John Deere fans turn Christmas green
You can make a quick ornament
Don’t ever drive drowsy
A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN SIOUXLAND
DECORATING
A DREAM HOME IT’S MORE WORK THAN YOU MIGHT THINK
A gift guide for everyone on your list
DECEMBER 2015
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Contents December
2015
Before you start worrying about the holidays, we’ve got plenty of suggestions, stories and insight to share. From decorating a dream home to having that much-needed conversation with older relatives, we’ve got plenty packed in this month’s Siouxland Life. So, grab something to drink, sit back and welcome in the season with us.
22 Making a memory
Artists show how you, too, can craft an ornament they’ll want to keep.
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Santa speaks Wonder what Santa’s really thinking? We’ve got 20 questions for the jolly old elf.
On the cover A soft palette works well in both warm and cold weather. The Hamanns chose a light blue for accents, which plays nicely off the gray walls and furnishings. Photograph by Jim Lee features 4 THE HOLIDAYS a dream home 14 THE HOLIDAYS staging a pageant 16 THE HOLIDAYS times four 19 THE HOLIDAYS collection 22 THE HOLIDAYS ornament fun 26 THE HOLIDAYS gift guide 34 THE HOLIDAYS food, food, food
36 38 40 42 44 45 47
THE HOLIDAYS picture-perfect THE HOLIDAYS 20 questions THE HOLIDAYS Scrooge THE HOLIDAYS first baby HEALTH medical answers HEALTH drowsy driving 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 April Burford and Diane Cunningham Advertising Sales Nancy Gevik Advertising Design Kayla Fleming ©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.
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A close shave Playing Scrooge can change a guy’s attitude
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December 2015
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THE HOLIDAYS decorating
a dream home
DECORATING
A DREAM
HOME How do you fill space you never knew you had?
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Text by Julie Hamann Photographs by Jim Lee
CORRECTIONVILLE, IOWA | IT’S surreal almost, to sit on my comfy couch in our living room by the warm fireplace, sipping a cup of hot cocoa, the Christmas lights twinkling, and looking out the windows at the light snow falling on the rolling hills beyond our acreage. It really is cliché, but this is what we’ve made our dream home. And yet here we are, a year after moving into our new construction home southeast of Correctionville, Iowa. My husband, Jason, and I had a vision of building our dream home almost from the beginning of our marriage. For 10 years, we saved here and there for what would become our 5,900-square-foot home on the farm – with a corn field surrounding us and a view of the cattle yards (not everyone’s dream location I’m sure!). One year later, I’m still at times amazed, but always grateful, for being here – home with my husband and our 7-year-old daughter, Gabby. Building a home is absolutely
Julie Hamann in the kitchen of her home near Correctionville, Iowa.
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Lots of windows help bring the outdoors in, even in the dining room.
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stressful. Slate gray or powder gray for the siding color? Tile or wood floor in the kitchen? Granite or laminate countertops? Outlet here or light switch there? I remember our contractor asking us how we wanted the fascia to look on the exterior. I looked at him like he had three heads and said, “The what?” But making those decisions became much easier with the help our general contractor. It occurred to us that we had to put a lot of trust in our contractor, and we had a wonderful building experience with H&H Construction in Kingsley, Iowa. Lance Howe, co-owner and contractor of their residential projects, made our job easier with his knowledge, patience and let’s-do-it attitude. And we were thrilled with every sub-contractor we had here, most recommended by Lance. Friends often ask if we would change anything about the house. The answer is no, not really anything big. We spent almost two years planning, designing and tweaking the architect’s drawings and plans. Putting in a lot of work on the front end of the project saved us a lot of headaches during the building process. We didn’t get everything we wanted – I had the vision of a second story so we could have this grand curved staircase. The first bid came back for that design and my husband, very budget-conscious,
Above: The fireplace is ready for the holidays with touches of blue that complement the living room decorating. Left: Julie and Jason Hamman in their home near Correctionville, Iowa.
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The music room is home to a grand piano – and a Christmas tree.
said back to the drawing board. We did a quick redesign and were satisfied with a ranch house with walk-out basement, open-concept main floor, four bedrooms and four-and-a-half baths. The one room I was willing to sacrifice anything for was a music room. I’ve played piano for 21 years and Jason is a former marching band student, so I dreamed of an elegant room for my grand piano and his various instruments. Jason’s dream was a theater room. We weren’t going to finish the theater room during the original build to save some money. But once the room was framed and dry-walled, we decided it wasn’t that much more to paint and carpet and do it while the contractors were still on site. Another must-have in the design was a large office and mudroom area, since we live on the farm. A lot of time is spent in the office doing the bookkeeping for the farming operation. And the dirty clothes and muddy boots stay in the mudroom. It’s a beautiful home, but it still gets dirty and we’ve already put a small hole in a wall. But like I say, this isn’t a museum – we live here. I have one guilty pleasure in the house – a giftwrapping station in the office. I blame Pinterest for that idea. Jason’s guilty pleasure is the steam shower and heated
At the start...
Consider the finish
The theater room has ample seating for friends and family.
towel rack in the master bath. Although some of our dream features became a reality, we still had to watch the budget. We installed granite countertops in the kitchen and the bathrooms, but used laminate countertops in the office, laundry room and basement bar. I even found a remnant piece of granite to do four of the five bathrooms. The mud bathroom has an onyx countertop. We waited until Lowe’s ran a special on carpet installation and saved a bundle there. I gave up the beautiful built-in china hutch planned for the kitchen to save some money on cabinetry. Hopefully down the road we can acquire the hutch. And landscaping will be a gradual project for the next few years.
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The master bedroom. Note the pillows on the bed.
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Above: The master bathroom is designed with a spa feel in mind. It has both a shower and a spa tub. Right: The master bedroom closet features its own washer and dryer. Bottom: What to do with an extra nook in the master bedroom? Turn it into a seating area, complete with view.
Decorating a home takes time. I didn’t pressure myself to have photos and artwork on the walls, new furniture in every room or curtains hung immediately. I like decorating – combing through magazines and Pinterest for ideas, finding unique items at little boutiques and bargain hunting. We purchased some new furniture when we moved in, and a few more pieces during the past year. But with the idea of saving money, we’ll eventually add more. Choosing a color scheme and wood finishes was made easier with photo ideas from Houzz.com (check it out – it’s like Pinterest for house design). It was also helpful to show pictures to our various contractors so they could envision what we wanted. The wall paint throughout is coordinating shades of gray, something I chose as an alternative to earth tones. We particularly like detailed woodwork and features, like the coffered ceiling in the great room, the tray ceiling in the master bedroom and crown molding in the kitchen. When we moved in September 2014, I immediately put out autumn decorations. But by mid-November I was anxious to decorate for my favorite holiday – Christmas! Fortunately, I was raised
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DECEMBER 2015
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In the lower level family room, there’s a more casual feel (and yet another Christmas tree).
Left: A guest bedroom offers great views – and its own Christmas tree. Right: A home has to have a gift wrapping station, right? It’s located in the office Julie and Jason share.
by a mother who has a knack for decorating and a Christmas tree in every room. Much to my husband’s chagrin, I inherited the “tree-in-every-room” philosophy. Three years ago, when we knew we were going to build and we knew the great room would have 14-foot ceilings, I went on the hunt for a 12-foothigh Christmas tree. At a gardening store in Omaha on the day after Christmas, I found that tree, deeply discounted at 80 percent off. I continued to buy trees and other holiday décor on sale and clearance, able to
pack it away at our storage unit until I needed it. The great room tree is done in turquoise blue and apple green with white accents. I saw a similar tree at a floral and home décor store in Omaha. The music room, with its warm mahogany wainscoting and coffered ceiling, has a 9-foot tree done in bronze, copper and gold with touches of red and green. Although the tree was new, those decorations were what I had on our tree at our former house. I shop at numerous places for Christmas décor – Hobby Lobby, Michael’s,
Target, floral stores, department stores and even Lowe’s. The guestroom tree is a winter wonderland theme, with knitted sweater, owl and penguin ornaments in light blue, red and white – all found at Lowe’s. This year, I hope to add an Iowa State-themed tree in the theater room, and a cowgirl-themed tree in Gabby’s bedroom. Our second Christmas in our home is just around the corner. We look forward to hosting get-togethers with friends and family, and taking time to bask in the glow of the fire in the fireplace and the Christmas lights.
