Could your home be making you sick?
What makes a home historic?
Sink art comes into its own
A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN SIOUXLAND
ROOM BY ROOM NOW’S THE TIME TO GIVE YOUR HOME A FACELIFT WHERE CAN YOU TAKE THOSE UNWANTED POSSESSIONS?
APRIL 2016
SIOUXLAND LIFE IS ON THE WEB! VISIT WWW.SIOUXCITYJOURNAL.COM/SIOUXLANDLIFE SIOUXLAND LIFE APRIL 2016
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Siouxland Life
CONTENTS APRIL
2016
Now’s the time to clean up, paint up, fix up. The weather is turning, your house needs attention and you want to rid yourself of those unnecessary possessions. This month, Siouxland Life looks at changes you can make in a variety of rooms. The latest gadgets? The hottest trends? We’ve got plenty to make you drool.
4 AN ADAPTIVE HOME
Siouxlanders crafted a home that’s not only beautiful but also user-friendly. See how the two come into play in this month’s feature home.
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LAWN WOES Do you want the best lawn on your block? It’s going to take work – or experts who know what to do. ON THE COVER There’s something new for every room inside and outside the house. You just have to measure your needs and begin creating a list. We’ve got plenty of ideas.
FEATURES 4 HOME a house that works 12 20 QUESTIONS guidelines 16 HOME REFRESH lawn care 20 HOME REFRESH laundry room 24 HOME REFRESH unwanted stuff 28 HOME REFRESH outdoor spaces 30 HOME REFRESH bathroom surprises
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HOME REFRESH kitchen magic HOME REFRESH media central HOME REFRESH safety measures HOME REFRESH allergy magnet? HEALTH medical answers PARTING SHOT
PUBLISHER Steve Griffith EDITOR Bruce Miller EDITORIAL Dolly A. Butz, Tim Gallagher, Earl Horlyk, Ally Karsyn PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Hynds, Jim Lee, Justin Wan ADVERTISING SALES Nancy Todd ADVERTISING DESIGN Kayla Fleming
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©2016 The Sioux City Journal. Siouxland Life is published monthly by The Sioux City Journal. For advertising information, please call (712) 224-6281. For editorial information, please call (712) 293-4218.
WHO GETS WHAT? We break down where you can take used clothing, appliances, electronics and goods – just in time for spring cleaning.
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SIOUXLAND LIFE
The Hayworths from left, Kyle, Kylie, Linda and Haley, along with their Siberian husky Miya, moved into their new home in rural Correctionville, Iowa, in November. It was built to be barrier-free for Kylie, who has been battling cancer for about three years and uses a wheelchair to move around.
A HOME BUILT ON
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Universal design gives cancer fighter more mobility at home
Kylie Hayworth, 19, pets the family dog, Miya, a spoiled 6-year-old Siberian husky.
f Congratulations Kyle and Linda Hayworth on your beautiful, new home!
We are proud to offer a vast array of granite, marble, quartz, glass and tile to beautify your home or business.
Photographs by Justin Wan Text by Ally Karsyn
From the oversized shower and extrawide doors to the pieces of décor laden with inspirational sayings and the souvenir cross on the wall from a pilgrimage to meet Pope Francis in Rome, there are little reminders everywhere that this is not a normal home. How could it be? Linda Hayworth shares a room with a spoiled Siberian husky and her 19-year-old daughter, Kylie, who requires 24-hour care. Her husband, Kyle, sleeps in the basement. His bed’s made up with a black and gold Hawkeyes comforter to match the fanatical collection of sports paraphernalia in the downstairs living room. Some things don’t change. The family is trying to lead a normal life or one as normal as it gets when your child has terminal brain cancer. When Kylie was a junior in high school, doctors discovered a medulloblastoma, the most common type of
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Among Kyle Hayworth’s collection of Iowa Hawkeyes sports paraphernalia, there are rows of ducks picked up from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, when his daughter Kylie would receive chemotherapy treatment.
The Hayworths’ home incorporates universal design to increase accessibility to commonly used appliances like the microwave, and it’s been organized so everyday essentials like dinnerware are easily within reach from a wheelchair.
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The Elements by K. Sorbe, based in Storm Lake, Iowa, helped Linda Hayworth incorporate new home decor items with some of the cherished items she already had.
The Hayworths’ home wasn’t handicap accessible. Why would it be? Children shouldn’t get cancer. Children shouldn’t die before their parents. pediatric brain tumor, usually diagnosed in children under age 10. Months of unexplained dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches and weight loss persisted. Then they found it: a tumor the size of goose egg, putting pressure on the C-1 and C-2 vertebrae at the base of her brain. This area controls balance, posture and complex motor functions like finer hand movements, speech and swallowing. Surgeons removed the tumor on April 27, 2013. But there were complications. In the days after the surgery, Kylie developed posterior fossa syndrome, which caused partial paralysis and put her in a wheelchair. The Hayworths’ home wasn’t handicap accessible. Why would it be? Children shouldn’t get cancer. Children shouldn’t die before their parents. The family of four moved into their new home in November. It’s nestled among the rolling hills in rural Correctionville, Iowa. As the crow flies, Kyle’s parents live just a mile away on the family homestead. “I’m a farm boy from the heart,” he said. “When we met and got married, we moved to town. I’ve always wanted to live on an acreage. It took me this long to get here.” They built the home, partly, so Kylie could have a better quality of life. The kitchen has been designed and organized so she can reach the microwave and everyday essentials like plates and glasses. The overall layout includes wide doorways, hallways and stairs. Linda hired The Elements by K. Sorbe, based in Storm Lake, Iowa, to make the house a home. “They took some of my items that I really cherished and mixed it in with new stuff,” she said.
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In the living room, there are plenty of keepsakes like the handprints cast in concrete stepping stones from when Kylie and her older sister Haley, now 21, were little girls and a four-generation family photo. One special piece is a canvas print from when Kylie got her senior pictures taken. Haley is holding her up, standing by her side. There’s a poem written in the sky. My sister, I want you to know how much you mean to me. My sister has strength and courage everyone can see. My sister showed us all how to handle life’s blows. My sister took it all in stride, smiled, and said, “That’s how it goes.” At one point, Kylie had four brain surgeries in two weeks, trying to get rid of the cancer. But it came back. The best thing she could do was go out and live life and live it, she has. The family went to Italy last year to meet the pope through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. He placed his hand on her forehead and blessed her. It was one of the items on her bucket list. She has also gone skydiving and parasailing. She’s ridden on a train in Verde
A touch-on faucet adds convenience to the kitchen.
Canyon and soared through the sky in a hot air balloon. She’s had the chance to pet a zebra and got a tattoo, bearing a
cross with a Bible verse, Philippians 4:13, which says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
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CNOS has the area’s most experienced C Ortthopedic Surgeons, including Dr. Daniel N Nelson who specializes in Anterior Hip Repplacement. This alternative to traditional hi hip replacement means fewer post-op reestrictions, an earlier return to walking independently, less pain and a faster recovery.
Dog Tired?
Snore at night? Tired during the day? If you are, it is possible that you are suffering from sleep apnea or another sleep disorder. Sleep apnea causes shallow breathing or pauses in breathing during sleep, resulting in poor quality sleep and daytime sleepiness. Give us a call today to see how we can help you. If left untreated, sleep apnea can result in a number of health problems, including high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, depression or headaches.
