relegated to being merely a functional heat source, high-end fireplaces are becoming real showpieces for living rooms, bedrooms and, even, outdoor patios. “Fireplaces are a focal point,” Kalin explained. “They can easily turn your home into a peaceful retreat.” Passing through a wide selection of
gas, electric and wood-burning models, he said a fireplace can create a space for gathering as well as an atmosphere of comfort. “Depending on the model, a fireplace can turn a space into a sleek, sophisticated space or a rustic and cozy area for families,” Kalin said. “It all depends on the mood you want to set.” For instance, a contemporary electric fireplace adds drama as the flames change colors from orange to red to
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An electric fireplace on display at Kalins Indoor Comfort in Sioux City, Iowa.
A fireplace and TV combo.
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OCTOBER 2015
blue while a gas fireplace burns peacefully behind a cool-to-the-touch glass enclosure. According to Kalins’ comfort consultant Scott Cleveland, glass will keep curious kids and frisky pets from getting too close to the flames. “As pretty as they are to look at, fireplaces are also energy-efficient heat sources,” he said. “We want to keep everyone safe and sound.” Cleveland’s fellow comfort consultant Scott Schultz said fireplace inserts are becoming increasingly popular. “Many older homes have fireplaces that people never use,” he said. “A gas, pellet-burning or electric insert can be an economical way for people wanting to utilize their existing fireplace.” Then again, you can also build a fireplace outdoors. In the middle of Kalins Indoor Comfort’s showroom is an outdoor fire pit that burns on top of shimmering fireglass gems. “Now, this is a show-stopping piece,” Kalin said, waving a remote control in the direction of an outdoor fireplace. “It’s spectacular when you see it at night.” Reflecting on the changing nature of fireplaces, he said they still provide heat
SIOUXLAND LIFE
An outdoor fireplace.
and coziness on a wintry night. “For years, fireplaces were cozy,” Kalin said. “Now, they provide a striking design element to your home.” Well, they can certainly warm things up in a hurry, especially on an already warm afternoon in September. “Don’t you worry,” Kalin said, wiping a bead of perspiration from his brow. “It will be fall before we know it.”
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OCTOBER 2015
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FALL READY Painting
Pumpkins
SIOUX CITY ARTIST MAKES
PUMPKINS HER CANVASES
Artist Brenda Schoenherr-Thelen is shown at her Sioux City home, with a collection of politician-themed pumpkins she painted of Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.
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Text by Dolly A. Butz Photographs by Tim Hynds
BRENDA SCHOENHERR-THELEN is affectionately known as the “pumpkin lady.” The 53-year-old Sioux City woman has been painting pumpkins since she was a teenager. “I’ve just always thought it was fun to treat them as a canvas,” SchoenherrThelen said as she surveyed her round works of art resting on her dining room table. Every fall, Schoenherr-Thelen paints more than 100 pumpkins. Witches, Count Dracula and other scary faces are popular requests among clients. But she said they’ve asked to have everything from Lady Gaga to wildlife to their childhood homes painted on a pumpkin. “People call for special order ones and I’ve displayed them at the Sioux City Art Center because I work there,” she said. “Now I’m getting hit up for baby shower pumpkins and wedding pumpkins.” With the Iowa Caucuses just around the corner and both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates crisscrossing the state en masse, SchoenherrThelen is paying homage to the political process, depicting frontrunners Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders on the smooth, orange squashes that she purchases from a local farmer who runs a stand on Hamilton Boulevard. A large bi-partisan pumpkin turned on its side features the shapes of an elephant and donkey, the symbols of the Republican and Democratic parties. The animals are covered in stars and stripes. Hillary Clinton flexes her muscles a la Rosie the Riveter on a round, mediumsized pumpkin. Schoenherr-Thelen said she placed a cloth in Clinton’s hand so she could wipe her now infamous email server clean. A smiling portrait of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders graces another pumpkin. His white hair is wild like that of a mad scientist. Schoenherr-Thelen said faces are the hardest to paint. She scours Internet search engines and magazines for photos of public figures and pop culture icons. “It’s challenging, but it’s fun,” she said. She starts painting sometime in July, beginning with artificial pumpkins. Real-estate mogul and presidential hopeful Donald Trump posing as Frankenstein graces one of Schoenherr-Thelen’s artificial pumpkin alongside “Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon as Count Dracula and his announcer Steve Higgins as a green sea monster.
“A large bi-partisan pumpkin turned on its side features the shapes of an elephant and donkey, the symbols of the Republican and Democratic parties. The animals are covered in stars and stripes.” TURN TO NEXT PAGE FOR HOW TO PAINT THIS PUMPKIN.
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DO IT YOURSELF SCHOENHERR-THELEN SAID you should have an idea of what you want to paint before picking out a pumpkin. A smooth surface on the front of a real pumpkin, she said, is best. She recommends cleaning the surface of the pumpkin with water mixed with a little bit of bleach to remove bacteria so the pumpkin lasts longer. BUY A PUMPKIN SchoenherrWant to special orThelen applies a white gesso base der a pumpkin? with a brush to Call Brenda create a silhouSchoenherr-Thelen ette. Then she at 712-258-4193. applies acrylic Pumpkins range paints, which can from $10 to $50, be purchased at depending on the local craft stores, amount of detail. It in layers. takes her up to five “Acrylic paint hours to complete is forgiving. If you a pumpkin. She make a mistake paints throughout you can paint the month of Ocright over the top tober. of it,” she said. If you want to draw your image on the pumpkin in pencil before painting, Schoenherr-Thelen said that’s OK, as long as it doesn’t show through the paint. “You start with white and then you do a base of the flesh tone,” she said. “Then lightly, with a pencil, draw out the features. If you can get the eyes and mouth, you’ve got it.” From then on, Schoenherr-Thelen said you can apply whatever color paint you want, working in whatever direction you want. Just make sure the paint is dry before adding another layer on top of it. Schoenherr-Thelen even paints the pumpkin’s stem. “The stems are just as fun to paint as the rest of the pumpkin,” she said. When the pumpkin is completely dry, spray it with a clear coat acrylic spray to protect it.
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OCTOBER 2015
Artist Brenda Schoenherr-Thelen shows the steps involved in painting a pumpkin in this series of courtesy photographs.
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SIOUXLAND LIFE
FALL READY Winterize
Your Car
A man shovels out his car along Jackson Street in Sioux City in February 2015.
TIRES, BATTERY, COOLANT ALL NEED A LOOK
BEFORE SNOW FLIES
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Text by Tim Gallagher Photographs by Tim Hynds
WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DIPS, as it surely will, drivers across Siouxland will see their patience for vehicles grow thin. We have all been there: A car that groans and grumps and refuses to turn over on a day when walking just a block seems out of the question. Single digit thermometer readings will do that. The car-care pros have a few tips to share this autumn as the calendar marches on closer and closer to our first freeze, first sleet and first snow. Be prepared, they say, and make sure you’ve had a pro monitor tire pressure, engine coolant, oil and battery life. “When the first cold spell hits, we might get 150 cars here because the light on the dash says the tire pressure is too low,” says Marty Gruis, shop foreman at Woodhouse in Sioux City. “You lose about one pound of air pressure for every 10 degrees.”