Siouxland Life
December 2015
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THE HOLIDAYS staging
the pageant
Combining musicians, actors and state-of-the-art electronics, Sunnybrook Community Church’s Christmas Eve at the Orpheum has become an annual tradition, according to Laurie Van Cura, the church’s spiritual formation pastor.
Taking the ‘stuffiness’ out of the traditional Christmas Eve church service
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Text by Earl Horlyk | Photographs provided
SIOUX CITY | Laurie Van Cura is debating whether or not to have live animals at Sunnybrook Community Church’s annual Christmas Eve at the Orpheum services. “We’ve had them in the past,” the church’s spiritual formation pastor says inside her 5601 Sunnybrook Drive office, “but we always like to try new things.” According to Van Cura, she and her team begin planning the Christmas program as early as September. “It’s a pretty intensive three-month process,” she says of a service that will include musicians, actors, technicians as well as many members of the church’s congregation. “We leave nothing to chance.” That makes sense since Sunnybrook’s annual Christmas Eve services have attracted as many as 6,000 people. “This year, we’ve added an additional service because they proved so popular,”
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December 2015
Contemporary songs replace hymns at Sunnybrook Community Church’s Christmas Eve at the Orpheum.
Van Cura says. The church’s Christmas Eve services will be held at 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Dec. 24 at the Orpheum Theatre, 528 Pierce St. Van Cura says the event is Sunnybrook’s “gift to the community.” “Too many churches turn inward
Siouxland Life
when it comes to celebrations,” she notes. “Instead, Sunnybrook prefers to look outward to the community as a whole.” The reason is simple. “Many people think church services will be too stuffy or too formal,” Van
Planning for Christmas Eve at the Orpheum begins as early as September, said Laurie Van Cura, spiritual formation pastor for Sunnybrook Community Church.
Sunnybrook Community Church’s Laurie Van Cura said her church’s Christmas Eve program is held at Sioux City’s Orpheum Theatre because the location is less intimidating to some audiences.
Cura says. “We are hoping to change people’s attitudes toward religion by making it more relevant.” That includes casual clothing as well as a musical program that is “less church-like.” “While we’ll still be doing ‘Silent Night,’” Van Cura says, “our music will be less hymn-driven than a typical service.” Which isn’t to say that Sunnybrook’s services aren’t based in the Bible. “At Sunnybrook, our vision is to invite people from all walks of life to join us in getting to know Jesus in a very personal way,” Van Cura says. “We seek out those who don’t know Jesus, so they can experience his love and healing.” That includes people who may have had a bad experience with churches in the past. “This is the reason we hold our Christmas Eve service at the Orpheum instead of our church,” Van Cura says. “The Orpheum is a more neutral setting plus it is a beautiful place, especially around the holidays.” With comedy skits and contemporary songs played on guitars as opposed to the organ, Van Cura says Sunnybrook is hoping to reach a much wider audience with its Christmas Eve services. “There are so many people searching for spirituality in their lives,” she says. “We want to show those people that religion is just as relevant today as it has ever been.” Details What: Christmas Eve at the Orpheum, presented by Sunnybrook Community Church When: 2, 4 and 6 p.m. Dec. 24 Where: Orpheum Theatre, 528 Pierce St.
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THE HOLIDAYS times
four
Ashlyn Putzier, 11, talks about the family’s collection of Christmas ornaments with her quadruplet brother Corbin Putzier during an interview at their home in Cushing, Iowa. Behind this pair are, from left, Aubrey Putzier, father Chris Putzier and Carter Putzier.
‘CUSHING QUADS’
MAKE THEIR LISTS, CHECK THEM TWICE (OR FOUR TIMES)
c
Holiday packs plenty of joy for growing family
Text by Tim Gallagher Photographs by Justin Wan
CUSHING, IOWA | APRIL Putzier keeps lists, daily. Come December, she organizes presents by wrapping similar gifts in the same paper, then moving to another roll of paper for another set of presents. Christmas works that way when you’re the mother of five children, including 11-year-old quadruplets. “I have to be organized,” Putzier says on a busy Monday night at home with husband, Chris, and their growing
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Part of a collection of Christmas ornaments is shown at the Chris and April Putzier home in Cushing, Iowa. The Putziers are parents of five children, including 11-yearold quadruplets.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
family. “If I weren’t organized, I’d be in trouble.” We last visited April Putzier well before dawn seven years ago, as the Putzier quadruplets headed off to kindergarten at River Valley Elementary School in nearby Correctionville, Iowa. “I remember that morning,” April says with an energetic laugh. “I poured coffee into my cereal that day!” Christmas morning for the Putziers begins with cereal. The quadruplets Aubrey, Corbin, Carter and Ashlyn, join older brother, Cameron, 16, in examining what’s been left under the Christmas
Aubrey Putzier, 11, talks about Christmas ornaments with her father Chris Putzier at their home in Cushing, Iowa. Christmas is Aubrey’s second-favorite holiday, trailing only her birthday. She is one of four children born to Chris and April Putzier on Jan. 28, 2004.
tree in the living room. Clad in new pajamas (the only present they’re allowed to open on Christmas Eve), the children report to the kitchen table for a breakfast feast featuring big bowls of cereal. “And then we head to the living room where we slowly go through opening Christmas gifts,” April says. “It goes soooo slow!” groans Corbin, admitting he might be the most impatient of the bunch. There’s a method to this Yuletide madness, April says. Opening gifts oneby-one allows each family member to bask in the limelight a bit, if only for a few minutes. It also helps each child learn a little something about accepting gifts with enthusiasm and courtesy. “We don’t have lots and lots of gifts,” April admits. “I really want them to take their time and enjoy it.” While Chris and April Putzier had access to all sorts of materials concerning the upbringing of their quadruplets, who were born on Jan. 28, 2004, none of it related to handling holidays, especially one so vitally important to children. Where does Christmas rate for these River Valley sixth-graders? Aubrey and Ashlyn say Christmas, as a holiday, runs second, trailing only their birthday. The girls show how high Christmas rates with lists that rival Mom’s. Ashlyn writes a list and numbers each item. She then highlights each item as well, and provides a key at the top of the page for her mother, who will spend time shopping in the weeks leading up to Dec. 25.
April Putzier of Cushing talks about her quadruplets during an interview at her home in Cushing, Iowa. April Putzier’s keys to Christmas involves enthusiasm and organization. She and husband Chris Putzier are the parents of five children; 16-year-old Cameron and four 11-year-olds.
April Putzier names and dates ornaments that adorn one of two Christmas trees at their home in Cushing, Iowa. Making labels and lists helps April keep everything organized as she and husband Chris plan for a Christmas celebration with their five children.
Items highlighted in pink go under the “Maybe” category, as in “maybe” Mom can get this. Gift ideas listed under a yellow highlight fall under the “What I Really Want” category. Items highlighted in blue are not make-or-break gifts. “I guess the ones in blue it doesn’t really matter if she gets them or not,” April says. There’s even a category in orange called, “Just Kidding.” Carter opts for a different approach. He writes his list and has a column for “What I Sorta Want.” “Ever since they’ve been able to make their own lists, I’ve had them do it,” April says. Each year, she and Chris set aside extra dollars for a bigger gift item for the four quadruplets. Last year, when all four wrote “Red Rider BB Gun” on their list, Mom and Dad saved the $120 it took to purchase a set of four.
Aubrey Putzier, 11, walks home in Cushing, Iowa on Nov., 16. Though not on yet, the railings of the deck are adorned with Christmas lights. April and Chris Putzier used a mild weekend in November to put up the Yuletide decorations.