Call the Mercy Sleep Lab. (712) 279-2191
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20 QUESTIONS Historic
guidelines
Jim Jung bought a historic home on Jackson Street about 23 years ago and began renovating it.
WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY A HISTORIC HOME IN SIOUX CITY
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Photographs by Justin Wan | Text by Ally Karsyn
It’s easy to be charmed by historic homes. While owning one may come with a romantic vision of walking across hardwood floors that delightfully creak in all the right places and curling up to read by one of the many marble fireplaces found throughout the home, the reality is that these stately mansions aren’t for everyone. Buying a historic home is more than just signing on the dotted line, it’s a lifestyle choice. Often, it can be a lot of work to maintain, revive or restore an old house, simply because more time has passed since it was built and more opportunities arise for other homeowners to do more harm than good to the home throughout the years.
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Jim Jung, who chairs the Sioux City Historic Preservation Commission, has seen it happen in historic neighborhoods like the Heights and Rose Hill. “If the house is really notable, historically or architecturally, you have a responsibility,” he said. “We’re the caretakers, just passing through. We owe it to ourselves to preserve some of them and save some of the characteristics.” Jung lives in a beautifully renovated 1890 Queen Anne Victorian home on Jackson Street. It was originally the residence of Andrew Ellefson, a masonry contractor who ran his business from home until the economic panic drove him out of town in 1893.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
Jim Jung lives in a renovated 1890 Queen Anne Victorian home on Jackson Street. It was originally the residence of Andrew Ellefson, a masonry contractor who ran his business from home until the economic panic drove him out of town in 1893.
Ellefson’s old house wasn’t much to look at 23 years ago when Jung moved in. In fact, it looked pretty sad with its aluminum siding. Today, it exudes pride-ofownership, but it cost a pretty penny. Jung shared his insights into buying a historic home in Siouxland.
What renovations did you do in your home? I replaced the siding with new cedar wood, new eaves, new roof. So about the shape of the house is the only thing I didn’t change. I respected the shape and the bones of the house. I couldn’t find any original pictures so I had to kind of guess what it was like.
What makes a house historic? The architecture, the architecture of a given period, if it was the home of a famous person or site of a famous event or if the home is at least 50 years old. Also, if it’s a local landmark, national registered property or historic district property, that makes it historic.
What is it about a historic home that makes it special? Your older, vintage homes are unique because a lot of them have fixtures, textures and things inside and outside that you just don’t see anymore. We’ve lost some of the craftsmanship.
What are some of the common defining features of historic homes in Sioux City?
That’s hard. You’ve got Victorian, Craftsman, Prairie, some Italianate, a lot of Second Empires. Sioux City experienced different levels of prosperity from the 1880s to 1890s, so you see some of the remnants of that in the architecture.
walls have some cracks that need to get looked at. The back retaining wall in the alley has a bulge, so I have to get that put back together. Then, some painting. There’s always something, but I think you get that with any property.
What are some tips for home buyers when they’re looking at a historic home?
I had a home inspector go through my home before I did anything. I think that’s important. That’s one of my suggestions – that people talk to and find a home inspector. Then, they check out electric, plumbing, heating, all that. I go through the house and kind of look at it too, and it sounds weird, but if it smells good, it’s healthy. Sometimes houses don’t smell good. They smell musty. That’s not good. Something’s wrong.
What are some questions people should ask themselves before buying a historic home?
Why do you want a vintage house? Do you really want one? Are you just in love with an idea and not really having the
thing and what you have to do with it? Is it really the right one? Do you know what it means to own a house like that? Is it suited for your lifestyle? What are the grounds like? Are there any easements?
What are some of the big hidden expenses that you might find in a historic home? There are five parts of the house that you should require the inspector to look at: the foundation, the wiring, the plumbing, heating/cooling and the roof.
What home improvement projects are on your list this year? A new water heater. The basement
Some people might be looking at a historic home as a money pit. Is that a fair assessment? I quit counting how much I put into mine. It costs to do it right and have it last. The problem is, if you don’t do it right, you end up spending more to have it done later on. On an older house, you might as well do it right the first time. Sometimes, some of the things will cost a little more than in a newer house.
What’s one of the costlier, commonly done improvements? A kitchen. (Most homeowners spend between $11,269 and $28,717, according to HomeAdvisor, a website that offers tools and resources for home improvement, repair and maintenance.)
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The Home Builders Association of Greater Siouxland’s Project Home, 748 Brentwood St. (Woodbury Heights) is nearing completion. This home will feature 1556 sq. ft. with 3 bedrooms, a master bedroom with master bath and large walk-in closet, living room with vaulted ceiling, safe room in the basement, and a 2 stall garage. Contact the Home Builder’s Association if you’re interested in purchasing this home. Equal Housing Opportunity.
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
Reinvent Your Kitchen
Designer Jamie Lindemann will work closely with you to create the kitchen or bath that works for you!
In some places, costs can really add up if there are preservationdriven restrictions or design standards placed on historic homes regarding additions or windows, shutters and roofs that must be replaced in kind. Is there anything like that in Sioux City? No. We tried to set design standards in Rose Hill, which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. We’ve tried twice and it just won’t go through. There are too many renters up there.
What else should people know before they buy a historic home? Get a home inspection by a professional. Take a look at the taxes. Check the utility bills and insurance. Will your company insure an older house? What are the rates? Think about finding someone to help you care for the house. Make sure it meets safety standards. Watch out for lead paint and asbestos.
Is there anything else you want to add?