Scenes like this are sure to come. Car-care pros say now is the time to have your tires, coolant and battery checked.
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Sioux City snow removal crews work to clear a windrow of snow from the middle of Seventh Street in downtown Sioux City in February. Now is the time to have your vehicle checked for the upcoming cold-weather months.
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SIOUXLAND LIFE
What does that mean? It means that the correct tire pressure for a 90-degree day results in a tire pressure that might be nine pounds below satisfactory when the temperature bottoms out at zero. And, around Siouxland, the thermometer can go from 0 to 90 in a matter of days. “When the weather turns, you must check and correct or make a change in tire pressure,” Gruis says. He adds that drivers must also check the level and the strength of their engine coolant, a point with which he finds agreement in Rod Hamm, service director at Knoepfler Chevrolet. “With antifreeze, we don’t think of it until it fails,” Hamm says. “When the weather turns, the water they use in refining drops out. And water by itself won’t burn.” Both men suggest drivers have their vehicles serviced by certified staffs, such as those found at both dealerships, entities that offer multi-point inspections as part of the car’s regular oil change. “We also check the battery as part of our 27-point inspection,” Hamm says. Batteries, according to Gruis, can be all over the figurative map. Gruis, a 24year veteran in the trade, says he’s seen vehicles roll off the assembly line with battery issues. “Some last seven to eight years,” he says. “We do a battery test for free.” “More and more people are parking inside someplace, so that helps with batteries,” says Hamm, a 26-year veteran in automotive service. Still, it is better to know the strength of one’s battery now, when it’s 50 degrees, than tomorrow when the wind chill may read 50-below. Oil is also a key factor when gearing up for arctic blasts that are sure to sweep south into Siouxland. Many car manufacturers recommend using a lighter oil during warm-weather months. “Some car-makers recommend changing oil viscosity, going from 5-20 in summer to 5-30 in winter,” Gruis says. “The 5-20 oil flows more easily at lower temperatures, which is needed in winter. The 5-30 oil is thicker and doesn’t get thinned out in hotter temperatures.” Again, service department pros can make these changes during a normal service appointment. That way, you’re ready to hit the road when the snow begins to fall.
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OCTOBER 2015
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FALL READY Marching
Orders
MARCHING BAND DIRECTOR
PUSHES QUIET, OF ALL THINGS There is strength in silence at West High
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Text by Tim Gallagher Photographs by Jim Lee and Jamie Byrnes
WHEN THE WEST HIGH marching band took the field at Olsen Stadium for a homecoming performance last month, several West Middle School seventh- and eighth-graders joined in. All in the name of recruitment, says Cody Tucker, director of bands at West High. “We have 53 members in the marching band now,” says Tucker, a Rosemount (Minnesota) High School and Luther College graduate. “Having seventh- and eighth-graders join us for homecoming might help our future numbers come up. In a school this size, there’s no reason we can’t have 200 in the band.” Tucker notes there’s an enrollment ratio tossed about by band directors. In essence, a band should come to about 15 percent of the school’s student body. West isn’t there yet. It’s not close. That’s Tucker’s challenge. He aims to reach it on a volunteer basis. That means if you’re in band at West High, you don’t HAVE to be in marching band. “I know that’s not the way it is at other schools,” Tucker says. “I think that with a volunteer group, you can push harder and push in a good way.” “The kids want to be there,” says Patrick Patterson, a 2008 West High graduate who works as assistant director of bands. When musicians who aren’t in the marching band see their peers head out for marching band practice, Patterson stays behind to work with them on concert band selections. The West High school this fall is called “B.I.O.N.I.C.” The 9-minute program features one song divided into four movements: “Gears,” “Levers,” “Pulleys” and “Springs.” Tucker realized a long-time goal in writing the music (with Patterson) and choreographing the show’s movements. “B.I.O.N.I.C.” highlights the intricate inner-workings used to build a machine. The band will perform in festivals in Sioux City, Sheldon, Orange City, Vermillion, South Dakota, and Lincoln, 18
OCTOBER 2015
Members of the West High marching band perform during the halftime show on Sept. 10, in Sioux City. From left, are, Madison Wilkie, Abby Moos, Delaney Berke and Allison Blackburn.
Nebraska. Bishop Heelan High School Director of Bands James Kunz is also tackling an ambitious fall schedule, one featuring four band festivals, ranging geographically from Marshall, Minnesota, to Ankeny, Iowa. “The kids have really gravitated toward the competition,” says Kunz, a 2007 Heelan grad and 2011 graduate of South Dakota State University. “Students here are wired to be academically and athletically competitive. Why not feed that into marching band as well?” Tucker and Patterson echo the sentiment at West. Interestingly, they have found it challenging in the early going to bring out the volume in their musicians. Many of the West High marchers, they agree, tone their music down, rather than up. “They like to play quietly, which surprised me,” Tucker says. “I’ve tried to get them to open up and to use their air effectively for those high points.”
SIOUXLAND LIFE
In the meantime, there is power in quiet. The best bands often master the moments of silence, drawing the audience in and making the quiet work for the band. Getting the band on board with these concepts will help West High’s music department soar. Doing so will undoubtedly help the musicians, too. Tucker answers the age-old question on how music instruction helps young people. “Where should I start?” he says, finding agreement with Kunz. “There’s discipline, time management and collaboration. Not only do you have to pay attention, you have to retain the information.” That skill will show when these trumpet players and percussionists one day enter the work force, be it in sales or education or service or retail. “If the work force, you’ll have to listen and retain what a manager says to you,” he says. The marching band does that every day.
Jonathan Rouse, a senior at Bishop Heelan High School in Sioux City, performs with the Heelan marching band prior to Crusader football action against Denison-Schleswig at Memorial Field in Sioux City, on Sept. 11, 2015.
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FALL READY Easy
Costumes
Can you say “Hillary and Donald”? That’s what these two do-it-yourself costumes are going for.
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SIOUXLAND LIFE
COSTUMER:
DIY COSTUMES OFTEN THE BEST Text by Dolly A. Butz | Photographs by Justin Wan and Tim Hynds
OVER THE YEARS, friends and family members have asked Karen Sowienski to help them transform into Beetlejuice, werewolves and Frankenstein. Sowienski, who has been costuming for Lamb Arts Regional Theatre for more than 20 years, said the best costumes are the ones people “create out of nowhere.” Whether you want to be a ghastly ghoul, your favorite A-list celebrity or the newsmaker of the moment, Sowineski said you too can adopt her methods to create a realistic-looking Halloween costume on the cheap. “Don’t necessarily buy alreadymade costumes. Go with your instincts,” she said. “Look at a picture of who you want to be and go to Goodwill, go to secondhand shops and see what you can find and make it work.” Costume sellers anticipate movies and TV shows to inspire many this Halloween. Expect to see dinosaurs from “Jurassic World,” characters from “Frozen” and “Star Wars,” as well as superheros like Batman and
MOST POPULAR COSTUMES 2015 Buycostumes.com’s top 10 best adult costumes for 2015: ■ 1-2. Male & Female Darth Vader – “Star Wars” ■ 3. Black Widow – “Avengers: Age of Ultron” ■ 4. Maleficent – “Disney’s Descendants” ■ 5. Captain America – “Avengers: Age of Ultron” ■ 6. Catwoman – “The Dark Knight Rises” ■ 7. Storm troopers – “Star Wars” ■ 8. Batman – “The Dark Knight Trilogy” ■ 9. Baymax – “Disney’s Big Hero 6” ■ 10. Harley Quinn – “Batman: The Animated Series, Suicide Squad” Catwoman from animated series. Sowienski searches for pictures of characters online. Then she scours secondhand stores for clothing, wigs and accessories she can use to bring them to life. She’s currently cobbling together the costumes for Lamb Arts’ BOTTOM ROW, FROM LEFT: Karen Sowienski, costumer at Lamb Arts Regional Theatre, organizes props and costumes at the school. What about Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty”? A Halloween costume is seen at the store at Goodwill of the Great Plains. John Visvikis displays a handmade mask constructed of beetles and feathers.
