Siouxland Life - February 2017

It’s never too late for love

How to deal with a faltering relationship

Paint-by-numbers isn’t formulaic

A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN SIOUXLAND

HEARTBEATS THE WAYS TO SAY, ‘I LOVE YOU’

WHO’S RESPONSIBLE FOR VALENTINE’S DAY?

FEBRUARY 2017

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Siouxland Life

CONTENTS

February 2017

You guessed it. It’s a month of heartfelt emotions. We’ve got couples in love, gifts you can give, details on the holiday and insight into that crazy little thing called love. Happy Valentine’s Day! Enjoy the adventure.

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SWEET DREAMS The way to a Valentine’s heart could be through the stomach. Candy can often be the perfect gift.

24 ON THE COVER Flowers have been a traditional way of saying, “I love you.” But what about a non-traditional bouquet? Designer Mercedes Ivener offers a grouping of parrot tulips at Honeysuckle Hollow.

Photo by Tim Hynds.

FEATURES 4 HOME a great place 12 LOVE origins 14 LOVE say it sweetly 16 LOVE paint it!

18 LOVE high school friends 20 LOVE faltering relationships 24 LOVE makes scents 28 LOVE shine on

30 32 36 39 42 46 47

LOVE cruising LOVE a high note LOVE ‘art’ in heart LOVE letters HEALTH heart awareness ADVICE medical answers PARTING SHOT

PUBLISHER Steve Griffith EDITOR Bruce Miller EDITORIAL Dolly A. Butz, Tim Gallagher, Earl Horlyk, Jackie Foster, Lindsey Nelson 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.

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HIGH NOTES Area musicians say it’s great to put feelings into songs.

RAISING AWARENESS A Wayne State College student raises awareness about a rare heart disease he discovered through athletics.

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HOME a

great place

IN MAPLETON’S RECOVERY

A ‘TOWER’ OF Brent and Laurie Streck show off the kitchen in their Mapleton, Iowa, home.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

Couple among those who build on Tower Street in wake of devastating 2011 storm

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Brent and Laurie Streck built their home in Mapleton, Iowa, after the tumultuous tornado of 2011.

Theirs was one of seven built in the town’s newest development, Water Tower Place.

F STRENGTH

m

Text by Tim Gallagher

Photographs by Tim Hynds

MAPLETON, IOWA | On April 9, 2011, Brent and Laurie Streck and their children huddled in their basement in Danbury, Iowa, seconds after seeing transformers pop, the first signs of a storm’s fury. They listened as wind and rain pelted their home, causing damage.

Little did they know that the community immediately to their south had lost much, much more. A tornado ravaged Mapleton shortly after 7 that night, destroying 50 homes and damaging another 92 business and residential dwellings.

Mapleton residents rebuilt and recovered. They applied for 278 building permits within two years of the twister, embarking on construction projects that totaled in excess of $10.4 million.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

great place

The Strecks moved to Mapleton during this recovery phase. They bought two lots in the town’s newest development, Water Tower Place, a 1999 cityowned parcel named for its proximity to the water tower serving this Monona County community. The Strecks built a home, one of seven erected in this posttornado boom.

The City of Mapleton offered $2,000 discounts on the $8,000 residential lots on Tower Street. A second $2,000 rebate went to homeowners like the Strecks who built a home within 12 months of their lot purchase. Additionally, a fiveyear property tax abatement played a role, incentives all.

“We bought the two lots and got the property tax abatement on each,” Brent Streck said. “We ended up building in the middle of our two lots.”

The timing was right for the Strecks, parents of three children, who had outgrown their home in Danbury and could find no homes in that community. The family, which had resided in the Omaha area for 15 years, had returned to the area for the solid education that would be offered to their children, Ethan, Wyatt and Natalie, in the Maple Valley/ Anthon-Oto Community School District.

Laurie, the former Laurie Jensen, a native of Castana, Iowa, graduated from Maple Valley High School in 1993. Brent is a native of nearby Schleswig, Iowa, and a graduate of Schleswig High. Brent, who works for a building controls division of a national company, could reside anywhere within his trade territory.