Jamie Lindemann, AKBD Designer 715 East Ninth Street South Sioux City, NE 68776
402-494-5411
creative-cabinetry.com 14
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Be convinced that you want to buy a historic home. Take your time. Know what you’re going to do. Make sure the people you hire know what they’re doing so they don’t cost you more money by not understanding the unique challenges of an older home. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
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HOME REFRESH lawn
care
LAWN CARE PRO OFFERS TIPS ON BLADES, SHADES, GRUBS AND WATER
s
Text and Photographs by Tim Gallagher
SIOUX CITY | Clouds hung over Sioux City on a gray Monday morning temperatures heading toward 70. Not bad for mid-March. Jim Miller, owner of Scotts Lawn Service, laughed. “For once, the ground hog was right,” he said, referencing Punxatawney Phil’s prediction of an early spring. “My fear is that we’ll get a late frost,” Miller cautioned. “So far, though, the signs are good. Our phones are ringing like crazy.” Miller joins a number of Siouxland lawn professionals receiving calls this month while extending offers for on-site visits and seasonal lawn-care management plans. With Scotts, Miller said, options run the gamut, starting at $29.95. The mode of attack, or, in this case,
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VIDEO Jim Miller talks about lawn health in a video at siouxcityjournal.com care, depends on what the resident or business owner seeks to achieve. “Traditionally, we have eight months of good weather and over that span we’ll see you six times,” Miller said. “That’s every 30 to 45 days.” Miller and his crew visit a customer twice each spring, hitting the grass with a spring-starter application and crabgrass preventer, preparing one’s lawn for the heat units that are sure to come. “We also blanket-spray with weed control,” he noted. “In the old days, maybe you got this done before you had weeds blowing (seeds) across the yard.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
With enhancements to products these days, that’s not necessary.” Visits in June and July focus on weeds, while scouting for grubs, pests that lurk just beneath the surface, pests that can be disastrous for any lawn. “In our area, I encourage grub control,” Miller said. “We offer a preventative and the cost of re-doing a lawn versus the cost of a preventative is dramatic. Seventy-percent of our customers apply a preventative.” The pros at Scotts will make a site visit for free in this regard. Scouting for grubs, again, follows the old adage: An ounce of medicine is worth a pound of cure. “We’d rather take the time to look than find out when it’s too late,” he said. Visits in August and September center
Sunday, May 8 9:30AM-2PM Adults $30.95 Seniors 65+ $24.95 Kids 5-12 $1 x Age Under 4 Free
Breakfast
Scrambled Eggs with White Cheddar Parmesan Scallion Potato Latkes Black Forest Ham & Gruyere Breakfast Casserole Buttermilk Biscuits with Country Sausage Gravy Orange Cinnamon French Toast Applewood Smoked Bacon Maple Sausage Links Assorted Breakfast Breads and Pastries Chilled Seafood Station House Cured Gravad lox Old Bay Poached Shrimp Cocktail
Lunch Items
Rosemary Roasted Potatoes Kahill’s Green Beans, Roasted Porkloin with Citrus Gastrique & Sweet Corn Stuffing Blackened Grouper with Potato Cakes Chicken & Andouille Jambalaya with Dirty Rice Chicken Kiev with Spaetzel
Omelet Station
Chef Prepared Fresh Eggs to Order Chef Prepared Omelets to Order
Belgian Waffle Station Carving Station
House Roast Sea Salt Crusted Prime Rib With Horseradish Cream and Au Jus
Salads & More
Jim Miller, owner of Scotts Lawn Service, talks about different kinds of grasses that can exist side-by-side in a lawn, this one on Sioux City’s north side.
Kahill’s Cranberry Spinach Salad Mixed Salad Greens ~ Classic Caesar Salad Fresh Seasonal Fruit Marinated Spring Vegetables House Potato Salad ~ B.L.T. Salad Greek Pasta Salad Marinated Cucumber Salad with Feta
Desserts
Homemade Cupcake Assortment Trio of Cheese Cakes, Fresh Baked Cookies Lemon Cream Cake, Tiger Cake Assorted Pies Blue Bunny Ice Cream Station
385 East 4th St. South Sioux City, NE 68776
Reservations Recommended
402.412.4103 402.494.5025
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on building the turf, enhancing it as it grows into autumn. “We want to inspire the grass to grow and thicken as we get more fall moisture,” Miller said. “We also spray for fall weed control.” A winter-izer helps grass maintain its green color late into the fall, a treatment that also helps the lawn get greener earlier come spring. “Things are green right now,” Miller said. “From last fall, lawns stayed pretty green. We’re just now drying out a little as we thaw. There seems to be frost left, but it isn’t deep.” As lawn-care professionals get their mowers and trimmers ready for the spring season, homeowners should do the same. Sometimes, Miller said, a lawn’s brown tint has little to do with moisture or pests. It could be as easy as a dull mower blade. “A dull blade can tear the blade of grass,” Miller said. “When you tear the blade of grass, you get brown tips. And while those are easy to fix (sharpening the blade), they (brown tips) can cause other problems.” As can too much water, or water at the wrong time. Miller advises homeowners to refrain from watering a lawn from midnight to 5 a.m. The reason? A lawn that is wet all night, consistently, will develop a fungus. Finally, lawn-care professionals are adept at counseling residents on the types of grasses to purchase for areas of their lawn. A certain type of grass may grow best in a shaded region, while another type might flourish in high-traffic areas used by pets and children. “Around here, people tend to stick with bluegrass,” Miller said. “We just encourage you to get some feedback before you make an expensive purchase.”
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Jim Miller pulls up the turf from an area affected by grubs during 2015.
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HOME REFRESH laundry
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room
SIOUXLAND LIFE
PICK WASHERS, DRYERS BASED ON YOUR LAUNDRY HABITS
s Store manager Marquis Cook talks about large capacity top loader washers at Karl’s TV, Appliance & Furniture in Sioux City.
Photographs by Jim Lee | Text by Dolly A. Butz
SIOUX CITY | Washers and dryers are much larger and have more features than they used to. In the past, when customers wanted a large washer, Karl’s TV, Appliance & Furniture store manager Marquis Cook said they had to go with a front-loading one. Today, both washers and dryers have large drums that can handle bulky items such as a king-sized comforter. “You can get two king comforters in here very easily,” Cook said as he stood next to a white top-loading Mega-Capacity washer from LG. How do you know which type of washer or dryer to purchase? Cook said there are different features with every brand that you’ll either love or hate. He said it comes down to personal preferences. Some people, he said, will have trouble reaching down into a toploading washer to pull out a lone sock stuck in the bottom corner. He said they should consider a front-loading washer. If price is the main issue, Cook said a top-loading washer could save you some money. The pedestals that front-loading washers and dryers sit on cost $250 a piece. Always consider your style of washing. Cook said he wouldn’t recommend that a farmer purchase a high-efficiency top-loading washer. “I’d want to look more toward an agitator style,” he said. “It really comes down to what’s going to work best for your household.” Maytag makes models with the agitator inside, while LG doesn’t. Maytag models, Cook said, allow users to select a deep water wash even though the washer is high-efficiency. LG washers, he
An LG SideKick washer pictured at Karl’s TV, Appliance & Furniture.
said, offer a wave force action during the wash cycle. Drum shapes also vary between brands and models. “Some of your models are going to have a shallower drum, but a wider drum,” Cook explained. “Some are going to be deeper but narrower.” Karl’s, 4445 Sergeant Road, started selling the LG SideKick, a compact miniwasher about two months ago. Instead of placing a pedestal underneath an energy efficient LG front-loading washer, it teams with a SideKick, a smaller washer that sits underneath it. “You could use it for delicates. You could use it for sportswear,” Cook said. “Let’s say you have a full load already, but you just have a few whites that you want
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to do as well, you can run all of that at the same time.” The SideKick can also be used independently. Cook said one of his customers talked about placing the SideKick outside by her pool to wash swimwear. Another woman thought it might work in her small apartment where she can’t fit a full-sized washer. The SideKick retails for $730. Frontloading LG washers range from $699 to $1,050, depending on the model. Steam cleaning, Cook said, is trending in both top-loading and front-loading washers and dryers offered by a number of brands sold at Karl’s Furniture, including Maytag, Whirlpool, LG, Electrolux, Amana, GE and Hotpoint. In a washer, Cook said the steam helps break down clothing fibers to get a better clean. He said clothing that isn’t heavily soiled can be placed in a dryer on the steam cycle. The clothing will emerge refreshed as if it had been washed. “If somebody gets sick I can put their sheets inside that steam cycle and actually sanitize them,” he said. “Let’s say I have a shirt that I just want to freshen up. I can actually throw that shirt in that steam dryer and it will freshen that shirt and it’s ready to go.” This process also works for pillows
An LG SideKick washer is pictured next to an energy-efficient LG front-loading washer at Karl’s TV, Appliance & Furniture.
and blankets that normally couldn’t be washed in a washer. The steam cycle, Cook said, is effective at killing bedbugs and could reduce the number of trips you make to the dry cleaners.