All four guns were wrapped in the same paper and placed in the same spot under the living room tree. April asked that the quads open those gifts at the same time. She does the same thing when she wraps essentials, like socks or T-shirts and places them under the tree. Each child, she surmises, ends the day with a half-dozen Christmas gifts from Mom and Dad. There’s also one special “Family Gift Item” that whole tribe enjoys. Again, this set of presents has its own wrapping paper to differentiate it, and keep
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December 2015
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Carter Putzier, 11, talks about sledding during a previous Christmas celebration during an interview at his home in Cushing, Iowa. Carter is onefourth of the Putzier quadruplets, who are joined at home by older brother, Cameron Putzier, 16. Christmas is an active time in their home.
April on the right track. Last year, the “Family Gift” followed a s’mores theme. One package had graham crackers; one had Hershey chocolate bars and one had marshmallows. There were a couple of new movies to complete the gift. “The kids also purchase presents for each other,” April says, detailing how those purchases are made from a “Santa’s Workshop” effort undertaken each December by the River Valley Wolverine Booster Club. According to April, members of the club solicit donations for small Christmas gift items, which are then collected and displayed at the school, allowing for children to pay small amounts for each gift. “That’s where we get our gifts for each other,” Carter says. The quadruplets share more memories about Christmases past while Mom and Dad briefly examine photographs that date back to 2004, the first Christmas big brother, Cameron, enjoyed with his siblings. And soon the talk returns to their 2015 lists, trying to keep the family current on the wants and needs of soon-tobe teens. “I want thin-tipped Sharpies, but it’s OK if you don’t get them,” Aubrey says to her folks. “We all want hunting licenses, except I’m a terrible shooter,” Corbin says, stifling his laughter. A hunting they will go, at some point. The lists remain on the table, additions and subtractions duly noted. Mom and Dad give them a glance and tuck them away, retrieving them soon as the hunt to wrap up another joy-filled Christmas commences.
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December 2015
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Ashlyn Putzier, 11, laughs as she talks about the previous Christmas during an interview at her home in Cushing, Iowa. Ashlyn lost her glasses, which had broken, during a snowball fight in their yard. She can laugh about the memory now. It might not have been so funny 12 months ago.
THE HOLIDAYS
creating a collection
Brittany Vondrak, of Sioux City, shows off an early Christmas present for an early Christmas celebrator during a Ladies Night Out event at ICON Ag & Turf in Lawton, Iowa. Vondrak was shopping for her “soon-to-be nephew,” whose due date is Jan. 21.
Nothing runs like a Deere at Christmas
p
PAULLINA, Iowa | Ruth Wittrock’s father used John Deere tractors and implements on their farm. Her husband, Gordon Wittrock, has been a John Deere man his entire farming career. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Donald Wittrock. “We have three sons who farm with us and they’re all big into John Deere,” Ruth said. So, it was natural for her to gravitate to ICON Ag & Turf on a Thursday night in early November. She had Christmas lists to complete.
Text and photographs by Tim Gallagher
Wittrock was one of an estimated 100plus women who attended the second annual Ladies Night Out at ICON Ag & Turf in Paullina, one of five ICON sites in Northwest Iowa to roll out the red (or in this case, green) carpet for Christmas shoppers filling stockings, trees and wrapped boxes with all things John Deere. Need a baby outfit? They’re available in green, yellow and bright pink. How about John Deere boots for little boys and girls? Check. There are also toys, books, clocks, caps, sweatshirts, bicycles and
more available in showrooms that pop with an assortment of holiday gifts. “Our numbers were down a little from last year when we had 135 women here for Ladies Night Out,” said Ryan Newell, a parts professional at ICON Ag & Turf in Paullina. While the numbers of shoppers dropped slightly, the money spent on Christmas goods grew, going from $5,100 spent on this night in 2014 to right at $6,500 this year. Wines from InnSpiration Vines & Wines complemented trays of treats on
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December 2015
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Left: Dozens of shirts for young and old alike invite shoppers into the showroom at the new ICON Ag & Turf facility on Highway 10 just east of Paullina, Iowa. The unofficial start to the Christmas shopping season began here with a Ladies Night Out event on Nov. 12. Right: Children’s boots top a display of John Deere clothing items at ICON Ag & Turf in Paullina, Iowa, where cash registers rang up $6,500 in sales during the Ladies Night Out.
this special evening, one that’s duplicated at ICON sites in Doon, Ireton, Lawton and Le Mars. “One woman from Doon goes to every one of these,” Newell said. He noted that visitors to the Paullina open house came from all over O’Brien County and cities like Spencer, Alta and Cherokee. Newell recalls that a John Deere mailbox was sold and will soon make someone’s Christmas surprise. There was also
at least one Green Mountain Grill purchased at the Paullina event. “It’s a fun night for me,” Ruth Wittrock said, noting she has her husband, three sons, two daughters-in-law and five grandsons for whom she’s shopping. “You have baby strollers, baby clothes and pacifiers, even little things like that, anything you can name and it’s got a John Deere logo on it.” Gordon and Ruth Wittrock began
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purchasing John Deere collectible toys when their oldest son Tracy could begin playing on his make-believe living room farm. “Tracy is 41 now, so I suppose we bought his first toys 40 years ago,” she said. Gordon Wittrock built new shelving units in their basement during the past year, creating a safe storage and display space for many of those toys, even the 40-year-old makes that the grandsons still haul out for play-time. “If there are things that are rare now, we don’t take them off the top shelf and our grandsons know that,” she said. Ruth Wittrock remembered how she and Gordon purchased their first John Deere ornaments for the Christmas tree during the 1980s. She has been adding to that special collection for more than three decades. “John Deere used to have a pewter ornament with a Deere design,” she said. “I might have the first one they made.” She now has enough to fill a tree dedicated solely to John Deere green. In this family, nothing runs Christmas like a Deere.
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The standard for John Deere toys and Christmas gifts is still the tractor, a popular present for multiple generations. A tractor display covers portions of two walls at ICON Ag & Turf in Paullina, Iowa.
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THE HOLIDAYS ornament
s
fun
Text by Dolly A. Butz Photographs by Justin Wan
Finished Christmas ornaments are seen at the Sioux City Art Center.
CHIHULY-INSPIRED
ORNAMENTS
MAKE GREAT GIFTS Education coordinator Debra Marqusee paints a Christmas ornament during an interview at the at Sioux City Art Center.
SIOUX CITY | HOMEMADE ornaments inspired by American glass sculptor Dale Chihuly’s vibrant, whimsical works of art make fabulous gifts, according to Debra Marqusee, education coordinator for the Sioux City Art Center, 225 Nebraska St. “It’s just a very nice project for families,” Marqusee said of the easy to make ornaments she first introduced to children at art camp. “No piece will be alike.” Chihuly’s large, twisting, intricate glass works have been displayed like giant Christmas tree ornaments in floating in pools of water, suspended from towering ceilings and perched in gardens. “A lot of his glass pieces resemble animals in the ocean,” said Marqusee, who recently demonstrated how to make Chihuly ornaments with education assistant Noelle Vondrak. What you need: • Clear, hard plastic wine glasses and or plates • Oven • Cookie sheet • Transparent glass paint • Glitter • Metallic markers • Hot glue gun • Fishing line
STEP 1: Heat an oven to 300-325 degrees F. STEP 2: Stack your glasses and plates on a cookie sheet. Be sure the plastic isn’t hitting the oven’s coils. In a small oven, Marqusee laid a small wine glass on its side atop a plate. IF YOU GO The Sioux City Art Center offers a wide variety of art classes for all ages and skill levels. Classes range from one-day workshops to comprehensive eight-week courses. On Saturday mornings the Art Center offers children 6-12 $5 art lessons beginning at 10:30 a.m. On Sundays families can create art and crafts together from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuition varies by project. No registration is required. To view a list of classes and to register visit siouxcityartcenter.org.