They had moved to Danbury in 2010 after Laurie’s position with AmeriStar Casino in Omaha had been downsized.

She was seven months pregnant with their third child at the time.

“We found that the Maple Valley school was strong, so we moved back,” Brent said.

The incentives offered after the tornado helped make the decision to relocate to Mapleton after the birth of Natalie, in 2011. The Strecks, who had built a two-story home in Gretna, Nebraska, a few years earlier, decided on an Amwood panel house from L&L Builders, of Marcus, Iowa. This home represents the fifth community in which the couple has lived since marrying 20 years ago.

“They build the home in a warehouse and then enclose it here,” Brent said.

“That way, you don’t have exposure to the elements while the home is under construction.”

The couple picked a ranch layout in their attempt to save wear and tear on

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

HOME a

great place

Laurie’s ankles. She suffered fractures to both in falls on stairs in their previous homes.

“I was carrying our son, Wyatt, in 2006,” Laurie recalled. “He was just over a year old and I was getting a bottle for him at 2 o’clock in the morning when I turned and fell.”

“She broke the same bone in two places,” Brent said.

The other fall took place in 2003 when son Ethan was 9 months old. The couple resided in Millard, Nebraska, at the time. She wasn’t carrying the baby during that fall, however.

“She broke the other ankle and tore ligaments in that fall,” Brent said.

“My family says I’m clumsy,” Laurie said with a smile and a shrug.

So, the couple opted for a spacious ranch, a five-bedroom, three-bathroom plan with a three-car garage that soon expanded with a second garage unit.

“We added a four-car garage to the south,” said Brent, who added how much the family enjoys being on a quiet street whose residents are a mix of retirees, empty-nesters and those raising children.

The home features nearly 2,000 square feet on the main floor and 1,700 square feet downstairs. Bedrooms for the boys downstairs have intercoms for quick communication as Mom and Dad prepare meals in the kitchen upstairs.

All the rooms have Internet availability as well.

“When we moved here all the kids could have their own room,” said Laurie, who notes how the kids’ walk-in closets surpass in space the one she uses.

“I like cooking on a gas stove,” Brent said while standing in an open kitchen that gives way to a dining area (one of two) and then the living room. “We’re pretty good about having supper together as a family each night.”

Walls throughout the home are decorated with painted sayings such as, “Family: Today’s little moments become tomorrow’s precious memories.”

The ceilings in the home have been raised, including the tray ceiling in the master bedroom that tops out at 11 feet.

The master bath features a shower and a Jacuzzi.

“The kids use the Jacuzzi most,” Laurie said.

As Brent walks downstairs, he points out the 3-D television for family movie nights. Just below the stairs is a space guarded by 2x6 studs on both sides.

Said Brent, “That is solid. It’s our storm shelter.”

A family portrait sits on the dining room in Brent and Laurie Streck’s Mapleton, Iowa, home in the city’s Water Tower addition on the southeast side of town.

Below: The Strecks’ dining room is spacious enough for family gatherings at meal times.

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FEBRUARY 2017

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LOVE

origins

CAN ROMAN MARTYRS, ENGLISH POETS, HALLMARK BE BLAMED FOR VALENTINE’S DAY PHENOMENON?

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By Dolly A. Butz

VALENTINE’S DAY IS THE second most commercialized holiday behind Christmas.

The National Retail Federation says total Valentine’s Day spending for 2017 is expected to hit a record $19.7 billion as Americans celebrate with candy, flowers, jewelry and, of course, greeting cards.

Bruce Forbes, a Morningside College professor and chair of religious studies, said he is often asked after a lecture whether Valentine’s Day was just a holiday dreamed up by Hallmark Cards to make money.

“They did take advantage of it Forbes and they advanced it, but they didn’t start it,” said Forbes, whose book “America’s Favorite Holidays: Candid Histories” features a chapter on Valentine’s Day. The suspected origins of Valentine’s Day date back much farther than 1913, when Hallmark Cards of Kansas City, Missouri, began producing its first printed valentines.