“You’re always going to have certain items that still need to be done at the dry cleaners. But for instance, we no longer take our blankets to the dry cleaners. We just use our steam features,” he said.
12 Home Design TrenDs To WaTcH in 2016 The National Association of Home Builders recently announced the winners of the Best in American Living Awards (BALA) – a prestigious awards program recognizing excellence in designs that will influence the entire residential building industry. Award recipients are lauded as the nation’s most creative and inventive builders, remodelers, architects, developers, land planners and interior designers. Below are some of the newest trends in home design that buyers will see in the coming months and years, based on submissions from this year’s BALA winners. Some of these elements are sure to inspire your next design project. Intimate Outdoor Spaces - Many single-family custom and production homes include intimate outdoor gathering spaces, complete with outdoor fireplaces or fire pits and cozy seating. These spaces are geared toward smaller gatherings, instead of the extended family-size backyards of the past. Mid-Century Modern Detailing - Mid-century modern is now 21st century chic in furniture, elevation design and detailing. Particularly in the western United States, this style has become increasingly popular. Indoor-Outdoor Convergence - What was once a distinct line between two living areas – indoor and outdoor – has been replaced by floor-to-ceiling retractable glass walls and screens. Families can
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both visually and physically move between these tuck away. areas. Intricate Stairways - Stairways have become Troughs and Spouts - Outdoor tables with open, more prominent and sophisticated. Designers trough-like water channels add interest, often increasingly feature curving glass railings, culminating in a delicate waterfall off the edge of detailed iron newel posts, unique stair accent the table into a pool or water feature below. walls, glass treads and intricate tile work. Interior Board and Batten - More often used as Low-Impact Design - Many BALA winners and exterior cladding, board and batten is now being entrants included sustainable and green features featured inside a large number of homes as well. in their designs, including permeable pavers, rain This technique adds a three-dimensional layer gardens and landscaping with native species. to interior finishes and provides an interesting Waterfall Islands - Still trending are waterfallalternative to paint and wallpaper. edged islands, in which the kitchen bar is inset Copper Bathtubs - These are a popular bathroom into the cabinetry rather than extended beyond feature in several award-winning homes. Copper it. These islands – whether made of wood, granite tubs are a striking addition in any home, from or marble – emphasize clean, modern lines. rustic to modern to traditional. To find an industry professional who is ready White with Exotic or Repurposed Wood Accents to bring these exciting new trends to your - Many winning interiors feature stark, modern new home or remodeling project, visit white paired with rich wood accents, a striking www.siouxlandhba.com. combination in flooring, ceilings and cabinets. Modern Industrial Accents - Making its strongest appearance in multifamily projects, this trend combines sleek lighting and furniture with the brick, glass and steel elements of a building’s shell and skeleton. Vibrant pops of color offset the cooler color palette of metals and whites. Barn Doors - Barn doors are appearing Todd everywhere, from kitchens to mudrooms to Hagaman closets. These offer an alternative to traditional President left- or right-hung doors and become a design 712-255-3852 feature of the home, unlike pocket doors that Todd Hagaman siouxlandhba.com Construction
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Furniture & Design Showroom Create a stylish, comfortable home with our collection of beautiful, handpicked furnishings for every room.
3100 Business Hwy 75N (Lewis Blvd), Sioux City, IA 712-255-3575 | www.mbfurn.com | Hours: Mon. - Th. 9am - 8pm; Tues., Wed., & Fri. 9am - 5:30pm Sat., 9am - 5pm; Sun., Noon - 4pm
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HOME REFRESH unwanted
stuff
WHERE TO GET RID OF YOUR UNWANTED STUFF IN SIOUX CITY
y
Text by Ally Karsyn | Photographs by Sioux City Journal staff
You’ve done the hard work of making the piles of stuff you don’t want. Now what? You can try garage sales or Craigslist or swap pages on Facebook, but sometimes you just want that stuff gone like yesterday before you change your mind. It’s easy to think you might want or need or wear whatever it is someday … so why not just hang onto it? Because it’s taking up space! Buying things is easy. Getting rid of them is hard. We’re here to make spring cleaning a little easier with a list of places to unload your stuff. ELECTRONICS The amount of global e-waste reached 41.8 million tons in 2014, according to a United Nations University report. In a separate study, the Environmental Protection Agency found that only 12.5 percent of unwanted electronics are recycled in the United States. Best Buy, 4730 Sergeant Road, recycles all kinds of electronics including stick vacuums, curling irons, hair dryers, binoculars, alarm clocks, CD players, gaming controllers, keyboards, digital cameras, rechargeable batteries, ink and toner, calculators, landline phones, laptops, software, computer cables and connectors. Up until February, the store recycled TVs and computer monitors for free but recently tacked on a $25 fee for each item. Also, there is a limit of recycling three items per household per day. For more information about the items Best Buy accepts for recycling, visit bestbuy. com/recycle. Another option for recycling computers and computer equipment is Goodwill of the Great Plains, which has partnered with the Dell Reconnect program to help you get rid of any brand of old tech for free.
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BUILDING MATERIALS, FURNITURE, APPLIANCES AND OTHER HOME GOODS Thinking about tackling a remodeling project in your home? Salvage what you can and bring it to the Siouxland Habitat for Humanity ReStore, at 1150 Tri View Ave. They’ll take everything but the kitchen sink. Wait, no, they’ll actually take that too – unless it’s made of cast iron. One of the few home items that they absolutely do not want dropped off is old TVs. Acceptable donations include used, saleable furniture, light fixtures, paint, windows, window coverings, cabinetry, doors and appliances like refrigerators, stoves, microwaves, washers and dryers that are in working order. Items are either used in local Habitat homes or sold in the store. If you’re questioning whether the ReStore would want your home items, call the administration office at 712-255-6244. CLOTHES, SHOES AND ACCESSORIES Don’t toss your tattered tops and bottoms. Goodwill of the Great Plains can
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at 1901 Cornhusker Drive in South Sioux City; the Bargain Center, at 1001 W Seventh St.; and MoM’s Thrift & Referral Center, at 2803 Correctionville Road.