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STEP 3: Closely watch your ornament as you heat it for 1 to 1.5 minutes. Open the oven and use the tongs to manipulate the plastic if you wish. STEP 4: Remove the ornament from the oven and allow it to cool. “The beauty is once it comes out of the oven it cools very quickly and you can immediately start work on them,” Marqusee said.
STEP 5: Paint your ornament. Marqusee recommends using a damp brush and painting in thin layers. “It’s up to you how translucent you want it,” she said.
STEP 7: After the paint has dried, use a metallic marker to personalize the ornament with your family name, the year, circles, snowflakes etc. STEP 8: Run a piece of fishing line inbetween the ornament’s empty spaces to create a loop to hang it up.
STEP 6: While the paint is still wet, sprinkle a little glitter on top of your ornament if you wish.
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STEP 9: If you made multiple ornaments and wish to glue them together, do that now with a hot glue gun. You could also place fishing line to hang the ornament between the pieces before gluing them together.
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December 2015
Siouxland Life
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SIOUXLAND LIFE
DECEMBER 2015
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THE HOLIDAYS gift
guide
Gifts for children to
learn and grow Text by Earl Horlyk | Photographs by Justin Wan
Remember your first iPhone? Chances are it didn’t actually have two eyes, a rotary dial or wheels. Fisher Price’s Classic Chatter Phone is one of the retro toys available at Thinker Toys, 4400 Singing Hills Blvd. At less than $20, this phone should get a good reception from any pint-sized chatterbox in your household.
Treacherous twists and turns, quick-second decisionmaking and a race towards Dead Man’s Curve. Is this the new James Bond movie? Nope, it’s Perplexus Epic, a mind-straining puzzle for kids 8 and up. Retailing for less than $30, it can be found at Thinker Toys, 4400 Singing Hills Blvd.
Right in time for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Lego has introduced a building kit for the movie’s First Order Special Forces TIE Fighter. Available at Thinker Toys, 4400 Singing Hills Blvd., for less than $70, this toy will be popular with both kids and adults.
Toss a Hoberman Switch Pitch ball into the air and watch the blue turn into a magical green. Retailing at less than $30 at Thinker Toys, 4400 Singing Hills Blvd., this toy will provide hours of entertainment.
They say that everything old is new again. They’re also a lot more complicated than they were when we were kids. That’s certainly the case with Rubik’s Cube 4x4, the latest puzzler in the Rubik’s series. Retailing for less than $22, it can be found at Thinker Toys, 4400 Singing Hills Blvd.
Going up ladders and sliding down chutes while learning that good deeds are rewarded and there are dire consequences for bad ones ... hey, we didn’t know the classic board game of Chutes and Ladders had a philosophical lesson. Chances are your kids won’t, either. They’ll just enjoy the fun aspect. It retails at less than $20 at Thinker Toys, 4400 Singing Hills Blvd.
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Siouxland Life
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Gifts for a significant other Text by Ally Karsyn | Photographs by Tim Hynds
Business Wire
Amazon recently introduced the new Fire tablet, priced at $49.99, that features a quad-core processor, 7-inch display, a front- and rear-facing camera, 8 GB of internal storage and 128 GB of expandable storage. Fire is great for watching movies, playing games, reading books, listening to music and more whether you’re relaxing at home, catching a plane or embarking on a road trip. Order from amazon.com/fire.
Tartan is trending from fashion to home décor. You don’t have to wear it from head to toe. Accessories are an easy way to look pretty in plaid. It’s one of those patterns that may be more popular at some times than others but never really goes out of style. Get a luxurious, 100-percent cashmere scarf that’s made in Scotland for $20 from Empty Nest Gifts, 33492 County Road K22. For the food-lover in your life, this is a taste of Lowcountry cuisine. Gullah Gourmet, based in Charleston, South Carolina, sells mixes for meals, dips, desserts, dressings, sauces and breads in eye-catching cloth bags. Each comes with instructions written in Gullah, an English-based creole language. One of the bestsellers is She Crab Soup. The creamy concoction needs to be mixed with four cups of “hot wadda in da pot” and crab meat. Prices vary at Empty Nest Gifts, 33492 County Road K22.
Season’s Sweetings! Stock up on all your favorite sweet treats for the holidays!
405 Wesley Parkway • Sioux City, IA 712-258-7790 • palmercandy.com Hours: M-F 9AM - 5:30PM • Sat 9AM - 5PM 28
December 2015
Each piece of jewelry from Bourbon and Boweties is carefully made by “proud Southern hands.” These one-of-a-kind bangle bracelets are made with handpicked geodes, agates and other natural stones, wrapped with gold-plated wire. The businesswoman behind the bracelet line is Carley Ochs, who lives in Florida. The bangles are sold separately at Empty Nest Gifts, 33492 County Road K22, but can be stacked and worn together for a fashionable new look. Prices vary from $23-$34 per bracelet.
Siouxland Life
Spread a little cheer with a canvas canteen that holds 8 ounces of your favorite beverage. Made in the USA by tote+able, the flask comes in a variety of designs and sells for $17. If your drink doesn’t need to go incognito, there’s the Decapitator by Corkcicle, dubbed, “A bottle cap’s worst nightmare.” Just place over a capped bottle, push down and drink in the goodness by lifting straight up. The magnetic feature holds the metal cap for easy disposal. The bottle opener sells for $19. Find these items at Empty Nest Gifts, 33492 County Road K22.
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Siouxland Life
December 2015
29
Gifts for the person who has everything
Michelle Bostinelos Photography
Text by Ally Karsyn | Photographs by Tim Hynds
By time you reach a certain age, it becomes almost impossible to come up with a good gift for Mom and Dad. They just buy whatever they want for themselves. Where does that leave you? Forget things. Get them a photo shoot. At Michelle Bostinelos Photography, pricing starts at $250 for families or groups up to eight. There is a $10 charge for each additional person. The session allows for 60 to 90 minutes of time and you’ll receive digital files of 30-50 edited images and release of rights to print photos at a lab of your choice.
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Siouxland Life
You can’t give the gift of gratitude, but you can encourage it. Laurie Libman-Wilson founded Studio Penny Lane with intentions to empower youth to make positive change and inspire gratitude “one penny, one child, one thought at a time.” The copper-colored coin is used as a symbol of gratitude and mindfulness to foster a kinder, more compassionate world. Inspiring jewelry, glassware and gifts are handmade in California. The bracelet is $17 while the mason jar is $30 and comes with a penny in a package and a note that says, “Seeing this penny reminds me that I am Grateful for …” Find these unique items at Empty Nest Gifts, 33492 County Road K22.
Yoga isn’t just for women. Balance Healing Arts Studio, 3725 Hamilton Blvd., offers three classes of “Old Fat Guy Yoga” led by Brian McCormick. You don’t need to mention that, per se, when you give this gift. Anyone can benefit from yoga, which has been shown to increase flexibility, maintain a balanced metabolism, improve energy and enhance fitness. The men’s basket shown includes a gift certificate, bars of soap, lip balm, a body scrub, “Man Hands” skin balm and beard oil from Bloom Wild, an artisan skincare business in Hinton, Iowa.
Who doesn’t like to be pampered? Move toward wellness with a gift basket from Balance Healing Arts Studio, 3725 Hamilton Blvd., that can be customized to include items of your choice. In the example shown, the women’s basket includes a gift certificate for yoga or a massage, along with a bar of goat milk soap, a massage balm, lip balm and whipped body butter from Bloom Wild, an artisan skincare business in Hinton, Iowa. There’s also a T-shirt and headband.
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Siouxland Life
December 2015
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The classic thank you gift with a holiday twist, this Santa Maria Christmas wine is made in Carroll, Iowa. For added fun, purchase the Santa wine bottle cover and hat. $11.99 for wine and $6.99 for cover at Get Funky Gifts, 4295 Sergeant Road.