Forbes said some scholars link Valentine’s Day with St. Valentine, a Roman priest who was

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imprisoned and executed on Feb. 14. St. Valentine defied an order from Emperor Claudius II, which banned all marriages and engagements in Rome to strengthen the army. St. Valentine continued to perform weddings and was beheaded for his misdeeds.

When the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire ended, Forbes said some believe a pope replaced a Roman fertility festival with Valentine’s Day sometime in the 400s, but he said this conventional history of Valentine’s Day doesn’t hold up.

“The problem is, for the next 1,000 years there’s no indication of romantic couples doing something special on Feb. 14,” he said. “If that’s when it’s supposed to have begun you would think something would have begun and it didn’t.”

Jump ahead to the late Middle Ages when Geoffrey Chaucer, the father of English Literature, was living in London. Forbes said Chaucer was a bit of a “love poet,” who writes of love birds choosing their mates on Feb. 14.

“It’s poetry in the

SIOUXLAND LIFE

Middle Ages that gets it started,” he said.

Forbes said the first Valentine’s Day letters and poems were handwritten and sent by the aristocracy in the 1400s. By the 1820s, he said sending printed Valentine’s Day cards to each other became a “big fad” in Europe. About 20 years later, the trend reached the United States. In New York in 1843, Forbes said there were 15,000 Valentines Day cards exchanged. A year later, 21,000. A year after that: 30,000.

“Similar things were happening like that in Boston and Philadelphia,” Forbes said. “Emily Dickinson, the famous poet, in 1849 says there’s so many valentines going around that they’re like snowflakes.”

In fact, Americans were mailing Valentines Day cards before they were sending Christmas cards.

Two years after Hallmark printed its first Valentine’s Day cards, Forbes said the company added Christmas cards.

“A lot of the early cards were imported from Europe, but with World War I that stopped. That left the opportunity for Hallmark to take over the market, which they did,” he said.

Today, engagement rings account for the majority of total Valentine’s Day spending. In 2013, Forbes said more than 40 percent of engagements for the year occurred on Valentine’s Day. Forbes said Valentine’s Day puts pressure on consumers to spend money, but he said it also gives them a day to show other people how much they care for them.

“We are influenced by the merchants, but we also decide what’s going to take off and what doesn’t,” he said.

“Why is (Valentine’s Day) so popular in our culture? I think it’s reflecting us, not just shaping us.”

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

LOVE say

it sweetly

SWEET SENSATIONS

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Text by Earl Horlyk

Photographs by Jim Lee

SIOUX CITY | Sometimes love can be sweet and gooey and covered in a rich milk chocolate.

At least that’s the way Jon Sadler thinks of Valentine’s Day. The Palmer’s Olde Tyme Candy shoppe manager has been selling edible hearts, chocolate-covered strawberries and decadently flavorful truffles for years.

“Even though Christmas and Easter beat Valentine’s Day in terms of sales, I’ve always enjoyed the holiday,” he said.

“There’s something special about giving your sweetheart something sweet on Valentine’s Day.” In the past, Sadler has been asked to tuck hidden engagement rings and other pieces of jewelry inside boxes of Palmer candy at the 405 Wesley Parkway store.

“I always worry that some gal will end up eating the ring thinking it was candy,” he said. “To the best of my knowledge, that’s never happened.”

Sadler also has had husbands who want to use the same candy box year after year.

“They may have given their wives a box of candy years ago but kept the box,” he said. “The boxes may be a bit shopworn but we’ll fill it with more candy each and every year.”

Sadler recalled the year a man asked for 64 individual pieces of candy.

“The guy requested my biggest box and the 64-count box was the largest that I had,” Sadler recalled. “He said he wanted to impressed his girlfriend and I’m sure he did.”

According to Sadler, making a good impression is actually quite common for candy buyers.

“In the candy business, Christmas sales can carry us through the entire month of December,” he said. “People, on the other hand, will wait until Valentine’s Day or the day before to pick up some sweets for their sweetheart.”

So, what kind of candy will people be picking up? Sadler said traditional favorites are always in demand come Feb. 14.

“People love our frosted Rice Krispies treats on a stick,” he said. “They’re colorful and cute and can be personalized.”