likely recycle them, which in turn provides jobs and financial support for the nonprofit’s programs and services like Camp Goodwill and the Connection Center. Of course, they’ll also gladly take your gently used clothes to sell. A number of local nonprofit organizations depend on material donations to remain viable. The Noah’s Hope Thrift Store, at 2601
Myrtle St., raises money to help rescued animals. The Discovery Shop, at 316 West Seventh St., serves as the sole fundraiser for the Junior League of Sioux City, which uses thrift store sales to pay for community improvement projects. There’s also the Disabled American Veterans Thrift Store, at 5129 Military Road; the Salvation Army of Siouxland,
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BOOKS Most, if not all, of the local nonprofit thrift stores accept books. However, there is another option that allows you to take a book, return a book and share the gift of reading. The Sioux City Mayor’s Youth Commission recently established 10 new Little Free Libraries in the community. Locations include the Sioux City Journal, Book People, Bishop Heelan Catholic High School, the Sioux City Police Department, Mercy Medical Center, LaunchPAD Children’s Museum, Jitters, the Sioux City Art Center and Sioux City Community School District’s Educational Service Center. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Ray’s Midbell Music, at 4230 S Lancelot Lane, buys and sells pre-owned instruments. There’s also an option to trade in an instrument like you would a used car. The pre-owned instruments go through an inspection process before it goes up for sale. It has to be play tested, sometimes repaired or cleaned. If you have an old instrument that’s rarely played and it’s fallen into a state of disrepair, it might not be cost effective to get it fixed up to sell yourself, but Ray’s has the resources to fix it up and find a good home for it. Guitars, flutes, clarinets, trumpets, trombones, saxophones – no matter what it is, bring it over to Ray’s and you may leave with money in hand. PLASTIC BAGS Did you know you can beautify the community by recycling plastic bags? Hy-Vee stores provide recycling bins so customers can return their plastic bags from shopping, newspapers and dry cleaning. The West Des Moines, Iowabased supermarket chain is a founding member of Build with Bags, an environmental program launched in 2009 that encourages people to reduce, reuse and recycle plastic bags. The cornerstone of Build with Bags is the grant program at providing funding for schools and parks to purchase benches, tables and playground equipment made of recycled plastic. One park bench represents approximately 10,600 bags that won’t end up in the landfill, according to the Iowa Grocery Industry Association. More than $200,000 in grants has been awarded to over 100 Iowa communities.
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Siouxland Life
APRIL 2016
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HOME REFRESH outdoor
spaces
A display of floral lawn art is shown at Bloomers Lawn and Garden Center.
INSIDE
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OUT APRIL 2016
SIOUXLAND LIFE
Decorating for an ‘outdoor’ living room
s
Photographs by Tim Hynds Text by Earl Horlyk
SOUTH SIOUX CITY | Is it contradictory to be chilling at a fire table? If it is contradictory, Renee Palmersheim doesn’t seem to mind it one bit. Indeed, she said elaborate outdoor fire tables and pits are all the rage at Bloomers Lawn and Garden Center, 2302 W. 29th St. “People are staying home more and want to outfit their outdoor areas as well as they would indoors,” Palmersheim said. “A beautiful fire table allows you to feel warm and toasty DETAILS outside on a cool What: Bloomers night.” Lawn and Garden In addition to Center propane-heated Where: 2302 W. fire tables, she 29th St. South said hot tubs, Sioux City saunas and spas Phone: 402-412-2700 are showing up on neighborhood decks while outdoor kitchens are becoming a part of many backyards. “I remember when guys wanted grills with wheels for easy transport,” Palmersheim said, shaking her head. “Now they want complete outdoor kitchen spaces that have grills, refrigerators, sinks, you name it.” Palmersheim said it’s all part of a trend to stay home with family. “Eating out used to be a treat,” she reasoned. “Now, eating in is just as enjoyable.” That’s especially true when an outdoor space is adorned with colorful furniture and creative pieces of art. “An outdoor space can allow you to show off flashes of personality just as easily as an indoor space,” Palmersheim said. “If you’re into nautical themes or sporty themes, you can show your interests in the types of accessories that you choose.” Even if your typical style is neutral, she said, you can add pops of color anywhere you want. “You may not want a busy stripe or an especially bright color indoors,” Palmersheim said. “But it will look completely different outside of your home.’ The same holds true for metal wall art and special solar lighting. “If you’re afraid to go too elaborate with outdoor furnishings, special lighting and art is an easy and inexpensive way
Renee Palmersheim shows one of the many wall hangings available.
A fire table can add warmth and style to an outdoor space.
to make a difference,” she said. Plus a person can easily changed things out quickly for a slightly different atmosphere. “That’s the nice thing about design,” Palmersheim said. “It’s certainly more fun and less serious than decorating the
interior of a home.” After all, it’s hard to be too serious while chilling by a fire table. “We spend so much time cooped up inside of houses,” Palmersheim said. “That’s why having fun out-of-doors can feel so invigorating.”
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HOME REFRESH bathroom
surprises
A decorative bathroom sink is seen at Central Kitchen & Bath.
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BATHROOM STAPLES, ACCESSORIES ARE
STYLISH & HIGH-TECH
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Photographs by Justin Wan Text by Dolly A. Butz
SIOUX CITY | HOMEOWNERS who want to make a design statement with their bathroom decor have many new options from sink jewelry to hand-painted vessel sinks and free-standing tubs. “It’s hard to keep up with everything,” showroom salesroom manager Naomi Anderson said as she stood next to a display featuring a round black porcelain sink accented with brushed nickel studs at Central Kitchen & Bath, 844 Gordon Drive. A jeweled turtle drain cover and waterfall faucet were paired with the sink. “It’s a decorative piece that can be taken on and off for cleaning purposes,” Anderson said of the turtle drain cover, a product of Linkasink. “You definitely don’t want to use anything abrasive.” The drain cover made its debut at the Siouxland Home Show in February. Arizona-based Linkasink offers drain covers in a host of designs and finishes, including a mother of pearl flower, polished nickel starfish, a metal school of fish and a large leaf. Anderson said the turtle, which retails for $290, is the most popular. But she said local buyers have yet to place it in a high-traffic bathroom. “More people are putting it into their powder rooms where it’s a conversation piece more than anything,” she said. VESSEL SINKS A lot of customers are installing glass, porcelain, copper and stone vessel sinks in half bathrooms, according to Anderson. Like the drain covers, these sinks are a conversation piece. Similarly, they come in a variety of styles and sizes. A 75-pound cobblestone vessel sink from Novotto, Anderson said, is a bestseller. “We always sell the one right off the showroom floor because they come in
Bathroom sinks are now like works of art.
Naomi Anderson says medicine cabinets are taking new forms now, too.
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A door gives wheelchair users easier access to a bathtub.
different shapes and different styles every single time,” she said. SMART MIRROR TV At first glance a large piece of reflective glass framed in espresso-stained wood looks like any ordinary mirror, but there’s more to it. Hidden inside this mirror is a 55-inch smart TV concealed by a special coating. “We’ve sold a lot more of them than we anticipated in the first year just because it is one of those luxury items,” Anderson said of the high-tech mirror with a $10,000 price tag. “Not everybody has to have a television in their bathroom.” Adding a frame around the mirror is optional. Some customers, Anderson
The control panel of a smart toilet is seen at Central Kitchen and Bath in Sioux City, Iowa.
said, go without, adding lights on the sides of the mirror instead. TUBS AND TOILETS Jacuzzi tubs are still popular, but Anderson said more customers are buying free-standing tubs.