Hairdressers deserve some appreciation, too, and what better way to do that than with a little bling? Tell them thank you with scissor and comb bracelets and necklaces. $9.99 each at Get Funky Gifts, 4295 Sergeant Road.
Gifts for teachers, hairstylists, etc. Text by Michelle Kuester | Photographs by Justin Wan
Don’t forget to thank the manly man in your life for all he does for you with these unique lighters. Coming in a double barrel shotgun, fishing rod, hammer and wrench style, there’s sure to be the right choice to light his fire. $13.99 each at Get Funky Gifts, 4295 Sergeant Road.
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Show some appreciation for the diva in your life with these blingy purse holders, sold for $9.99 each from Get Funky Gifts, 4295 Sergeant Road. Simply unhook the metal “strap” and hang a purse from the edge of any table or ledge.
Siouxland Life
Apples are overrated, so spoil your teacher with these Ginger Snaps from Get Funky Gifts, 4295 Sergeant Road. You’ll find a selection of necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and sunglasses at various price points. Personalize each piece of jewelry with interchangeable mix-and-match fashion snaps, which sell for $6.99 a piece and come in all kinds of designs including a watch, apple and ladybug shown here.
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Siouxland Life
December 2015
33
THE HOLIDAYS food,
food, food Herbs can be found in packets as well as tubes, said Marketplace Hy-Vee dietitian Korie Lown.
STARTING NEW FAMILY TRADITIONS WITH
s
HEALTHY HOLIDAY OPTIONS Text by Earl Horlyk | Photographs by Justin Wan
SIOUX CITY | CHRISTMAS comes but once a year, so you might as well splurge. That’s the advice of Marketplace Hy-Vee dietitian Korie Lown, who said indulging in a piece of pumpkin pie or a holiday cookie shouldn’t make you feel guilty. “The holidays are a fun time for families to get together,” she said. “Nobody’s going to be too upset if you snag a candy cane on occasion.” However, Lown recommends a few healthier alternatives to your holiday spread.
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DECEMBER 2015
1) Go sweet and savory
While both have plenty of healthy carbohydrates, Lown said sweet potatoes have more fiber than a traditional white potato. That’s why she favors baking with sweet potatoes for the holidays. “Some people think sweet potatoes will be too sweet and I agree with them,” Lown admitted. “That’s why I try to make savory dishes with sweet potatoes, using plenty of garlic and other seasonings.”
SIOUXLAND LIFE
2) Spice things up with plenty of fresh herbs
“When it comes to Christmas, I tend to be a ‘spice’ girl,” Lown said. “I go through plenty of thyme and plenty of rosemary.” She said such spices will add flavor and freshness to any dish. “We tend to think of salt as our principal spice,” Lown said. “But there are so many other spices to experiment with.”
ROASTED ALMOND SWEET POTATOES Ingredients • Four medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into one-inch-thick cubes • Three tablespoons, olive oil • Four large garlic cloves, minced • One-third cup, fresh thyme leaves, plus six thyme sprigs to garnish • One-half teaspoon, Kosher salt (optional) • One-half cup, slivered California almonds
Tired of sugary sodas? Marketplace Hy-Vee dietitian Korie Lown said sparkling waters and juices are a healthier choice since they feature real fruit concentrates.
3) Cranberry sauce out of a can? Think again!
Instructions Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Combine cubed sweet potatoes, olive oil, garlic, thyme and salt, tossing into a large mixing bowl. Arrange potato slices into a single
layer on a heavyweight rimmed baking sheet or in a nine-by-thirteen inch baking sheet. Place on the top rack of the oven, roasting until tender and slightly brown. It will take about 40 minutes. On another baking sheet, spread out the slivered almonds in a single layer. Place it in the oven, toasting until aromatic. That will take about eight minutes. Allow it to cool. In order to serve, place the roasted sweet potato mixture into a serving bowl. Top with toasted almonds. Serves: 6 (three-fourth of a cup per serving) Source: Hy-Vee, with a recipe adapted from the Almond Board of California
“Homemade cranberry sauce will always taste better than the sauce you get out of a can,” Lown said. “Mainly because you can better regulate what goes into the sauce if you make it yourself.” In addition, cranberry sauce can be prepared in advance. This makes your holiday rush more manageable. “I’m a big believer in no-fuss meals,” Lown said. “Nobody wants to feel pressure right before Christmas dinner.”
4) Start a new Christmas tradition
“Now, I’ll never criticize a good green bean casserole,” Lown said, “but a healthier take would be steaming fresh green beans, drizzling it with some extra virgin olive oil.” According to Lown, many family favorites can be revised with healthier ingredients or a different cooking preparation. “The bottom line is your food should taste good,” she said. “Your family may prefer a healthier option and it may become an annual Christmas tradition.”
5) Be aware of portion control
One slice of grandma’s pumpkin pie may be a good thing. How about two or three more? Lown said too much of a good thing isn’t necessarily better. “Like on other occasions, portion control matters,” she said. “You shouldn’t feel bad about indulging in the holidays but you should still eat wisely.” And if you don’t, you can still convince yourself to diet after the holidays, right? That’s what New Year’s resolutions are all about, aren’t they?
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DECEMBER 2015
35
THE HOLIDAYS picture-perfect
The Doxtad family, of Holstein, Iowa
The Doxtad famliy of Okoboji, Iowa
Eric Hanson and Christina Kjar are all smiles in their Christmas card.
PICTURE-PERFECT
CHRISTMAS
h
Text by Tim Gallagher
HOLSTEIN, IOWA | CHRISTINA Kjar remembers her mother’s Christmas cards. They didn’t involve a family photo. “Mom would buy standard Christmas cards in packs of 25,” says Kjar. “She’d write a personal note on each one of them and maybe put a wallet photo of me inside.” How ironic that Kjar now spends much of her fall, and some of her summer, creating Christmas cards for clients of her Christina Kjar Photography in downtown Holstein. Through the years, the photographer has had a hand – more specifically an eye – in shaping Christmas greetings for hundreds of folks around Ida County and beyond. “I do many family portraits throughout the summer and into the fall and families will order those for their Christmas cards,” she says. “Or, I’ll have sessions with their children and they’ll use those for Christmas.”
The activity picks up in November as Kjar, who bought and renovated a studio site this year, builds upon a holiday theme at the studio, just as she has done the past 13 years. “The November sessions are geared toward the holiday time,” she says. “We’ll do kids and families and they’ll order prints. They’ll choose a picture and I’ll design it and deliver it to them.” A December promotion follows, giving “last-minute” planners a chance to send an incredibly recent photo Christmas card. This year, weather permitting, Kjar planned to create a Christmas tree scene on green space next to her new studio. “There will be a tree, plaid blankets and families may be dressed with mittens and hats,” she says. “I might be wearing mittens and hats, too, if it’s that cold. We’ll be fine as long as it’s not blowing snow.” Light snow, the photographer
Kate Doxtad, of Okoboji Cards provided by Christina Kjar Photography
welcomes, as long as it doesn’t damage the tools of her trade. “With the early December promotion, families can see their photos online within a couple of days,” Kjar says. “They order and then I can have their cards to them three or four days later. It’s a very quick promotion.” The photo shoot in early December takes all of 10 minutes, as opposed to the hour she spends with families for portraits draped in the colors of summer and fall. “If I think back a few years, not everyone sent photo cards at Christmas,” says Kjar, who last year sent a Christmas card featuring her and husband, Eric Hanson, standing in front of their new home in Holstein. “Now, all my young friends send photo cards.” The Christmas season won’t slow until after the blessed holiday. Kjar says it’s not uncommon for her to shoot a family photo on the morning of Christmas Eve or on the day after Christmas, as those dates are sometimes the only time a large family is together. Those photos can grace Christmas cards the following year. “I know I’ve got a photo this year on Dec. 26,” she says. “It’s a grandparents photo with their grandchildren.” And so, the picture-perfect planning begins for Christmas 2016.