However, Sadler said it is Palmer’s full

Palmer’s Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe’s Jon Sadler said the busiest days to buy Valentine’s Day candy will be the day of or day before the Feb. 14 holiday.

Not a romantic at heart? Palmer’s Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe’s Jon Sadler suggests the Love Stinks Sugar Cookie Kit might suit somebody cynical in your life.

line of gourmet truffles that will always send Valentine hearts afire.

“Some people say our truffles are so pretty that it’s a shame they have to eat ’em,” he said with a smile. “Clearly, I’ve never had that problem.”

While Sadler said he could possibly eat as many as six chocolate truffles in a single sitting, candy sales assistant Jessica Feilmeier said she could probably eat

even more.

“I guess I’m sort of a chocoholic,” she admitted.

Despite that, Feilmeier was even more enamored by an oversized pink bear sitting on top of a candy counter.

“I love this bear,” she said, picking up the plush toy. “This is really what I want for Valentine’s Day.” But, aren’t there any gifts for people who aren’t really into Valentine’s Day? Why yes, there are some gifts for the chronically unromantic. Sadler showed off a box containing a Love Stinks Sugar Cookie Kit that has a mold to make skunk cookies.

“You see, the skunks will even spell out ‘P.U.,’” he said, smiling. “That is, if you want them to do that.”

Still, Sadler remains a believer in Valentine’s Day gifts.

“There’s something nice about having something sweet with the people that you love,” he said. “Yeah, it’s a nice holiday.”

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LOVE say

it sweetly

Barb Clayton, owner of Creative Spirits, talks about paint-by-number paintings from Gifted Custom Art at her Sioux City studio.

PAINT-BY-NUMBER MAKES IT EASY TO PAINT WHO YOU LOVE

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Text by Dolly A. Butz

Photographs by Justin Wan

STARING AT A CANVAS printed with the outlines of a face and tons of tiny numbers can be a little intimidating at first. But once you pick up your brush and start filling in the white spaces with different shades of a single color, Barb Clayton, owner of Creative Spirits, said initial fears subside.

She said it helps to take a deep breath now and then or a sip of wine.

“They’re breathtaking when they’re done,” Clayton said motioning to a line of finished paintings sitting on easels at the

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Sioux City Creative Spirits studio, 3208 Singing Hills Blvd. Among them was the head of a husky flanked by a blue sky, a blond-haired toddler sucking her thumb and two young sisters smiling as they embraced.

Gifted Custom Art allows you to upload a photo to its website. Then they use special software to convert that photo into a simple paint-by-number project that is printed on canvas. Kits come with simple instructions, paint brushes and five shades of a single color of acrylic paint Clayton added “Paint Who You Love” classes to Creative Spirits’ studio

SIOUXLAND LIFE

schedule in November. She described the project as “brilliant, vibrant and fun.”

“It was a neat concept that we ran across. Our normal events are similar to paint-by-number, but we guide you through it,” she said. “We thought that this would be something nice and fun to add to our repertoire.”

Although some customers have chosen to paint landscapes, she said a portrait-style photo works best. She said Gifted Custom Art can remove the background from the photo upon request or the client can leave it in and paint over it if they wish.

Clayton said there are several colors to

Gifted Custom Art kits come with simple instructions, paint brushes and five shades of a single color of acrylic paint.

choose from including brown, pink, blue, green and lavender. She said she’s never seen a color palette she didn’t like.

“Most people go with the gray-scale palette,” she said. “I would’ve never picked pink, but one of our employees chose pink. Isn’t the pink gorgeous!”

The paintings are numbered 1-5.

Clayton said you start with No. 5, the darkest shade of color, and work your way down to the 1s. She said you can stop at any time to refill your wine glass and not forget where you were painting, thanks to the numbers.

“Once you get the 4s and 5s painted in, you feel pretty confident. You’re seeing your painting a little bit more,” she Barb Clayton, owner of Creative Spirits, points out the numbers in a Gifted Custom said. “Just take a breath and then move Art paint-by-number painting at her Sioux City studio. Creative Spirits began ahead.” offering “Paint Who You Love” classes in November.