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“People are just looking for that deep well to engulf their whole body in,” she said of the compact tubs. Safety tubs, jetted walk-in bath tubs, aren’t just for older customers. Anderson said younger customers are buying them as well. The shell of the model Central Kitchen & Bath sells is made overseas, but she said all of the tub’s plumbing is constructed in the United States. The tub’s door, which has a lifetime warranty on its seal, swings open to provide a large area to get in and out. “It does have a Hoyer Lift in case somebody is in a wheelchair. It allows them a little bit more ease,” Anderson said of the tub which costs $11,000. “It’s got more of the bells and whistles than some of the other ones.” When it comes to toilets, she said customers want something that’s stylish and easy to clean. Toilets with a concealed trapway, which hides the outside plumbing, can fit into a small space. “It’s just very sleek and clean,” she said of the toilet made by Icera. A smart toilet can add high-tech edge to a bathroom. Central Kitchen & Bath sells a Toto Washlit, a green, hands-free toilet. The lid opens when you walk up to it, the seat is heated and it flushes itself. Anderson said any day now, Central Kitchen & Bath will be getting a smart toilet from Icera, which she said will retail for half the price of the store’s current sole washlit, which is $2,000. “You can still get the features that a lot of people are liking in just a little bit more of a sleeker, cleaner look,” she said.
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APRIL 2016
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HOME REFRESH kitchen
magic
SMALL SPACES
BIG IMPACT
o
KITCHENS BECOMING SLEEKER AND USER-FRIENDLY Photographs by Justin Wan Text by Earl Horlyk
Once upon a time, kitchens were simply rooms in which people cooked. Nowadays, the rooms are gathering places for friends and families as well as study spaces for homework-minded kids. “Kitchens used to represent the heart of any home,” interior designer Breezy Struthers Drake explained. “Now, it’s a part-living room, part-dining room and its part-prep station.” “People expect much more function in their kitchens,” she added. “They also expect designers to find function even when space is at a premium.” That was certainly the case for one
Stainless steel appliances plus a sleek backsplash add up to a timeless kitchen. Modern Kitchen Designs’ Breezy Struthers Drake said the costs of a remodeled kitchen vary greatly depending on the house as well as the scope of the design.
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A wine fridge and small, tucked-away bar are great space saving options, according to Modern Kitchen Designs’ Breezy Struthers Drake.
Designer Breezy Struthers Drake talks about the kitchen remodeling job for her father, Modern Kitchen Designs owner Steve Struthers, at his Morningside home.
of Struthers Drake’s favorite clients: her dad Steve. “My kitchen just wasn’t very functional,” Steve Struthers, Modern Kitchen Designs owner, admitted. “It seems very dated and the room was all closed off from the rest of the house.” That’s when Struthers Drake created a plan which drastically opened up her dad’s space. “The biggest obstacle was removing the wall that blocked the kitchen from the living room as well as the wall that blocked the kitchen from the family room,” she explained. “Eliminating those walls gave us a lot more leeway.” Even better, it gave Struthers Drake a canvas on which to create a sleek-butfunctional kitchen inside her dad’s traditional home. “My dad’s house is a fairly simple, mid-century ranch house,” she explained. “That meant we couldn’t go too ultra-modern in style. Otherwise, it would seem out of place.” Struthers Drake filled the kitchen’s extra space with high-end stainless steel appliances, mahogany cabinets and granite countertops and sink.
A microwave oven mounted into the cabinetry frees up valuable counter space.
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Designing a kitchen for her dad Steve Struthers, Modern Kitchen Designs’ Breezy Struthers Drake is especially proud of the large and nearly indestructible Silgranite sink.
“The best approach is to go for a timeless design,” she said. “You can add splashes of colors and shine through accessories but you want a design that will last.” Cable networks like HGTV and websites like Houzz.com are often great places to get ideas. “Even though the Midwest is still six to eight years behind the coasts, we’re getting better,” Struthers Drake said. “If people are exposed to ideas, they’re more than willing to try them.” For instance, stainless steel appliances and granite or quartz countertops – once considered trendy – are now commonplace in many new kitchens. And so are soft-closed drawers and tucked-away bars. According to Struthers Drake, this may represent the biggest trend. “People have more appliances and a great desire to store them away when not in use,” she said. “In modern kitchens, creating nooks are important since space is often tight.” Looking over his new kitchen, Steve Struthers couldn’t help but smile. “Families live their lives in their kitchens,” he said. “I’m just glad my kitchen is such a nice place to be.” 36
APRIL 2016
The finished product.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
HOME REFRESH media
central
CREATING THE HOME THEATER EXPERIENCE WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK
s
Photographs by Justin Wan Text by Earl Horlyk
SIOUX CITY | Can you hear the “boom” of the asteroids plummeting to earth, or do you feel the “crack” of the bat during game seven of the World Series or have you experienced the undeniable adrenaline rush that comes from the Indianapolis 500? Dakota PC Warehouse’s Eddie Knowlton knows the feeling only too well. “It happens every year,” the DETAILS manager of the What: Dakota PC 4501 Southern Warehouse Hills Drive store Where: 4501 Southern explained. “Right Hills Drive around the SuPhone: 712-279-9000 per Bowl or the height of March Madness, guys get that faraway look in their eyes.” “It also happens after folks get their income tax refunds,” he said with a sigh. “Guys want the ultimate home theater experience,” Knowlton said, “but they don’t want to break the bank in order to get it.” Looking onto the sales floor, he said
Eddie Knowlton of Dakota PC Warehouse talks about home theaters at his Southern Hills Drive store.
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Flat screen televisions are key in home entertainment centers.
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customers continue to be enamored by high definition televisions while waiting for the next big thing to drop. “The biggest thing on the horizon are the 4K televisions, which boasts betterthan-lifelike-images,” Knowlton said, testing out the technology on the flatscreen Vizio receiver. “The picture quality is just unbelievable.” All right, the picture may be pretty. But what about the sound? According to Knowlton, a sound bar can be an inexpensive compromise for people wanting movie theater-quality sound while not needing an imposing home audio system. Vizio Sound Bars accentuate your TV with incredible sound quality and thunderous bass crafted into a clean minimal design, he said. All a person needs to do is plug and play with a simple setup, a built-in Bluetooth and an intuitive remote. “The temptation is to get more than you actually need,” Knowlton admitted. “You’ll get a home system that is too loud, too cumbersome or simply more than you need.” “But if you’re in the market for the boom-boom-boom home theater experience,” he added, “a sound bar can be a terrific option.”
Theater-quality sound is possible with the help of a sound bar speaker system.
Which is good news for a sports fan like Knowlton. “I love sports, I love comedies and I love plenty of action flicks,” he noted. “While everyone wants the next big thing, many of us can’t afford it yet,” Knowlton said. “Still with a little ingenuity, a person can have a home theater that can be as stylish and contemporary
without leaving you broke.” As he raised the volume, Knowlton said he could feel the reverberation in his bones. “This is when you know it’s good,” he said. “It makes your pulse race a bit. “All your senses should be impacted with a true home theater experience,” Knowlton added.
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SIOUXLAND LIFE
APRIL 2016
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HOME REFRESH safety
measures
FIRE ALARMS
OFFER KEY DEFENSE FOR HOMEOWNERS
s
Sioux City Fire Rescue officials offer home visits Text by TIM GALLAGHER
Deputy Fire Marshal Joe Rodriguez, left, of Sioux City Fire Rescue, and Lt. Ryan Collins smile as they talk about fire safety with students at Loess Hills Elementary School.