The Burk family, of Holstein, Iowa
Eric Hanson and Christina Kjar’s card featured their home in Holstein, Iowa.
ask a professional Q: Holiday shopping and activities can leave me tired and frizzled by the end of the day, what can I do to help myself from getting so stressed out? A: Around the holidays we usually do see more patients who have the “holiday aches and pains”, whether it’s from over-arching their back to get those last lights on the tree, over-eating at Christmas. I usually give a few tips to Dr. Joel everyone before we get too far into the holidays. Pistello, DC While shopping, you are usually walking well over your normal daily steps, in a stressed environment, and switching environments from hot to cold, all of which is hard on our body. Anything we don’t usually do is hard on our body. So instead of just getting up in the morning and just putting on your shopping game face for the day, go one step further: treat it like an athletic event. How does an athlete prepare for a match? What do they do during a meet? How do they plan? - Stay hydrated. Try to avoid coffee, tea, and soft drinks as caffeine can make the stress worse. - Stretch before, during, and after shopping as stress makes your muscles less flexible. - Wear cushy but well supportive shoes. - Dress in layers and take as little as possible (purse, etc.). - Be sure and take breaks as necessary to minimize stress (about every 45 minutes). There’s a reason the coffee shop in the mall is always busy during the holidays. When you do stop for a break, be sure and eat lighter foods so you don’t feel weighed down. Once you get your gifts home and sit down to wrap them, you likely will look to a Pinterest to see what the best way to wrap presents is, but in reality – there is no ideal position to wrap gifts. The only position to avoid is sitting on a hard floor – it tends to create low back pain and achiness. Always remember the reason for the season – if you feel over stressed – feel free to stop by the clinic for a free cup of hot cocoa throughout the holidays – on me. Taking a few minutes to relax and enjoy some cocoa (and a treat) will help ease your holiday stresses. As always, stay safe Siouxland!
Call 276-4325 today for an appointment 3930 Stadium Drive. (Between Wal-Mart & Explorer Stadium)
Siouxland Life
December 2015
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PROFILE Q&A
20 QUESTIONS with the
MALL SANTA Photography by Tim Hynds | Text by Ally Karsyn
“My mother was the first (to point out the resemblance). She saw white hair in my red beard and she said I’d make a good Santa one day.” 38
DECEMBER 2015
SIOUXLAND LIFE
Typically, Santa’s helpers don’t grant interviews with jolly old Saint Nick. So maybe it’s no surprise when he speaks in and out of character and reluctantly gives up his real name: Larry Dahm from the North Pole. Err, make that Grass Valley, California. • Noerr Programs, a Colorado-based digital event imaging company, sends out more than 300 Santas nationwide during the holiday season. Dahm is one of them, making daily appearances at the Southern Hills Mall through Christmas Eve. • According to the company website, they work year ’round to “recruit the most beautiful, professional Santas with real beards in the industry.” You can bet Dahm’s beard is real, but that doesn’t stop a few curious kids from giving it a tug. • Outfitted in a fuzzy red suit, gold-rimmed glasses and big black boots, the professional mall Santa took a seat in a tall green chair to share what it’s like to play the portly, festive figure while “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” echoed throughout the halls.
1. How long have you been Santa? I’ve been doing it for over 12 years.
2. How did it start? My mother was the first (to point out the resemblance). She saw white hair in my red beard and she said I’d make a good Santa one day.
3. What do you like most about it?
Making kids happy, seeing that twinkle in their eyes. That gleam. The enjoyment of holding three-day-old babies and I find that a lot of fun.
4. Is there a downside? I haven’t found it yet.
5. Are you sure you’re not wearing it? I could have a cooler suit. (Laughs.) Maybe they could pack it with ice.
6. What do you have to do to get ready to be Santa? I’m mostly in character all year long. So it’s just maintaining my beard, keeping it white so the red doesn’t show through – that’s basically it.
7. How do you handle crying babies or difficult kids or don’t you ever get any of those?
I get them occasionally and, basically, if the child won’t calm down, I have Mom come and get the baby and calm him down. Then, we discuss the process. If we’re going to take a crying shot, I’ll take the baby back and take the shot. I’m not here to dramatize.
8. Has anything surprised you about being Santa over the years?
My second year, I had a proposal on
my lap. A young man, a young lady came in – they both sat on my lap to take a picture. Everything was cool and I asked him, “How’d she get you to come in?” He turned and he said, “She’s the only one that’s ever talked me into sitting on Santa’s lap … and since she talked me into this, I might as well ask her to marry me and go get her an engagement ring.” The hugging and the kissing started then, so it was like, uh, excuse me, it’s getting warm here.
9. So Santa’s not just for kids? I’ve had a 101-year-old woman on this knee, and a 100-year-old man on this knee. And I’ve had three-day-old babies in my arms. So there’s no age limit.
10. Do you do any other acting or performing, or do you just play Santa? Like I said earlier, I’m Santa 24/7.
15. What’s your favorite Christmas song or TV special? “Santa Clause” 1, 2 and 3 with Tim Allen are great. Hallmark Christmas specials are on right now – they’re all great. And favorite song: “Oh Holy Night.”
16. What will you be doing on Christmas Eve this year? Staying here, making kids happy until six o’clock. By 6:03, I should be in my sled and headed to deliver gifts.
17. Do you remember going to see Santa as a kid? When I was a child, Santa and the malls were a long ways from where I lived in the Sierras. I didn’t get to see Santa, and I couldn’t catch him on Christmas Eve either.
18. What are kids asking for these days?
11. What do you mean by that? When I take the suit off and wear my street clothes outside, kids still think I’m Santa Claus.
12. Is it because of the beard? There’s no pillow in here. (Gestures to his stomach.) I am who I am.
Guitars – a couple of those this year. I’ve had several ask for sets of drums. Xboxes. Video games. The girls are asking for dolls.
19. Have you gotten any odd requests?
I do, but I never tell any of the kids or anybody else. I don’t want to advertise my favorite cookie because if I’m out there flying around on Christmas Eve, that’s the only cookie I’d get. I like variety.
I had one the day before yesterday. He wanted a 4-wheel drive. I said, “Remote control?” He said, “No, I want a big 4-wheel drive.” I asked him, “Do you have a driver’s license?” He said, “No, daddy can drive it, though.” I said, “A ha, now what do you want? I know what daddy wants.” The girls like to ask for Lamborghinis because that’s what momma wants.
14. And what about milk? What’s your favorite beverage?
20. What’s on your wish list this year?
Whole milk, cocoa, chocolate milk and sometimes a good cup of coffee.
Hopefully, I’m able to make all the children happy.
13. Do you have a favorite kind of cookie?
Siouxland Life
December 2015
39
THE HOLIDAYS Scrooge
Barber stays sharp
as Scrooge
a
Text and photograph by Tim Gallagher
ARNOLDS PARK, Iowa | Michael Felton talks as he cuts hair in a barber shop he’s transitioning to incorporate literature. Along with a haircut, there are 8,000 books lining his shelves. “It’s becoming Michael’s Barber & Books,” he says. “I own a barber shop with 8,000 books in it. I sell a little art and do other different things.” Yes, as in act. Felton, 54, plays the lead this month, the character Scrooge, in the Spencer Community Theatre production of “A Christmas Carol, The Musical.” Performances run through Dec. 13. “Out of all of Charles Dickens’ books, ‘A Christmas Carol’ is my favorite,” says Felton, an Arnolds Park native. “I read it every year. Dickens wrote this book to be spoken, not just to be read. He performed ‘A Christmas Carol’ throughout London and Europe and delivered it before audiences of 300 to 500 people.” Ebeneezer Scrooge, says Felton, is a wonderful character for an actor, a grump who shut out the world after his troubled youth and became a miserable old man. And while the original Scrooge is known for scraggly locks of gray matter atop his head, the 2015 Scrooge in Spencer has nothing hiding beneath his hat. This barber, after all, is bald. “The director, Cara Gerlock, and I had quite a talk about it,” Felton says with a laugh. “I’m a bald-headed Scrooge, which is new.” Well, it isn’t new to Felton, who first shaved his head 19 years ago for a role as a biker in a production of “Tony & Tina’s Wedding,” that played in New York, Chicago and Rock Island, Illinois. Felton graduated from high school in Milford, Iowa, in 1979. He then worked as a barber and did theater in Illinois and Chicago until 15 years ago, when he moved back home to Dickinson County. For years, he worked for the Art of Shaving, lending his hands, voice and stage presence as a pitch-man for the company, doing work on TV shows such as “Martha Stewart” and the little-known “Shaq Vs.” which featured former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal challenging members of the public to oddball events.