She said the portrait of the husky took less than two hours to paint, while the picture of her granddaughter took about 3 1/2 you could pick up some color or if you came in for hours. an event sometime and wanted to take home a “If I would’ve painted out my background I’d still little container of color, you could do that also.” be working on it because there was a forest in the Creative Spirits will host a “Paint Who You Love” background,” she said with a chuckle. event from 6-9 p.m. Feb. 21 at The Meeting Place, Clayton likes to add a pop of color to her Gifted 106 E. Second St., in Galva, Iowa. The deadline to Custom Art paintings. She started with a gray-scale register is Feb. 12 at 11:55 p.m. The cost is $65. Visit paint-by-number of her granddaughter, but opted creativespiritssc.com or call 712-212-9588 to registo paint the background green and the child’s ter for this event or future events. sweater pink.

You can also have a Gifted Custom Art paint-by“When we do the events in the studio, we have number kit shipped to your home. The cost is $45 all of the paints available for background colors,” plus shipping and handling with coupon code: creshe said. “If you ordered one and did it at home, ativespirits. Visit giftedcustomart.com to order.

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LOVE high

school friends

LONG-LOST EAST CLASSMATES

FIND LOVE

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Text by Tim Gallagher

MIKE KING AND LORI Suter were friends at East High School 40 years ago. Friends. Nothing more, nothing less.

This Valentine’s Day is Mike’s 58th birthday. He’ll spend it with Lori, the long and somewhat lost classmate with whom he’s been reunited. They’ll celebrate their special day as they do each day, together in laughter, exploring new places to see in and around Chicago, where Lori has resided since 1985. Mike, a longtime Sioux City resident, moved there to be with her a year ago.

“We will not be staying at home on Valentine’s Day,” Lori said of plans with her sweetheart. “I have a couple of special places in Chicago that I want to take him because he’s a foodie. I’m trying to find something he hasn’t had.”

Mike laughed. “There’s no Milwaukee Wiener House or Jerry’s Pizza in Chicago,” he said.

How did this couple come together after so many years? The question, though direct, causes both to pause a bit, searching for what exactly it may have been. Before moving ahead, it may serve to go back to East High, 1977.

“We were friends in high school,” Lori said, noting how the two met each other as seventh-graders attending Hayworth School in 1972. “We’d talk to each other a lot at school, but not outside of school.”

Lori served as drum majorette her senior year at East High.

She was also a basketball cheerleader, a member of the choir, a performer in the school musical and a baton twirler for parades and halftime shows.

Mike, on the other hand, ran hurdles for the track team and starred on the baseball diamond, a left-handed fire-balling phenom who tossed seven no-hitters in a three-year Morningside College career. Mike became Iowa’s earliest baseball draft pick, going fourth overall in the 1980 Major League Baseball draft to the Oakland A’s.

His five-year, three-team baseball trek through the minor leagues included an injured rotator cuff in 1983. He left the sport about the time Lori found her home near Chicago.

Both would marry and raise a family before divorcing. Lori has four adult children and three grandchildren. Mike has three adult children and two grandchildren.

“I had something for her in high school, but I was too big of a wimp to speak up,” Mike said of his fondness for Lori.”I guess I didn’t man up to that type of thing.”

Well, he did in August or September 2015 by sending a message to Lori on Facebook.

“I thought I was his ‘friend’ on Facebook, so I didn’t answer his request for a long time,” Lori said. “When I finally answered, he messaged me and that’s how it began.”

They hadn’t communicated since 1977.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

Mike King and Lori Suter have had a great time in the past year learning more about each other and the Chicago area.

Mike King snapped these senior portraits from the annual serving East High School’s Class of 1977, of which King and Lori Suter were members. These high school friends have fallen in love, four decades after high school.

They traded a few direct messages on Facebook. Mike then upped the ante, letting her know that neither of them was getting any younger.

“This is something I really, deep down, wanted to pursue,” he said. “If it didn’t work out, at least I tried.”