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SIOUX CITY | After every house fire, officials with Sioux City Fire Rescue field calls concerning the Safe Home Inspection Program. Joe Rodriguez, deputy fire marshal serving Sioux City Fire Rescue, can almost set his watch by this local behavior. On one hand, he’s grateful members of the public are responsive. On the other, he probably wishes it wouldn’t take a tragedy to get them there. A Safe Home Inspection by Rodriguez and firefighters like him takes 30-45 minutes and is provided at no cost. A homeowner might also benefit by receiving two new fire alarms, installed by firefighters for free. “Smoke alarms are good for 10 years, whether they’re battery operated or hard wired,” said Rodriguez, a veteran of Sioux
City Fire Rescue for 17 years. “We ask people to set one day per month to check the battery and make sure the unit is working.” It’s also a good reminder, he said, to change a fire alarm’s batteries when we change from standard time to daylight savings time, and vice versa. Sioux City’s Safe Home Inspection effort has been around since 2011, when officials were asked to visit 40 homes to provide an inspection while detailing a fire safety plan for each home. The visit includes a checklist that covers items such as heating units in the home, the location of BY THE potential fire or NUMBERS safety hazards, an There are more evacuation plan than 400,000 and more. house fires in the For example, do U.S. each year. you know if your 2,900 deaths occur street address is each year from accurately and these fires. properly marked in a visible means 15,000 people are from the street? injured in these That item alone fires. may cost emer$8.5 billion in gency responders property and valuable seconds. contents is lost in The number of Safe Home these fires each Inspection visits year. spiked in 2012 at The number of 357. It settled back home fires your to 94 in 2013, 118 household may in 2014 and 123 in see in an average 2015. lifetime is 5. “We put in 231 fire alarms in Chances that Sioux City homes someone in your in 2015,” Rodrihousehold will guez said. suffer a fire injury in “Residents an average lifetime: are not required 1 in 10. to fix or address Households the things we can expect to point out,” he added. “When we experience a fire visit businesses in each 5 years. Sioux City, and we visit each business every year, they are required to make changes we suggest.” Those changes can involve emergency lighting, smoke alarms, multiple evacuation points and sprinkler systems. “They are required to make changes we recommend because they involve public safety, the safety of their employees and the businesses themselves,” said Rodriguez. Rodriguez, a native of Houston, Texas, spent eight years in the U.S. Navy, serving in Operation Desert Shield in the
Sioux City Fire Rescue Deputy Fire Marshal Joe Rodriguez is shown with a fire extinguisher and smoke alarm at Sioux City Fire Rescue headquarters. The melted smoke alarm at right was functioning at the time it was in a fire.
SMOKE ALARMS Members of Sioux City Fire Rescue equip homes with two new smoke alarms (installed) at each Safe Home Inspection. The alarms feature both ionization and photoelectric sensors that can detect smoldering fires and flaming fires at a faster pace than cheaper smoke alarms. The value of these smoke alarms comes to $20 to $25 apiece. For information about the free Safe Home Inspection and free fire alarm installation, call the Sioux City Fire Rescue Fire Prevention Office at 712-279-6377.
An officer with the Sioux City Police Department walks one of three dogs taken from the basement of a burning home near 33rd and Morgan streets in January. No one was home during the fire.
Persian Gulf, before ending his military service and heading to college. He arrived in Sioux City nearly two decades ago and has helped protect and educate the public ever since. The most difficult part of his role involves investigating the cause of a fire
when someone has been killed. He did that a few months ago. The victim was just 3 years old. “That’s tough,” he said. Those kinds of instances keep him vigilant in his quest to keep Sioux City residents on their toes when it comes to possible hazards like space heaters, faulty extension cords, matches and cooking devices left unattended, even if only momentarily. All those, plus smoke alarms, one of the first lines of defense in a fire. “You double your chances to survive a fire by having working smoke alarms on each level in the home,” he said. “The common mistakes people make involve not having alarms in the right places, or not changing the batteries twice each year.” Again, those are items Sioux City Fire Rescue will cover for free. All it takes is a call to (712) 279-6377 to set up an appointment.
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HOME REFRESH allergy
magnet?
Dr. Christopher Tumpkin, an allergy and asthma specialist, talks about ways to combat allergens in the home.
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MOLD, PET DANDER, DUST MITES
s
IN HOME CAN TRIGGER ALLERGIES
SIOUX CITY | Keeping a clean, dry home is the best way to limit exposure to indoor allergens, which commonly cause coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes, a running nose and a scratchy throat. Your bedroom is where you’re most likely to be exposed to allergens, according to Dr. Christopher Tumpkin, an allergy and asthma specialist at Sioux City Allergy & Asthma Associates, 4280 Sergeant Road. “The bed’s really the biggest issue because we sleep on pillows and mattresses where the dust mites congregate at the highest concentration,” he said. Bringing pets into your bedroom can be problematic if you’re allergic to pet dander. Tumpkin said it’s best to limit dogs and cats to other areas of the house. They can track in pollen, ragweed and other outdoor allergens on their paws and coats. “Just by airflow, the allergen floats, gets on the bed and stays in the mattress over time,” he said. People also transfer outdoor allergens onto their sheets and pillows. Placing cases and covers over pillows and mattress, Tumpkin said, is the most effective way to decrease allergy exposure. “They’re the one thing that’s scientifically been proven to change actual clinical health,” he said. Routinely changing and washing sheets, especially during peak allergy season, Tumpkin said, is essential. He also recommends purchasing an air purifier and a high-efficiency filter for your furnace to capture dust and other allergens.
Photograph by Tim Hynds | Text by Dolly A. Butz
“If you’re going to use an air purifier, you have to make sure that you’re keeping the door closed while you’re sleeping because an air purifier cannot clean a whole house,” he said. Hard flooring, Tumpkin said, is easier to clean and remove allergens from than carpet. If you do have carpeting in your home, he said you should have a vacuum cleaner with an allergy or water filter. “Even bag-less is OK, as long as it’s not leaking,” he said. Tumpkin said you should vacuum regularly and wear a mask while doing so if you have allergies so you don’t inhale the particles you’re stirring up. “There are some products that you can now put on carpets that help to degrade dust mite and animal dander,” he said. “I wouldn’t say those have been clinically proven to affect health, but they do definitely decrease the amount of allergens that are found.” Molds are fungi that are sometimes discovered in bathrooms, on windowsills, shower curtains or walls. One of the most common places to find mold in a home is in the basement. Using a dehumidifier in the summer can help control humidity. “Your goal is get the humidity down in the house. I like to get it down below 40. I consider 40 to 50 the danger zone,” Tumpkin said. “Some people will say 50 percent is what mold loves. I just say I’m not even going to give it anything that it even likes.” If mold is found during the winter, Tumpkin said water damage is likely the culprit. If you find mold, he said you
shouldn’t panic. Clean it up. If you have a hard time controlling mold, he said you should seek out a mold remediation specialist. “I don’t want people to start putting holes in walls,” he said. “I don’t think that’s an efficient way.”
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APRIL 2016
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Holding back is a tHing of tHe past A new smile lets you bloom
If you’re uncomfortable with your teeth, you could be holding back who you really are. But Invisalign’s clear, custom-designed aligners can be an inconspicuous way to get a beautiful new smile. So check with an experienced Invisalign provider and let the real you bloom with a new smile.