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A lineup of political figure masks are shown at Almost Antique and Costume Shop in downtown Merrill, Iowa.
GO POLITICAL Presidential political candidates aren’t supposed to be among the bestselling costumes until Halloween 2016, but with the Iowa Caucuses just around the corner you might want to emulate one of the front runners. Hillary Clinton said she never met a pantsuit she didn’t love. Karen Sowienski said you should start there if your heart is set on being the former First Lady and presidential hopeful. “You’ve got to look at what you want to do and just create,” she said. “You find a dress or suit that looks like that and you go from there.” Sowienski rummaged through a maze of
racks in a large room brimming with women’s clothing at Lamb Arts Regional Theatre. Sowienski said you could do the same in your closet, your mother’s closet or your grandmother’s closet. She selects a casual matching red top and pants and a bleach blonde wig that’s a little too long. Sowienski said the wig can be trimmed with a scissors or pinned up in the back up to create Clinton’s distinct bob. For business mogul and rival Donald Trump, Sowienski said she would also try to find a suit that looks like it’s high-priced, as well as a silk tie and some shiny black loafers. But she said these items aren’t the key element. It’s Trump’s silver and faded blond locks that defy gravity. “You just find some bad toupee and push it forward,” she said.
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OCTOBER 2015
SIOUXLAND LIFE
Karen Sowienski, costumer at Lamb Arts Regional Theatre, says it’s easy to pull together a Halloween costume from your closet.
“Monster Makers,” which runs through Oct. 18 at 417 Market St. The musical brings three famous monster movies to the stage. “I’m very visual. I like to see a photo – a photo that everyone recognizes,” she said.
Top costumes for Halloween 2015 ■ Catwoman and Maleficent are on Buycostumes.com’s list of the top 10 best adult costumes for 2015. Pull some black clothing out of your closet and purchase an inexpensive set of cat ears from a store like Party City and Sowienski said you’re set for hitting the streets of Gotham City as Catwoman. Wear a black cape over a dress to mimic Maleficent’s style. Her horns, Sowienski said, can be easily made with Styrofoam or paper mache. ■ If you want to look scary but traditional greeting trick or treaters, opt for dressing as Frankenstein. Sowineski said you’ll want a suit that’s too small for you or you can easily shorten arm and pant legs with a pair of scissors. Complete the look with a square hat for Frankenstein’s head and some green face paint. ■ If you wait until the last minute to create your costume, Sowienski said you should opt to attend your Halloween party as a ghost or witch. “Ghosts you can just throw that sheet on. Witches you can just wear a black dress and a black hat and an ugly wig,” she said.
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OCTOBER 2015
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FALL READY Easy
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Centerpiece
OCTOBER 2015
SIOUXLAND LIFE
David Borrink works on floral decorations at Petal Pusher in North Sioux City.
MAKING A
CENTERPIECE
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DOESN’T HAVE TO TAKE LOTS OF TIME OR MONEY Text by Michelle Kuester Photographs by Justin Wan
THE MOST MEMORABLE PART of a gathering is often the food or drink, but why can’t it be the centerpiece? According to David Borrink, designer at Petal Pusher, it can be if you make it yourself. “There is satisfaction in knowing
that you created something to bring warmth to your seasonal décor,” he said. “That way when someone comes over and says, ‘Oh, I love that centerpiece,’ you can say, ‘Oh, I made it.’” An easy and inexpensive do-ityourself centerpiece requires a basic grapevine wreath that can be purchased at a craft store, wire, a cutting tool and grasses, flowers and seed
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pods that can be found outside. If the maker wants the project to last year after year, simply use silk flowers and foliage instead of ones found outside. “It’s nice to use things you have in your yard or things you can find on a country drive to give it a more rustic, natural look,” Borrink said. Look for grasses with frayed tops and seeds to give texture and flow to the centerpiece. Coleus leaves add interesting color while mums are a good seasonal flower to include. Burnt orange, butterscotch, deep red and brown are good colors to look for, while dark purple adds a nice contrast, Borrink said. “It’s really customizeable to the tastes of the person who is making it,” he added. If the grasses or plants leave a mess, spray them with an aerosol hairspray to help keep them from falling apart. Once everything has been gathered, choose one item and place it on the wreath. Wrap and secure with wire by twisting. Cut off the excess wire. Overlap the second item over the first to hide the wire and repeat the wrapping and securing of the wire. Repeat around the entire wreath until the whole circle is covered in grasses and flowers. Finish by hot gluing seed pods to different locations around the wreath. Once the centerpiece is finished, lay it on the table with a decoration in the middle, such as a potted plant, a pumpkin, or a group of candles. “Never leave a candle unattended,” Borrink noted. This is especially important due to the dry plants in the centerpiece. “If a person is bold enough to go into a ditch and get some seed pods and put them in a bowl or vase in the center, I love that,” he said. This is a good project for DIY newbies because it doesn’t have a certain way it has to look when finished. “It will turn out how it turns out and you can tell people that’s what you were going for,” Borrink said. “I always tell people to experiment and practice.” The project also doesn’t take too much time to put together. He estimated it to take around 30 minutes. Borrink added that it might be easier to just go buy a centerpiece but making use of flowers that will soon freeze and using creativity is a winwin. “I always like having things I make as part of the holiday décor,” he said. 26
OCTOBER 2015
DAVID BORRINK DEMONSTRATES THE MAKING OF FALL CENTERPIECES
Secure pieces tightly with wire.
Repeat around the entire wreath until the whole circle is covered in grasses and flowers.
Hot glue seed pods on the centerpiece to add a finishing touch.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
Overlapping different items hides the wire and makes for an interesting look.
FALL READY Appetizers Candy corn trail mix is shown at the Hamilton Boulevard Hy-Vee. The snack combines popcorn, candy corn, golden raisins, honeyroasted peanuts and pepitos.