They visited on the phone several times, and Lori said his voice took her back in time almost immediately. Mike went so far as to take a photo of some Hershey Kisses while standing in a Dollar General in Sioux City. He sent the picture to Lori with a message something like this: “I hope your day is as sweet as you are.”

“I got that text and just stared at it,” Lori said.

She then invited him to Oak Park, Illinois, for a date. Mike arrived on Dec. 15, 2015, and the two talked and laughed for hours.

“We got together over three days and it was horrible when he went back to Sioux City,” she said.

They visited for hours each day on the phone after that first day. Things moved along and soon Mike did, too. Lori drove 525 miles west to Sioux City, and the two headed back to Oak Park, where they’ve resided since last February.

Mike, who is retired, takes care of things on the homefront, while Lori continues to work in data analytics/data management.

“We see bands, we go to music in the park and lots of free cultural events,” she said. “We walk everywhere! And we spend 80 percent of our time together in laughter.”

“We’re three blocks from Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace,” Mike added. “In the summertime, we go into Chicago a lot, as it’s a 10-minute train ride. We also enjoy cooking a lot. I’ve gained 27 pounds since I moved out here.”

“He was too skinny,” Lori said with a barb. “He really looks good now!”

The two converse about old times at East and various Sioux City happenings. Their common foundations have set in motion a relationship that, according to Mike, is almost effortless.

“We have so much in common and we’re so much in love with each other,” he said. “Everything fell into place.”

Lori is asked if this is a second chapter, or a second love, or a second chance. Is there a way to define it?

“I wouldn’t say it’s a second chapter; it’s a right chapter,” she said. “I had a great time raising kids and working in my career, but there was a piece missing. Trying to date, seriously, is not a cool thing. I feel lucky we found each other.”

“This worked out for a reason,” he continued. “We’re growing together.”

“I never thought I’d have this,” she concluded just a few weeks before Valentine’s Day, her sweetheart’s birthday. “And now, all of a sudden, I have it.”

Lori Suter and Mike King had a great spring, summer and fall following the Chicago Cubs, one of three Major League Baseball organizations that employed pitcher Mike in the 1980s. The couple is shown here in front of Wrigley Field, just days after the Cubs won the World Series for the first time since 1908.

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LOVE faltering

relationships

Jacque Grabouski, a relationship therapist at Family Wellness Associates, says Valentine’s Day can be a happy reminder of why you fell in love with your partner.

DEALING WITH A FALTERING RELATIONSHIP

a

Text by Lindsey Nelson

Photographs by Tim Hynds

ALL RELATIONSHIPS HAVE THEIR highs and low, but when the lows seem to last longer than the highs, what should you do?

Jacqui Grabouski, an individual and couple’s counselor with Family Wellness Associates, says Valentine’s Day can be a happy reminder of why you fell in love with your partner.

Grabouski says individuals not

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feeling joyful in a relationship, not wanting to spend quality time with their partner or not finding connection on an emotional, intellectual or physical level are telltale signs of a faltering relationship.

“It’s easy to forget, especially as times goes by, but Valentine’s Day can help you remember what first attracted you to this person and what you most admired about them.”

If it feels like the love is still present in the relationship, it may just need a

SIOUXLAND LIFE

bit of TLC. “There’s no substitute for actually spending quality time with your partner. Get away together, or at least find time for a date night,” says Grabouski.

Couples who need to work out more complex issues can benefit from the help of a couple’s counselor.

“Whether a couple is leaning towards a breakup or wanting to work towards a healthy and strong relationship, that’s a decision they have to make. I’m there to see what is good

about the relationship and what needs to be worked on,” says Grabouski.

Grabouski hears the word “soul mates” a lot, but doesn’t think that can accurately describe a relationship.

“Everyone has rocky roads. It’s about learning how to deal with issues and pulling together to become stronger.”

Grabouski knows that all relationships are complex and different, but she has a simple equation for a lasting relationship.

“It’s not 50/50,” says Grabouski, “It’s 100/100. Both individuals need to be equally committed to improving the relationship. If the couple isn’t equally committed to getting better, they won’t get better.”