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New patients are welcomed! 44
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Siouxland Life
ADVICE Medical
Answers
‘DOC, I’VE GOT A QUESTION …’ answers to your medical questions Is there really a drug that lengthens your eyelashes? Will that harm you in some way? Indeed, there is a medication in the form of an eye drop currently on the market for treatment of hypotrichosis of the eyelashes, which is defined as a loss or reduction of growth of the eyelashes. Interestingly, this medication was initially used for the treatment of glaucoma (increased pressure inside the eye) and as a side effect, some individuals noticed their eyelashes had increased growth. This reported side effect led to further studies to document the effectiveness of this medication for treating eyelash hypotrichosis.The majority of randomized studies done over a 16-week period showed no benefit of this medication for eyelash hypotrichosis. However, a nonrandomized, prospective study of 44 individuals did report benefit of this medication for eyelash hypotrichosis with a longer course of therapy showing that after being treated for two years, complete or moderate eyelash regrowth occurred in about 25 percent of individuals and no growth was seen in the 10 patients not using the medication. Side effects with use of this
medication for eyelash hypotrichosis can include eyelid reddening and discoloration, discoloration of the skin around the eye, and other eye-related symptoms such as dryeye, eye irritation, and others.This medication should not be prescribed for individuals without eyelash hypotrichosis who simply desire an increase in the length of their eyelashes as all medications do have potential side effects that could result in the medication causing more overall harm than good. 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.
MEET THE DOC Jesse Nieuwenhuis is a 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.
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ask a professional How to prevent sore muscles
Do you have reduced mobility, pain and discomfort in your muscles after exercising? Don’t let it stop you from participating in your favourite sports. There are some simple ways to prevent or reduce muscle pain after a workout. These include exercising on a regular basis, as there is less likelihood of muscle soreness if your body is accustomed Dr. Joel Pistello, DC to a particular exercise. Warm up. Before you put your muscles to work, prepare them for the effort to come. Warming up oxygenates your connective tissue, which improves muscle flexibility. Make sure your warm-ups are adapted to your specific activity; ask a professional for advice. Respect your limits. If you return to an activity after a long break, don’t go overboard or you’ll put too much strain on your muscles. Whatever your situation, you should always increase the duration and intensity of your workouts gradually and listen to your body. Drink lots of water. Water is essential before, during and after training. It rehydrates your cells and contains nutrients that produce the energy your muscles need during a workout. Water also increases tissue oxygenation and helps the muscles recover more quickly. After a workout, do some gentle stretching. Doing so won’t prevent sore muscles, which are a result of micro-tears in the muscle fibre, but it will help your body recover more quickly. Lastly, a gentle massage and a warm bath (a cold bath is preferable immediately after exercise) will help soothe aching muscles. A less intense physical activity, such as walking, may also be beneficial.
Call 276-4325 today for an appointment 3930 Stadium Drive. (Between Wal-Mart & Explorer Stadium)
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APRIL 2016
Siouxland Life
PARTING SHOT By
Bruce Miller
CARE TO DANCE WITH MY WASHING MACHINE?
I
I have a washing machine that wants to be on “Dancing with the Stars.” At various times during laundry day, it’ll scoot across the floor like it’s moving with Cheryl Burke. When it really gets worked up, it unplugs itself, halfway onto the basement floor. On those occasions when I suspect it’s ready to samba, I’ll run downstairs and try to head off the rinse cycle. If I’m lucky, I can keep it in place and get a workout. Lean up against the thing and you vibrate like the space shuttle about to lose its tiles. Granted, it’s a bit off balance. But that’s just because it constantly feels the beat. If I’ve got a load of towels, it’ll move in place, like a giant shake weight. If I’ve got jeans, it’s going to do a full production number and end with a big finish – complete with sound effects. Sure, I’ve checked the adjustable feet underneath. I’ve shimmed things up with wood. I’ve even contemplated building a corral so it can’t leave the farm. But, as a good friend said, “Nothing looks like it could help that machine. Maybe it’s time to get a new one.” Convinced that’s true (“nobody’s going to put Baby in a corner”), I started my quest to find a replacement. After one stop, I realized washers no longer come in “ballroom only” style. Now, they have yoga moves and an uncanny ability to do
a load of shirts without breaking a sweat. “How old is your current machine?” a clerk asked me. Mentally calculating the years, I realized it was about 23. “I’m going to tell you something right now,” he said. “A new one is not going to last that long.” Too many dance competitions, I assumed. Settings have changed, too. Mine has two – fast and slow. The first new machines I looked at are capable of dozens. (Two hand towels and a hankie? No problem!) They also don’t have agitators, which could explain the angry sound I hear from mine now. Apparently, the HE (or “high-efficiency”) washers can do a better job without twisting shirtsleeves into knots and jeans inside out. They also like to clam up and lock their lids, thus preventing a stray sock from making it into the big “T-shirt choice” dance. The new machines’ control panels look like they come from an IT department. I don’t think any of them had passwords that needed to be changed every three weeks, but I wouldn’t be surprised. There were so many buttons on those things I started to fear I’d need to consult the operator’s manual on a daily basis, then log in to complete my washing machine operator’s degree. Although my dryer doesn’t stray, it has a tendency to think towels are best left damp. It’s 23, too, and it probably has
created enough lint to fill hundreds of quilts. Two hour-long sessions usually do the trick. But it has been known to surprise me from time to time with its ability to shrink anything at will. “You know you could get a dryer that talks to your washer,” the expert told me. Yup, those computer panels have a way of coordinating their efforts so you don’t need to keep a single hand towel in either one a second more than necessary. I glazed over when he started talking about the water I’d be saving and I openly said I didn’t care when he brought up the “exact” measuring device included for detergent. I did, however, gulp when we got to price (those computers aren’t any cheaper here, either) and I started to sound like my dad when the idea of exterior colors was broached (“Millers are just fine with white appliances”). Now, as I get closer to deciding what it is I really need, I’m sure I’m going to have to make a spreadsheet and inventory everything I own that can be washed. As soon as I figure how many settings I’ll need, I’m going to take the leap, get a new washer and dryer and enjoy the good life. Of course, this probably means I’ll have to buy a treadmill. But I hear settling on one of those is a snap – once you’ve figured out how to install it on a level surface.
SIOUXLAND LIFE
APRIL 2016
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Tax Day Raving Refunds
We’re making Friday, April 15 a happier day by paying Tax Day Refunds of our own! Starting April 2, get ONE FREE ENTRY DAILY in the drawings by visiting Player Services each time you visit. Plus, earn additional entries playing slots, table games and bingo. Then, join us for the live drawings on Friday, April 15. Our first drawing will be at 6pm for a $1,500 cash prize. Then, we will continue with a drawing every thirty minutes until 10:30 for cash prizes ranging from $750 to $1,500. Then, get set for a $4,000 cash prize drawing at 11pm. We will also host hot seat drawings for $50 Free Play prizes throughout the evening. Players may start earning entries at 8am on Saturday, April 2. You must be present to win.
ONLY 35 MILES SOUTH OF SIOUX CITY 1-29 SOUTH TO ONAWA EXIT 112 · 1.844.622.2121 Proudly hosted and operated by the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska and Iowa Management reserves the right to cancel or alter this promotion at any time without prior notice. Gambling problem? Call 1.800.BETS OFF 48
APRIL 2016
Siouxland Life