TABLESCAPE TOUCHDOWN
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Text by Earl Horlyk Photographs by Tim Hynds
FESTIVE FALL “FINGER FOOD” can be fun, according to Marketplace Hy-Vee’s Korie Lown. But, more important, such appetizers are also healthy and easy-to-make. “I love simple, no-fuss party foods,” Lown explained. “You don’t need to be slaving away in a kitchen when you want to have a good time with your friends.” That’s especially true for Lown, an Iowa LOWN State University Cyclones fan, who has some recipes for gridiron goodies. For instance, she has created an Autumnal trail mix, which incorporates lightly salted popcorn, pepitos (or roasted pumpkin seeds), golden raisins, honeyroasted peanuts and candy corn. “We eat with our eyes as well as with our mouths,” Lown said. “A trail mix with plenty of yellows, oranges and gold just says fall to me.” The sugary candy corn offers a sweet contrast to the saltiness of the popcorn. “Plus the popcorn adds bulk to the trail mix,” Lown said. “You can easily add more popcorn to offset the Halloween
Pumpkin dip is shown with its major ingredients pumpkin puree, apple slices and vanilla Greek yogurt - at the Hamilton Boulevard Hy-Vee.
candy.” Another way to welcome in the fall is with a hearty dip made of pumpkin. “Dips are essential for any party,” Lown said. “I’ve made mine by mixing pumpkin puree, a vanilla Greek yogurt and a touch of cinnamon.”
“It looks pretty,” she added, “and it smells wonderful.” Lown suggested thinly sliced pieces of apples can be used as “dippers” for her healthy appetizers. “It’s all about texture,” she said. “I like the crunch of an apple inside a smooth, creamy dip, but you can also use a pita chip or a dipper of your choice.” Indeed, you can use other seasonal squashes for autumnal gatherings. “Pumpkins and other squashes tend to be thought of as fall foods,” Lown said. “Still, they have plenty of impressive health benefits.” For instance, fiber-rich and heartfriendly gourds can improve eyesight, aid in weight loss and ward off colds. In addition, Lown said squashes can be used in the soups that are a staple at many tailgating parties. “Who doesn’t like a nice and healthy soup on a crisp fall day?” she asked. That’s also true for every item on Lown’s pigskin-friendly buffet. “Appetizers should never be difficult to make,” she said. “As long as you have creative recipes and good ingredients, your guests will always be happy.” And as for Lown, she’s still rooting for her beloved Cyclones. “I’m keeping my fingers cross for a good season,” she said, smiling. “I guess
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DRINK UP:
FALL READY Quick
Drinks
FALL OFFERS PLENTY OF DRINKING OPTIONS FOR LIQUEUR AFICIONADOS SIOUX CITY SANGRIA 2 ounces Cedar Ridge apple brandy 1 cup apple juice 2 ounces lemon juice 1 cup apples, thinly sliced 1 cup oranges, thinly sliced Place all in a pitcher, stir and refrigerate. Before serving, stir and fill glasses with a couple ounces of mixture and ice. Top with Sutliff hard apple cider, made in Iowa.
A Sioux City sangria, made with Cedar Ridge apple brandy, apples, oranges, lemon and apple juice and Sutliff Cider, is shown at The Diving Elk in Sioux City.
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Text by Michelle Kuester Photographs by Tim Hynds
YOU DON’T HAVE TO be a classically trained bartender to make the perfect fall drink, according to Austin Jeffries, bar manager of The Diving Elk in downtown Sioux City. “The trick is to start with what you like and experiment, experiment, experiment,” he said. “Don’t overcomplicate it.” “Basically find fall fruits, anything in season, and go from there,” added CJ Perera, owner. Perera said that pears, apples and cranberries, in addition to spices like cinnamon and allspice, can be combined with dark liquors such as apple brandy, bourbon and scotch to make a drink that complements the season. “Using fresh ingredients is the most important part,” he said. “You always want to make sure you are using proper technique and you have the right balance. You don’t want it too sweet, too tart, too strong.” Perera also noted that fall is a great time of the year to make homemade liqueurs. “Everything is being harvested so it’s the perfect time to make your own,” he
said. “You can go to the farmer’s market and get a bunch of fruit and you’re set.” In addition to the fruit, the maker would need Everclear, water and sugar. “Use the water to dilute the Everclear to the proof you want and add some sugar and fruit,” Perera said. “Fruit on its own has a limited shelf life, but if you make it into liqueur, it can last pretty much forever. Plus, then you get real flavor rather than artificial from store bought drinks.” Jeffries and Perera, each with about 10 years in the bartending business, recommended the Sioux City sangria and the Lion’s Tail for fall recipes. “The sangria is nice because you can have a party with it and make a big batch,” Jeffries said. They prefer the sophisticated flavor of the Lion’s Tail, however. “I do like the bourbon drinks,” Jeffries said. As far as non-alcoholic drinks, Jeffries and Perera recommended apple ciders and juices in addition to various aromatic teas. “There are options for everyone,” said Perera. “But how are you going to stave off a cold without a little bit of alcohol?” he joked.
Your Halloween
Candy Headquarters!
Bar manager Austin Jeffries is shown with a lion’s tail, foreground, and a Sioux City sangria at The Diving Elk. The drinks were created to compliment fall weather.
FIGHT LIKE A GIRL...
F R EE
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Combine ingredients. Shake and strain.
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Hours: M-F 9AM - 5:30PM • Sat 9AM - 5PM OCTOBER 2015
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LION’S TAIL 2 ounces bourbon 3/4 ounce lime juice 1/2 ounce simple syrup 1/4 ounce all spice liqueur
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SIOUXLAND LIFE
FALL READY Cross
WHAT’S
Country Diet
A RUNNER TO EAT & DRINK?
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: Granola bars seem to be a key ingredient in the nutritional strategy used by high school cross country runners. Gatorade is put on ice to help high school cross country runners recover after their 5,000-meter race. Skylar Wareham, a junior at OABCIG High School, holds up a food staple at a cross country meet in Holstein, Iowa.
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Text and photography by Tim Gallagher
h
HOLSTEIN, IOWA | BEEF jerky. Chocolate milk. Water. Granola bars. Chocolate milk. Eggs. Gatorade. Chocolate milk. That’s a short list of food and drink items found on the grounds of the Holstein Golf & Country Club, site of the Tim Thomas Invitational on a gorgeous Saturday morning in September. More than 800 middle school and high school cross country runners took part in the event, one that challenged high school participants to a 5,000-meter run. The middle schoolers have a shorter course, one measuring 2.5 miles. Our question: What are these runners to eat and drink before and after one of the most grueling prep competitions? “We get a list from our coach on the 30 foods to eat,” says Aedan Hickey, a junior at OABCIG High School in Ida Grove, Iowa. Generally, a night of pasta before the race is a good thing, for several athletic endeavors. The Falcon runners, according to Hickey, often have a team dinner the night before a race, at someone’s house or the Ida Grove Pizza Hut. The dinner features spaghetti, lasagna or pizza. After a race? The Falcons often find a Pizza Ranch, be it in Storm Lake, Carroll, Sioux City or Denison. These runners can practically savage the buffet, replenishing calories burned on the hills of Siouxland parks and golf course layouts. “I’ve had four bottles of water today and two granola bars,” says Alyssa Mason, a freshman at OABCIG. “My mom made me scrambled eggs this morning and I had them on the bus on the way here.” “I had toast with peanut butter this morning,” adds Madison Lansink, a Falcon sophomore. “I also had yogurt.” The list from Coach Bob Saunders may steer away competitive runners from junk food and sodas, cardinal sins of sorts in the running community. “You stay away from fast food,” says Skyler Wareham, a junior at OABCIG. Coolers of water, chocolate milk and Gatorade or Powerade dotted the course on this Saturday. Runners walked during their short “cool-down” periods following the race, many of them sipping on an ice cold bottle of water. The OABCIG runners then sat on a blanket and dove into a mix of granola bars, bananas, chocolate milk and more water. “Nature Valley granola bars,” Mason
Participants in the girls’ varsity division get set at the starting line at the Tim Thomas Invitational in Holstein, Iowa, in September.