If a breakup does happen, Grabouski say the goal is to look back and learn from that relationship.

“When you’re working through feelings of anger, hurt, sadness or confusion, it’s a loss. It’s no different than working through the grief process. This can be done with a counselor, or at the very least, talking to a trusted friend.”

Finding a way to deal with your pain is the healthiest form of coping, Grabouski says.

“Some people dive into exercise, some learn a new skill. Everyone works through things in different ways, but finding a healthy outlet is the best way to get better.”

Grabouski also recommends journaling as a healthy outlet, but warns about sharing too much on social media.

“Sometimes rather than talking it out, people put things on social media that should maybe be kept for an intimate conversation. If someone is looking for attention or affirmation, it may sound like a good idea at the time to put things on the internet, but that could be hurtful to someone else.”

Other unhealthy forms of coping are substance abuse, focusing on revenge or sinking into depression.

Grabouski says around Valentine’s Day it can be a “difficult time” for those who recently went through a break-up.

“Don’t forget about those individuals who are going through a tough time or who are still looking for that special someone.”

To find that special someone, Grabouski says online dating is “healthy, as long as you don’t rush in.”

“Online dating is great for that initial connection, but if you’re looking for long-term happiness, it’s better to share similar values, morals and belief systems. Take it slow, and do like for a while. ”

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Kathy Zortman, owner of Petal Pushers, holds a Valentine’s Day cube arrangement at the store in North Sioux City.

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JANUARY 2017

SIOUXLAND LIFE

LOVE makes

scents

FROM TRADITIONAL TO TRENDY,

GIVING FLOWERS

v

Text by Lindsey Nelson

Photographs by Tim Hynds and Justin Wan

VALENTINE’S DAY GIFTING OPTIONS are endless, and deciding which one best evokes your love for your sweetheart can be daunting.

This year, get back to the roots of Valentine’s Day and express your love with flowers.

“Getting flowers isn’t like getting a piece of clothing or something practical.

A bouquet of flowers is romantically impractical,” says Kathy Zortman, owner of Petal Pushers in North Sioux City.

“A rose is a rose. They always smell the same, but on Valentine’s Day, they’re much more special.”

At Petal Pushers, Zortman says red or pink roses are her hottest orders for Valentine’s Day. “Around here, Valentine’s Day is pretty much traditional.”

If your sweetheart is a little less traditional, a garden-style arrangement with ranunculus is a twist on a classic bouquet of roses.

“Ranunculus look similar to a rose, but have a higher petal count. They’re very full,” say Mercedes Ivener, owner of Honeysuckle Hollow in Sioux City.

For this Valentine’s Day, Honeysuckle Hollow is stocking up on flowers that are fluffy and fragrant.

“Our favorites tend to be large, airy and nature-inspired,” says Ivener.

The less formal garden-style arrangements have become popular over the years.

“Garden-style just means we use the flower the way it would grow in nature.

Loose, yet full, and always just a little bit different,” says Ivener.

Ivener loves to include a little bit of whimsy in all arrangements, adding vines, evergreens, jasmine or succulent in her bouquets.

Zortman has had requests to make her garden-style bouquets look as if “a butterfly could fly out.”

Most importantly, don’t forget to include a card. “Even the simplest

IS STILL IN STYLE

Florist Mercedes Ivener holds a selection of flowers at Honeysuckle Hollow in Sioux City.

SAY IT WITH A ROSE...

PINK: admiration/ appreciation RED: passionate love RED AND WHITE: unity WHITE: purity YELLOW: friendship

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PHOTO BY JEREMY DANIEL

Royal Dutch amaryllis flowers are a lovely Valentine’s Day option available at Honeysuckle Hollow in Sioux City.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

sentiment goes a long way at making your fresh flowers personal and meaningful,” says Ivener.

And ladies, don’t forget – “Men like flowers too,” Zortman says.

“Valentine’s flowers are wonderful gifts, not only for spouses or significant others, they’re great for children, teachers, parents, friends and ourselves,” Ivener says.

To keep your flowers around as long as possible, check your water levels daily to be sure water is covering all 1. Check your the stems, says water level daily.