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Barber Michael Felton cuts the hair of Brian Dehrkoop, of Arnolds Park, Iowa, at Michael’s Barber in Arnolds Park on Nov. 18. Felton, a native of Arnolds Park, moved away for several decades to work as a barber and a performer all over the U.S. He now stars as Scrooge in the Spencer Community Theatre production of “A Christmas Carol, The Musical.”
“I shaved Shaq’s head multiple times,” he says, while also mentioning former clients like singer Billy Joel and Alan Greenspan, longtime chairman of the Federal Reserve in New York City. “I retired from shaving three years ago when I quit The Art of Shaving,” he says. “It takes too long and I was doing a lot of pampering, like the full facial.” Now, Felton offers $12 haircuts. His whole purpose is to be a neighborhood barber, representing the third generation in his family to do so. The move allows the performer to step back into local theater, dedicating himself to three hours of rehearsal five nights per week at the Spencer Community Theatre, a facility and organization Felton raves about. “It’s a great place and the people there are so dedicated to offering a great theatrical experience,” Felton says. “It’s incredible, the experience they have the resources they devote. And for me, it’s
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awfully fun.” A favorite moment came this fall during an early rehearsal for “A Christmas Carol.” Felton worked with Makenna Pierce, a singer who plays young Grace Smythe. Felton’s Scrooge crushed her hopes by delivering his trademark “Bah humbug!” after admonishing her with, “You’ll learn soon enough young girl.” “She got tears in her eyes and it almost scared me,” Felton says. “To be honest, I haven’t worked with kids a whole lot.” The veteran actor learned something that night. “She’s a very good actress,” Felton says. It’s the kind of moment the barber cherishes, the convergence of characters, emotion and Dickens command that brings out the best in a classic Christmas tale. For the actor, a gift that will keep on giving.
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THE HOLIDAYS first
baby
SPENCER NEW YEAR’S BABY
SEES HER BIRTHDAY AS A DAY TO REFLECT
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Text by Dolly A. Butz
MODESTO, CALIF. | JANIS Lynn Jacobsen’s birth was big news in the town of Spencer, Iowa. The doctor had to leave a New Year’s Eve party and head to the hospital to deliver little Janis the “First Baby of Year” at 12:48 a.m. on Jan. 1, 1959. In a black-and-white photo positioned at the top of the front page of the Spencer Daily Reporter, which has yellowed over the years, Deloria “Dee” Jacobsen holds her daughter while her husband Eldon “Jake” Jacobsen, looks on. Eldon Jacobsen had hoped his second daughter would’ve arrived in 1958 so he could’ve claimed her on the family’s income taxes. Other than the hospital bill that her mother saved (it cost just $18 for the delivery and $10 a day for a four-night hospital stay), the laminated newspaper page is the only item Janis Jacobsen-Powers, who now lives in Modesto, California, has that recognizes her as Spencer’s New Year’s baby. At the time, city merchants and businesses honored her arrival by giving her parents a number of “prizes” including a thermal bag, an infant diamond ring, a scrapbook, a $5 gift certificate from a laundry mat, a free hairstyle at the local beauty salon, a pail from a hardware store, a blanket, a pair of baby shoes, a free car wash, a case of baby food and two quarts of milk. “Spencer was small. First babies of the year sometimes aren’t born until April or May,” Jacobson said by phone from Modesto. “To be in the small town of Spencer and be the first one probably was quite a deal.” Staff at UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s
in Sioux City still eagerly await the arrival of the first New Year’s baby. Taffy Zoelle, director of women’s and children’s services for the hospital, said the New Year’s baby receives a unique gift basket filled with a variety of items such as blankets, clothing and diapers. Mercy Medical Center also sends its New Year’s baby home with gifts. “The Mercy Family Birth Center celebrates the arrival of the first baby born in the New Year with festive decorations for their room and sending them home with a car seat, bouncy seat, diapers, blankets and baby clothes,” said Mercy obstetrics nurse Sirena Sigears. Jacobsen-Powers, who has an older sister and a younger brother, learned early on that her birthday fell on a special day of the year because schools and businesses were closed. While she enjoyed spending her birthday at home with her family, she said she missed being able to handout birthday treats to her elementary school classmates. Out of town relatives had to mail birthday cards and gifts early or they would arrive at the Jacobsens’ doorstep a day or two too late. “They’d flip the paper calender and go, ‘Oh! It’s Janis’ birthday,’ and it’s already after the fact,” she said. “Even a decade
Janis JacobsenPowers and her husband, Dave, pose with their granddaughter, Hannah, 2.
Submitted photo
ago when someone would give me a card ahead (of my birthday), they really thought about that.” Jacobsen-Powers, who is executive vice president of Oak Valley Community Bank in Oakdale, California, and now a grandmother herself, enjoys getting the chance to start the New Year and her birthday with a clean slate.
“Every year on my birthday I kind of tend to go back and look over because when you know better you do better. New Year’s is the same thing – everybody does that,” she said. “For me, having those two fall on the same day that’s just the gold star. I get to move forward with a new year and a new age. That’s what I appreciate more than anything.”
PrePare Your Home for Severe Winter WeatHer While not all parts of the country experience snow and ice storms and severe cold during the winter months, many do, and it is important to be prepared for winter weather before it strikes. The National Weather Service calls winter storms “Deceptive Killers” because people don’t often die as a direct result of the weather, but due to hypothermia from prolonged exposure to cold or in traffic accidents caused by hazardous driving conditions. Winter weather can also knock out heat, power and communications services to your home, sometimes for days at a time.
• Clear rain gutters so that they don’t fill with water, then freeze and tear away from your roof due to the added weight. Repair roof leaks and cut away tree branches that could fall on your home during a storm.
Here are some tips from the Department of Homeland Services’ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help you keep your home and family safe and comfortable during the cold winter months and extreme winter weather.
• Learn how to shut off your main water valve in case your pipes do freeze and burst.
• Extend the life of your fuel supply by winterizing your home. Insulate walls and attics, caulk and weather-strip doors and windows, and install storm windows. An economical alternative to storm windows is to cover them with plastic on the inside.
• Have your heating equipment and chimney cleaned and inspected every year. • To help prevent pipes from freezing, insulate them with foam wrap or newspaper and turn on your faucets so they drip a tiny bit. • Make sure all your fuel-burning equipment is vented to the outside, and the vent openings are clear of debris and snow.
• Keep fire extinguishers around the home, and make sure all family members know how to use them. • Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or other gasoline, propane, natural gas or charcoal burning device inside your home, garage, basement, crawl space or any partially enclosed area. Don’t place the unit near a door, window or vent where carbon monoxide could come indoors. To find companies in the Siouxland area to help with routine maintenance, energy efficiency, safety and other winterizing, visit http://www.siouxlandhba.com/members/
• Hire a contractor to check the structural ability of your roof to sustain the weight of accumulated snow or water (in case the drains don’t work on flat roofs). During the winter, many people turn to alternate heating and power sources. There is an increased risk of electric shock, house fire or carbon monoxide poisoning if the necessary safety precautions are not taken:
Rich Callahan President Heritage Homes of Siouxland
SIOUXLAND LIFE
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advice Medical
Answers
The conversation
families need to have By Dr. Jesse Nieuwenhuis and Dr. Mara Groom
Nieuwenhuis
Groom
Winter is here! The first snowfall conjures images of cozying up by the fire, spiced cider, and a table full of loved ones. As the holiday season approaches, I would like to encourage everyone to bring up a topic that may be heavier than this year’s turkey – your living will and advanced directives. Why should I even consider this idea?