Chocolate milk is a favorite for high school cross country runners. A cooler is part of this team’s campsite at the Tim Thomas Invitational.
said with a smile. “Honey and oats are the best!” “I had a breakfast burrito on the bus this morning,” Benson Phillips, an OABCIG junior admits. “I felt it right away.”
“We try to avoid sugary foods,” says Isaac Sorensen, a West Monona High School senior runner. “I don’t eat a lot before a race, because I try to avoid cramping. I had a donut this morning, and shouldn’t have.” Sorensen and his Spartan teammates rummage through a cooler of chocolate milk following the race. “I drink chocolate milk once I’m done, everyone does,” he says. Does everyone like beef jerky, the food item that led this story? Only one runner mentions it: Aedan Hickey. “Beef jerky? Depends on how I feel,” he says. “I had some today.” After the race, Hickey, consumes two bottles of water to cool down. He opens a granola bar and mentions the eggs he had earlier. They weren’t eggs off the farm, mind you. And not the eggs Sylvester Stallone ate raw before a workout made famous in “Rocky.” Hickey smiles. “Trolli sour eggs,” he says. “They’re candy.”
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FALL READY A
Great Boss
SIOUXLAND LEADERS TELL US WHAT WORKS AT WORK 32
OCTOBER 2015
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Text by Ally Karsyn
MANAGERS CAN MAKE OR break a workplace. Patricia Bays Haroski thought she had a good boss at the State Farm Insurance Company in Deerfield, Illinois, and rewarded him with a holiday. She founded National Boss Day in 1958, which is observed on Oct. 16, her father’s birthday. After all, he was her boss. Studies show bad bosses drive burnout and decrease job
satisfaction while an effective leader is more likely to have a team of engaged employees who are enthusiastic and committed to their work. Siouxland Life asked local leaders to share what makes someone a good boss, what steps they take to foster a positive work environment and what lessons they’ve learned. Here’s what they had to say.
COMMUNICATION
Jeana Goosmann, CEO, founder and managing partner of Goosmann Law Firm
CELEBRATION
“I want to create a happy, healthy place to work. It’s my job to help ensure we work hard as a team and enjoy our jobs. At the firm, we celebrate accomplishments, both big and small. Whether we just won a multi-million dollar case, a team member’s kid graduated or a new employee completely rocked his or her first project, we celebrate it. Each week, every employee shares weekly accomplishments and sets goals for the following week. This gives me the time to offer praise and encouragement. In the legal industry, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of court hearings and tight deadlines. It’s important that we don’t forget to have fun
“Since we spend more time with our co-workers than our families, we need to enjoy each other and build a team spirit that will continue to inspire the good work we do. To have a successful work environment, I feel that our team needs to care and support one another just like our family members. First and foremost is clear communication. We must be able to talk with one another if we are to be a successful team. The challenge has been the ever-changing way in which the younger employees communicate. Email and texting are the norm for them, but sometimes a phone call or getting up from your desk to go over and have a discussion makes for better understanding. Sitting across from someone tends to lead to better team morale, better efficiency and higher levels of success than if we only communicated electronically.” —Brian Crichton, CEO and president of Cannon Moss Brygger Architects
and celebrate life’s moments. We put life first, then work. We have numerous company parties throughout the year where we get together outside of the office and include our families. We give back to our community as a team, and we invest in our team by sending them to national conferences and providing them membership and time to get involved in professional organizations. These incentives provide my team time they need to take care of our clients while making sure that we are at our best.” —Jeana Goosmann, CEO, founder and managing partner of Goosmann Law Firm
Brian Crichton, CEO and president of Cannon Moss Brygger Architects
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OBSERVATION
Chris McGowan, president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
“In my role with the Chamber, I am afforded the opportunity to observe the example set by some of the very best business executives, managers and leaders throughout Siouxland. As an adolescent, I was encouraged to pay close attention to the actions of others and draw conclusions about which of their activities led to success and which led to failure. Watching others succeed or fail provided some very powerful lessons for me in my formative years. As a result, I have grown to have the utmost respect for those men and women who lead by example, emphasize both personal and professional integrity and demonstrate a strong work ethic. I also admire those leaders who genuinely care for the well-being of their employees and take the occasion to publicly recognize their contributions.” —Chris McGowan, president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce
MOTIVATION
Bridal
ExpO
Sunday, October11 Stoney Creek Inn · 1 pm - 4 pm Downtown Sioux City
Created for the bride, this expo showcases local businesses and their talents, services and products to help make planning the big day exciting and effortless!
For information on becoming a vendor Contact Nancy Todd at (712)224-6281 or Nancy.Todd@lee.net 34
OCTOBER 2015
SIOUXLAND LIFE
“I try to only ask of people what I myself am willing to do. If decisions are based on fairness and put the best interest of the employee and the company at the center, it should always be a win-win. Employees want an empathetic ear and want you to understand what their obstacles are. As a good manager, it’s important to listen and always look for a productive solution. I have had a couple of great bosses. They have always treated me like my ideas were important and empowered me to be creative. Knowing your boss believes in you is one of the biggest motivational drivers. What’s effective leadership varies from employee to employee. Personalities play a huge role and have to be taken into consideration when dealing with people. Some employees respond well to positive re-enforcement while others want a tougher, blunter approach. Again, having clear expectations and remembering people are human goes a long way when needing employees to rally.” —Stacia Lenz, chief operating officer of Aventure Staffing
*Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
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SIOUXLAND LIFE
OCTOBER 2015
35
FALL READY Bridal
Fair
BLING’S
Karen Clark of Thorpe & Company Jewelers shows some of the many ring options.
THE THING
WHEN IT COME TO WEDDING RINGS
t
Text by Earl Horlyk Photographs by Justin Wan
THORPE AND CO. JEWELERS’ Karen Clark knows that brides like things that bling. “In fact, I’d say today’s brides think the ‘bling-ier’ the better when it comes to wedding jewelry,” she said, inside her 501 Fourth St., store. Getting ready for the Sioux City Journal Bridal Expo, taking place from 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 11 at the Stoney Creek Inn and Conference Center, Clark said prospective couples are utilizing online sources when searching for the perfect rings, bands or jewelry. “The girls are going on (such social networking sites as) Pinterest to share the types of jewelry they like,” she explained. “That helps both the groom as well as the jeweler to pinpoint the perfect ring.” When it comes to both engagement and wedding rings, 14-karat gold remain the favorite of most brides-to-be. “(Fourteen-karat gold) is malleable and can be cast into innumerable designs,” Clark said. “Every girl wants her ring to be one-of-a-kind.” That’s especially true since the preferred shapes of rings have changed over the years, from the popular marquis shape of the 1980s and 1990s to the princess cut of the early 2000s to the cushion and radiant or round and brilliant shapes that are currently in fashion. While grooms don’t necessarily need “one-of-a-kind” jewelry, men’s wedding bands are sold almost as frequently as their bride’s wedding rings. “Years ago, many men didn’t wear bands because of their work,” Clark said. “Today’s performance metals are durable enough that it can withstand plenty of wear and tear.” Yet both brides and grooms like the personal touches that stores like Thorpe and Co. can provide, according to sales floor manager Joe Rarrat. Showing off a high-tech engraving machine, he said he can engrave fingerprints, signatures and even voice prints onto rings.
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“A simple strand of pearls used to be the necklace of choice for many brides. Nowadays, brides want something flashier and bling-ier around their necks.” KAREN CLARK
“Yeah, this goes well beyond putting one’s initials a wedding ring or band,” he said, smiling. “That all goes to making a wedding day a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” Indeed, Clark said fashions can change at a moment’s notice and so can technology. “When I first started in the jewelry business, there weren’t high-tech engraving machines,” she said. “Since we now have the technology, our customers are expecting bigger, better things.” This is also the case for wedding day jewelry, which as gone from subtle to spectacular. “A simple strand of pearls used to be the necklace of choice for many brides,” Clark said, shaking her head. “Nowadays, brides want something flashier and bling-ier around their necks.” “So do the moms and the other members of the bridal party,” she added with a grin. Which only goes to show that weddings remain a festive occasion for many customers. “Brides are more knowledgeable than ever about what they want,” Clark said. “And what they want is jewelry that will turns heads.” Looking over her vast selection of jewelry, she let out a chuckle. “You see, somethings will never change,” she said.
Various men’s rings are see at Thorpe & Company Jewelers in Sioux City.
The Home Builders Association of Greater Siouxland consists of quality builders, subcontractors, and suppliers. If you are thinking about building a new home or have a remodeling project, please contact the association for a list of reputable contractors. Visit us online at www.siouxlandhba.com for a complete list of members or e-mail us at hbasooland@siouxlan.net 3900 Stadium Dr., Sioux City, IA
712-255-3852
ne i d & n g i s e D
! y a w d a o Goes Br
~ Thursday, November 5th~ Vote for your favorite table! Cocktails & Hors d’oeuvres Live Band | Silent Auction
~ Friday, November 6th~ Dinner & Live Auction Reserved Seating
Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center
For ticket information call 712.255.4321 www.crittentoncenter.org Benefiting: sponsored by:
SIOUXLAND LIFE
OCTOBER 2015
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ask a professional Dr. Joel Pistello, DC
Q: Doctor, it’s great the kids are back to school, but yesterday I went to move Suzie’s backpack and it felt like a 20-pound bowling ball! Is it safe for them to be constantly carrying so much weight?
A: At first, I wanted to give this answer a quick strike and proclaim, “No!”, but the reality is that it’s safe as long as you follow two simple rules: don’t lean forward to support the weight, and wear both shoulder straps. Rule #1 is easy to correct and follow if your child’s backpack is worn with the bottom no more than 4” below the waist. Keeping the backpack higher makes the weight easier to carry. Additionally, make sure that the backpack doesn’t weigh more than 10% of their body weight. Both of these rules keep them from leaning forward to support their backpack. Rule #2 keeps the weight distributed evenly, and keeps the spine from having to uncomfortably bend and stretch muscles on one side, which can create spinal pain and dysfunction, which is a big “No-No” at such a young age. If you are interested in more tips about safe backpack use, we’ve posted some more tips from the ACA on our Facebook page. In most cases, following these two simples steps can keep your children’s spines pain free.
Call 276-4325 today for an appointment 3930 Stadium Drive. (Between Wal-Mart & Explorer Stadium)
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OCTOBER 2015
Siouxland Life
FALL READY Apples!
Hope Earthwood kneels down by her 3-year-old daughter Piper, who is snacking on freshly picked apples, at Autumn Grove Orchard. It was Piper’s birthday.
APPLES ARE RIPE
FOR PICKING AT NEW ORCHARD
t
Text and photographs by Ally Karsyn
THREE-YEAR-OLD PIPER PICKS A peck of apples. The pieces of fruit fit perfectly in her little hands. She holds them up and says they’re friends, then, sits down to eat them, engulfed by her frilly, purple tutu. Her mom, Hope Earthwood, and older brother Keegan, 8, moved down the row of dwarf trees in the orchard while she bit into the apples and spit out the peels. She’s the birthday girl. She can do what she wants. But soon, she realizes she’s being left behind and runs after them to catch up.
IF YOU GO Autumn Grove Orchard, at 1658 180th St., is open from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays through Oct. 17. Groups can arrange to visit the orchard outside of normal business hours. For more information, find Autumn Grove Orchard on Facebook or call 712-2045951.
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OCTOBER 2015
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“Mom, pick that one,” Keegan says, laughing and pointing to an apple plagued by pests. Earthwood outsmarts his antics. “That would mush right through my fingers,” she says. The kids won’t pluck just any apple from the saplings, supported by a trellis system. They’re looking for blemish-free fruit. Their mom encourages them pick the ugly apples. It doesn’t matter if they have spots. She can cut that out to make pie. They went apple-picking at Autumn Grove Orchard, located on the northeast edge of Sioux City, for Piper’s birthday. They visited the fruit farm last year, too. Stephanie Heger and her husband planted more than 1,000 trees in the spring of 2012 and began harvesting the following year. It’s a big commitment that spiraled out of her flip remark about selling apples instead of going back to work when their youngest, Clint, started kindergarten. Now, nine varieties of apples grow in place of an alfalfa field. They’re busy and like it that way. Heger’s husband works at MidAmerican Energy on a swing shift while she’s actually returned to work part-time at an insurance company, which leaves weekends open to run the orchard. On a Saturday, she greets customers who walk up to the front porch of the two-story farmhouse. McIntosh, Gala, Fuji and Red Delicious apples are ready to pick. APPLE PIE SPREAD 8 ounces cream cheese 1 tablespoon apple juice 2 tablespoon brown sugar ½ teaspoon cinnamon 1 chopped apple ½ cup chopped pecans (optional) Whip together cream cheese, apple juice, brown sugar and cinnamon, Stir in apples and pecans. Serve with buttery crackers.
Clint Heger, 8, picks overripe apples from the slender trees in the orchard and puts them in a basket to be processed.
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APPLE BEER BREAD 3 cups flour 1/3 cup brown sugar 4 ½ teaspoon baking powder 1 ½ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoon cinnamon 12 ounces of hard apple cider 1 large apple, finely chopped (about 2 cups) Whisk together dry ingredients. Slowly pour in hard cider. Mix gently just until dough comes together. Spread into lightly greased loaf pan. Sprinkle a bit of extra brown sugar on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes. Release from pan. Then, cool another 10 minutes. Serve warm.