You may think this is a terrible idea; who wants to discuss death around the holidays? I encourage you to adopt a different mindset. This time of year may be the only time adult children are back home together, and it’s a great time for everyone to get on the same page regarding medical care. Not sure where to start? Here’s a primer for having this difficult but very necessary conversation. What documents should I have in place? There are two documents every
patient should have prepared for their health care: advanced directives (formerly called living wills) and a medical power of attorney. Advanced directives tell your doctors what scope of care you wish to have if you become unable to tell us your wishes. They also remind your family of your wishes, which can give great comfort and direction to them during what may be a stressful and scary time in life. A medical power of attorney (MPOA) is a legal document designating the person you wish to have make health care decisions for you. This job generally falls to a spouse or adult child, but should clearly be spelled out in your MPOA.
When should I make these documents? Any major milestone in life should
prompt you to reevaluate your medical documents! None of us like to think about needing these documents, but the reality of the matter is that we all need to be prepared. I encourage my patients to evaluate their medical documentation at every major milestone: marriage, birth of child(ren), transition to assisted living, and any new major medical diagnoses. By frequently updating these documents, you’ll ensure that
Happy Holidays from your friends at the Home Builders Association!
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your loved ones are prepared. Who should have a copy? Anyone involved in the discussion around making these documents should have a copy. This includes your lawyer, doctor, and adult children. You should have at least 2 copies at your home: one displayed prominently, like on your fridge, in case of emergency, and the second in a safe location at your house that your family can access. Where can I find more information?
There are many online resources to help, and most physician offices can offer some assistance as well. A great free online resource can be found at www.mydirectives. com. A discussion guide accompanies this form so you can have a good discussion about life goals and personal beliefs. One of my favorite resources is called Five Wishes and can be found at www.agingwithdignity.org. 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.
HEALTH drowsy
driving
DROWSY DRIVING CAN BE AS DANGEROUS AS
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Photograph and Text by Dolly A. Butz
SIOUX CITY | WHEN he started Mercy Medical Center’s Sleep Lab in 1988, Mark Raymond struggled staying awake while he drove the five miles from the hospital to his home after a night of monitoring patients’ brain activity, breathing, leg movements and heart rhythms while they slept. “I’d try to sleep before (work) and adjust my schedule, but my biological clock was just too strong,” Raymond, a neurophysiology technologist, said. “Some mornings I just had a heck of a time getting home.” Sleep is the foundation of wellness. Seven hours of good quality sleep is recommended for adults. Teenagers should get at least nine hours. Most people aren’t getting the sleep that they need, leading to a spike in incidents of drowsy driving, which Raymond said, is like drunk driving. “If you are chronically sleep deprived – if you miss out of sleep for a period of one to two hours chronically, or say you’re awake for 18 hours at a time, that can be like having a blood alcohol limit of .08, which is legally drunk,” he said. Driving while tired could actually carry a felony charge in some states if the behavior causes injury or death. Kevin Roper, 35, of Georgia, struck Tracy Morgan’s limo on June 7, 2014, on the New Jersey turnpike, critically injuring the comedian and killing one of his writers, James McNair. The Walmart truck driver is facing charges of vehicular homicide and assault by auto. The National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation concluded that fatigue made Roper slow to react, which resulted in the crash. Roper had been awake for more than 28 hours. Commercial drivers, people who change their shifts often or work long shifts, people with untreated sleep disorders such as sleep apnea and males age 16 to 29 are at greatest risk of driving drowsy, according to Raymond. “At that age guys think they’re invincible,” he said of the latter group. “They sacrifice their sleep to do other things
DRUNK DRIVING
Mark Raymond talks about a sleep study in Mercy Medical Center’s Sleep Lab. Raymond said sleep is the foundation of wellness.
and they’re out later.” Raymond said you could probably add in a fifth category of drowsy drivers – people who take sedative medications to help them sleep. The effects of the medication, he said, could linger into the morning hours. While alert enough to get ready for work, Raymond said they could become sleepy while driving. Head bobbing, he said, is the most obvious sign you’re falling asleep at the wheel. Microsleeps, brief, unintended episodes of loss of attention, are the least obvious. Patients referred to Mercy’s Sleep Lab for a sleep study, Raymond said, have admitted falling asleep during the day while driving and driven into the ditch. In one survey, he said 60 percent of people admitted to driving drowsy and 30 percent have admitted to falling asleep at the wheel. “Over 100,000 car crashes – 16 percent of crashes – are attributable to drowsy
driving,” he said. “About 5,000 or 6,000 of those end up in fatalities – either the person falls asleep or injures or kills somebody.” Most drowsy driving occurs during midnight and 6 a.m., according to Raymond, especially for young males and truck drivers. People 65 and older often fall asleep at the wheel in the mid-afternoon. “About 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon, if you’ve got a normal biological clock, that’s when drowsiness is stronger,” he said. If you absolutely have to drive, but you feel sleepy, Raymond said turning up the radio or opening the window won’t help you stay awake. He said consuming a cup of coffee or an energy drink is a better option. “If it’s overwhelming, a short 10 to 20-minute nap can be all it takes to refresh you and get you on your way,” he said.
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December 2015
Siouxland Life
PARTING SHOT By
Bruce Miller
WHAT EVERY TRAVELER NEEDS
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Here’s something that will make you rethink that trip to Europe: a catalog detailing everything you need to make your trip more enjoyable. I started paging through it and, immediately, got the impression foreign countries are filled with folks who just want to steal your identity as well as your credit cards. In addition to belts and socks that hold your money, the publication offers RFID-blocking bags. What, you say, is RFID? It’s some radio-frequency gimmick thieves use to steal your identity, just by scanning the chips in your credit cards. So, apparently, you need wallets, bags, clothes and luggage that can block those cyber thieves. If you’re really cagey, you’re encouraged to put your money in special underwear that contains RFID pockets (but I’d hold back on putting change there). The catalog also touts “cut-proof” stainless steel straps on its bags, so those pesky thieves can’t sneak up on you and quickly snip the camera case out from under your arms. Then, because you probably tote a lot of pills, the catalog sells a jumbo organizer that enables you to divide your medication into daily pouches (for daytime and nighttime use) that help keep everything straight. If that’s not enough, there are sticks that can alleviate tooth pain, spray for bed bugs, sheets to use when washing your hotel room’s sheets, nasal spray in the air and on the ground (don’t ask) and “below the belt” wipes, just in case all that money you’ve stashed starts sweating.
Little pill-sized pellets can also be added to the kit, should you run into a place that doesn’t have washcloths. Apparently, you just drop them in water and they turn into full-sized ones. Want more? There are lines to dry your clothes, parkas that double as neck pillows, “fast-drying” underwear (so you don’t have to pack more than two days’ worth), collapsible cups, bedroom slippers, hand warmers, toothbrush sanitizers, emergency ID bracelets and a flickering “Fake TV” that will make those thieves think you’re in your room when you’re actually out spending money they weren’t able to steal. The catalog has a range of products to make the flight enjoyable, too. There are little stools to put your feet on (so you don’t get blood clots), cushions to make the seat softer, blankets that actually cover you, foot shields that you can put on your socks so you don’t pick up germs from the dirty cabin floor and a bag that doubles as a washing machine, if you decide you want to do a load while you’re flying. Lest thieves lurk on board, there are also RFID bags that could protect your valuables while you nap (wearing an eye mask that relaxes your eyes). What, we ask, does this teach us? Either people go to a lot of trouble just to endure a two-hour flight or they’re traveling to some fairly sketchy places. Usually, I’m just grateful the flight attendant splashed two ounces of soft drink over five extra-large ice cubes before the long line to the restroom begins.
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