A woman with a stroller asks what variety Heger would recommend to make apple juice. Another woman arrives on their doorstep after calling OnStar to find the nearest orchard. An older couple shows up to and buys a medium-sized bag for $20. The man’s happy as long as there’s pie later. They’re encouraged to top off their bag until the bottom’s ready to fall out to get their money’s worth. Children’s screams of delight echo from the end of the driveway, where they’re sitting on straw bales to get their pictures taken. Heger remembers taking her kids to the 33-acre orchard in Mondamin, Iowa, where the trees towered overhead. She’d have to hold them up, high above her shoulders, and beg them to pick an apple. When they finally did, half the time, it would fall to the ground and get bruised. Now, Katie, 14, Carsyn, 12, and Clint, 8, pitch in to help at the family’s pick-yourown fruit farm, which is the only one in Sioux City. On a brisk summer day, the younger two sit on the porch, quietly reading while customers come and go. When there’s a lull in the afternoon, they bring baskets out to the orchard and gather apples that have fallen on the ground.
Stephanie Heger, above, and her husband Jason own and operate Autumn Grove Orchard, a pick-your-your fruit farm in Sioux City located one mile east of Old Highway 141. The orchard opened in 2013 and produces about 500 bushels of apples.
Lacy, the family’s 7-year-old mini Schnauzer that serves as “orchard security,” naps on a piece of patio furniture, tuckered out from greeting customers, picking up apple cores and chasing grasshoppers.
There’s no going back now, Heger says, looking out at the slender trees, situated on a sloped acre. She’s developed a passion for produce and finding new recipes to share with her applepickers.
HOW TO CHOOSE A HOME BUILDER If you’re in the market for a new home, you should shop for your builder as carefully as you shop for your home. You want to know that you are buying a good quality home from a reputable builder. Here are some tips to help you choose a builder.
Make a List of Possible Builders • Contact your local home builders’ association to obtain a list of builders who construct homes in your area. Visit www. siouxlandhba.com for a list of builders in the Siouxland area. • Make a list of builders who build the type of home you’re looking for in your price range. • Local real estate agents may also be able to help you in your search. • Ask friends and relatives for recommendations. Ask about builders they have dealt with directly, or ask them for names of acquaintances who have recently had a good experience with a builder.
Do Your Homework When you have a list of potential builders, it’s time to start asking lots of questions — of both the potential builders and the owners of their homes.
• Interview potential home builders to get the answers to all the questions you have. • Then, visit a builder’s recently built homes and subdivisions. Drive by on a Saturday morning when home owners may be outside doing chores or errands. Introduce yourself and say you are considering buying a home from the builder who built their home. Talk to several owners, and try to get a random sample of opinions. The more people you talk with, the more accurate impression of a builder you are likely to get. • Some questions to ask home owners include: Are you happy with your home? If you had any problems, were they fixed promptly and properly? Would you buy another home from this builder?
homes. Doing so will help you to make comparisons later.
Shop for Quality and Value When examining a home, look at the quality of the construction features. Inspect the quality of the cabinetry, carpeting, trimwork and paint. Ask the builder or the builder’s representative a lot of questions. Get as many specifics as possible. If you receive the answers verbally rather than in writing, take notes. Never hesitate to ask a question. What seems like an insignificant question might yield an important answer. To find a home builder in the Siouxland are visit our website at www.siouxlandhba.com.
• Usually, people tell you if they are pleased with their homes. And if they are not, they’ll probably want to tell you why. • At the very least, drive by and see if the homes are visually appealing. • When you talk to builders and home owners, take along a notebook to record the information you find and your personal impressions about specific builders and
Rich Callahan President Heritage Homes of Siouxland
SIOUXLAND LIFE
712-255-3852 siouxlandhba.com OCTOBER 2015
41
FALL READY Detector
season
CARBON MONOXIDE CAN BE DEADLY BUT FEW PEOPLE HAVE DETECTORS
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OCTOBER 2015
SIOUXLAND LIFE
c
Text and photographs by Dolly A. Butz
CARBON MONOXIDE IS AN odorless, colorless, tasteless gas that is toxic to humans in high concentrations. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 170 people die every year in the United States, on average, from carbon monoxide produced by non-automotive consumer products such as malfunctioning fuel-burning appliances like furnaces, ranges, water heaters and room heaters. Engine-powered equipment, including portable generators, fireplaces and charcoal that is burned in homes and other enclosed areas can also cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Sioux City Fire Marshal Mark Aesoph said fireAesoph fighters respond to many carbon monoxide alarms per year in the city, mostly in the wintertime when homes are closed up a little tighter and furnaces are running. Some incidents, he said, involve malfunctioning alarms. Others are true carbon monoxide incidents, but the occupants haven’t developed symptoms because they were alerted by the alarm. When an alarm isn’t present or working properly, Aesop said, residents can develop symptoms which include dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness or breath, nausea and vomiting. In severe cases carbon monoxide can render a person unconscious and even kill them. “They mimic flu-like symptoms and progress into obviously very severe life-threatening symptoms,” he said. “The most dangerous time with carbon monoxide is when you’re asleep. You’re not going to notice any of the symptoms. You’re just not going to wake up.” Five guests of Sioux City’s Corey Motel were exposed to carbon monoxide in early September. A women, her two children and her parents were taken to a hospital by ambulance, suffering from headache,
“They mimic flu-like symptoms and progress into obviously very severe life-threatening symptoms. The most dangerous time with carbon monoxide is when you’re asleep. You’re not going to notice any of the symptoms. You’re just not going to wake up.” MARK AESOPH vomiting and nausea. The 2009 international fire and building code doesn’t require carbon monoxide detection in commercial properties. Aesoph said the 2012 code, which hasn’t yet been adopted, mandates that carbon monoxide detectors be installed. Few single-family homes in Sioux City, Aesoph said, have carbon monoxide detectors. “From a single-family dwelling the fire department does not have any jurisdiction on that,” he said. “I believe that requirement will be in single-family homes for new construction when we move to the 2015 (international fire and building code).” You can purchase a basic batterypowered detector for under $20 or go with a more expensive, sleek, high-tech one. Nest Protect makes a carbon monoxide and smoke combination alarm that will even message your smartphone when the alarm goes off. You can check on the detector at any time with the nest app. Carbon monoxide detectors, Aesoph said, should be installed near sleeping areas according to the manufacturer’s directions. “Carbon monoxide is very, very similar to ambient air when it comes to the density, so if there’s any air movement in your house just from the furnace or doors opening and closing or a window opening, it’s going to go pretty much everywhere from top to bottom,” he said.
N PREVIOUS PAGE: Nest Protect detects carbon monoxide and smoke. It doesn’t just sound an alarm. Nest O Protect says if the danger is smoke or carbon monoxide and identifies which room it’s in. The system also sends a message to your smartphone if there’s a problem.
If you have an carbon monoxide alarm and it goes off, Aesoph said you should call 911 immediately, even if you feel fine. He said firefighters armed with their own monitors will test carbon monoxide levels in the home. He said it’s not a bad idea to test the detector once in a while to make sure it’s in working order. “You’re never going to go wrong if you do it every week,” he said.
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ADVICE Medical
Answers
‘DOC, I’VE GOT A QUESTION …’ answers to your medical questions
My son plays football. But how would he know if he’s getting dehydrated during practice? Are there signs? What should he do immediately?
Yes, there are signs of dehydration that one can watch out for. With mild dehydration (3 to 5 percent body fluid volume loss), one might not be able to appreciate any obvious signs or symptoms except for thirst and decreased urine output compared to normal. With moderate dehydration (6 to 9 percent body fluid volume loss), signs and symptoms are readily apparent, including rapid heart beat at rest, dry mucous membranes, decreased sweating, irritability, deep breathing without an increase in the rate of breathing at rest, and again, decreased urine output. With severe dehydration (greater than or equal to 10 percent body fluid volume loss), all of the above signs and symptoms are present plus the addition of lethargy and a change in mental status with altered consciousness in the later stages. If your son notices any of these signs or symptoms, he should first try to replenish the loss of body fluids with water. Easing up on any strenuous activity as appropriate is also warranted for any signs and symptoms of moderate or severe dehydration. Replacing electrolytes using IV fluids isn’t usually necessary until severe dehydration becomes apparent based on the signs and symptoms listed above.
If you get the flu shot too soon, does it wear out earlier? No, the flu shot has been shown to be effective for at least a year after administration. The CDC actually recommends that the flu shot be administered as soon as it becomes available so that individuals can be protected during the flu season for as long as possible. The reason we get vaccinated against the flu annually
is because the flu shot is designed differently every year to include protection against particular flu strains that are thought to be most effective during that year’s flu season.
Is it ok to let my kids have something to eat before they go to bed? Or is that a bad idea? Snacks before bedtime can actually be OK as long as the snack does not promote overeating or lead to problems with sleep. Certain types of snacks, for example, simple carbohydrates (potato chips, candy, crackers, sugary cereal, etc.), can lead to overeating and continued hunger because these foods are high in calories but low in nutrition. In contrast, other types of snacks, for example, proteins and complex carbohydrates (lean meats, dairy, fruits, vegetables), which are high in nutrition, can lead to a more satisfied appetite, less overeating, and therefore better overall sleep.
I got a paper cut that went so deep I was afraid I wouldn’t get the blood to stop. What’s the best thing to do after something like this happens?
The best thing to do in this situation would be to apply continuous pressure to the area of bleeding with a bandage, piece of gauze, or clean cloth and hold pressure on the wound for at least 10 minutes. If the bleeding significantly slows down but the wound is still bleeding, continue to hold pressure on the wound and if the bleeding does not stop within one hour, you should go to the clinic, hospital, or Emergency
MEET THE DOC Jesse Nieuwenhuis is a first-year family medicine resident physician at the Siouxland Medical Education Foundation in Sioux City, Iowa. He grew up on a farm near Primghar, Iowa, and chose to attend the University of Iowa and Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, for his undergraduate college education, graduating from Northwestern with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry in 2009. He then chose to work at the Iowa Neonatal Newborn Screening Program in Ankeny, Iowa, as a microbiologist for a short time after graduating from college. He then attended medical school at the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, Ill., graduating with an M.D. in 2014. Upon graduating from medical school, he chose to pursue his graduate medical education in Family Medicine at the Siouxland Medical Education Foundation in Sioux City. Room for further medical care. If after the initial 10 minutes of pressure over the wound does not resolve the bleeding and the bleeding seems heavy, you should go seek medical attention sooner, rather than waiting for up to an hour. In many instances, bleeding that does not stop with continuous pressure over a wound for at least 10 minutes may require stitches in order to close the wound, which would be an indication to seek medical care sooner rather than later..
WHAT KINDS OF HEALTH QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE? Submit your questions and they may be used in this monthly feature. Write to Siouxland Life at 515 Pavonia St., Sioux City, Iowa 51102.
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PARTING SHOT By
Bruce Miller
THE MILITARY MANEUVERS OF
HALLOWEEN GREAT MILITARY LEADERS DIDN’T learn strategy and maneuvers at some high-level training camp. They obviously went trick-or-treating. If, like me, they wanted to cover the most territory and get the biggest bang for their buck, they started planning early. As a child, I mapped my town weeks in advance, trying to determine who would be home at what hours, when best to hit the “good” houses and what to do with the ones who, basically, were Switzerland. Plan the attack appropriately and there would be enough candy to live on for three months. Make one wrong move and insurgents (like dad) could spoil even the best-laid plans. The goal, of course, was to nab those full-sized candy bars. Few people opted for them, particularly since those “bite-sized” ones were so readily available. But yes, my friend, those full-sized bars were there. Hiding in some bunker on a street you’d least suspect, they’d be dropped in the bag like missives from the underground. Sometimes, it took intel from another combat veteran (“Get to the blue house on the corner. The old man has Hershey bars”). Sometimes, it required a bit of undercover work (“If you sing her a song, the lady will pull out the good stuff”). Sometimes, it just required charm. Rookies often made the mistake of asking for something “for my sick brother” but that never worked. A true brother-in-arms would have stayed with that ailing comrade and sent a sister out on the flanking maneuver. Mine was a true veteran, able to infiltrate the unsuspecting, report back and help me move in from the bunker. Clearly, the Oct. 31 mission required a good grasp of where the land mines might exist. An old woman, for example, could have pop corn balls – the
worst – or an elaborate Halloween display she wanted you to see that would take precious time to navigate. Hit too many of these and you were bound to declare the mission a failure. (The secret: See who decorated too intensely and who was just waiting for “lights out.”) Newer homes were always allies. They probably had Halloween troops of their own; they knew how to play the game: In, out and on to the next location. Older homes took some study. Any rookie knows a dark house is a dead house. But sometimes there’s a faint light in a window that suggests it could be worth trying. A single man, you see, didn’t want to look unprepared. Instead of shooing you away, he dug in his pocket and came up with cold, hard cash. Score. But an older home with a dentist was a real trap. Due to some ethical code (or an overabundance of freebies), he always felt an obligation to hand out toothbrushes. Luckily, I had a dentist who saw this as a way to spur business. He gave the gooiest, filling-unfriendly caramel bars around. And, in the world of trickor-treating, that was a risk worth taking. Other medical personnel weren’t as overt. They, too, got on some crazy health kick and thought apples and oranges (typical Christmas stock-
ing stuff) were appropriate. Little did they know they made them a target for less honorable Halloween soldiers. (Egg on your window? It can easily be traced back to apples.) In a four-hour period (and, yes, that’s how long trick-or-treating lasted before the Internet spread these nasty “shut your lights off at 8” rumors), it was possible to fill several bags with candy. Cute “character” uniforms worked better than scary “guess who I am?” ones. Masks beat makeup; politeness trumped speed. Once home, it became a matter of assessing the damage, assembling the loot and repaying those who aided in the mission. Dad took anything (it was candy, after all); sis got stickers and pencils; mom (who had snacked all night on the candy we gave out) didn’t care. That left the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers Bars, Hershey’s and M & M’s for me. Lined on my bed, it was a king’s ransom, ready to make a month or two of homework more palatable. George S. Patton and Dwight Eisenhower, I figure, got similar booty when they were kids. But I’m sure they dressed as soldiers when they went out and, in the dog-eatdog world of trick-or-treating, probably didn’t match my take. When it comes to capturing candy, a cute little bear beats Rambo any day.
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