Ivener. Change The water in the your water vase should cover at least every all the stems. other day and 2. Change you place your arwater at least rangements every other day. in a cool, dark Bacteria buildup spot. is one of the “Keeping largest culprits your arrangefor reducing your ments away flower’s vase life. from heating 3. Place you vents will also arrangements help them stay alive longer,” in cool, dark says Zortman. locations and No matter away from the style, all heat vents. The flower lovers constant heat will can agree that sap the moisture it’s the thought and wilt them that counts. faster.

“The thought behind the flowers is what makes it romantic,” says Zortman.

“Flowers aren’t a necessity, they’re a luxury, which is why I think they’re the perfect gift.”

“The simple act of receiving flowers as a message of love is romantic to me,”says Ivener. “And who doesn’t need a good dose of living, fresh beauty on a cold, Midwest day?”

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LOVE shine

on

Shiny rings, stackable jewelry make great Valentine’s Day gifts

Rusty Clark, owner of Thorpe and Co. Jewelers, displays some “blingy” fashion jewelry at the Sioux City jewelry store.

BRING ON THE

BLING

w

Text by Earl Horlyk | Photographs by Tim Hynds

WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S hot when it comes to jewelry?

See what’s going on in the world of fashion.

Thorpe & Co.’s Jewelers’ Rusty Clark said the two industries are surprisingly intertwined.

“Some seasons, fashion designers will favor long skirts over short skirts,” he said inside his 501 Fourth St. store. “Engagement ring designers are the same way. This year, you’ll be

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seeing more rose gold engagement rings over the more traditional white or yellow gold.”

Gunderson’s Jewelers’ Breanne Demers agreed that rose gold and pink gold rings are in this season. In addition, stackable jewelry like designer Charles Krypell’s “I Love You Today Tomorrow, Forever” sterling silver rings and bracelets will melt hearts this season.

G

Demers also said individualized charms, chains and bracelets in sterling silver, yellow, rose or white gold from designer Heather B. Moore are quite popular.

“People can personalize stackable jewelry with certain sayings,” she said. “Or perhaps if you have three children, you can get your Valentine three different stackable rings.”

While Christmas remains his bestselling holiday, Clark said Valentine’s Day is solidly in second place.

“We call Christmas a month-long holiday because we’ll see customers looking for forever jewelry throughout all of December,” he said. “Valentine’s Day is more of a three-day holiday because people are looking for some last-minute bling.”

Some of 2017’s top bling items might include something from the Mi Moneda collection.

Mi Moneda – which means “My Coin” in Spanish – is a fashionable and luxuRusty Clark, owner of Thorpe and Co. Jewelers, shows off a selection of William Henry knives at the Sioux City store. rious brand inspired by vintage coins.

Combining high-style jewelry with ancient spiritual ideas, Mi Moneda comes Park”-like handles made of such materiabout fun and it’s all about the bling.” with a unique pendant and several difals as fossilized wooly mammoth teeth Demers agreed that Valentine’s Day is ferent coins. to the surgical instrument-sharp blade lighthearted and fun.

“Depending on a woman’s mood or – forged from three types of steel which “Other holidays are serious,” she said. the color of her dress, she can switch take as many as 16 months to manufac“Shopping on Valentine’s Day is less forout coins to create a very ture – speak to the knife’s mal and more entertaining.” personalized necklace,” quality.

Clark said. “It’s like having “And since each knife is several necklaces instead hand-carved, no two Wilof just one.” liam Henry knives are ever WHAT: Thorpe Demers said Valentine’s alike,” Clark said. “That & Co. Jewelers Made with love!

Day means more than makes it a must-have for WHERE: 501 Fourth just bling. She said with a collectors.”

St., Sioux city purchase of $150 or more, But don’t tell collectors PHONE: customers at Gunderson’s what Clark uses his own 712-258-7501 Jewelers will receive either William Henry knife for.

ONLINE: three dozen roses or gour“They make for an exThorpejewelers.com met caramel apples. cellent letter opener,” he “People who’ve ever said. “That makes them WHAT: Gunderson’s tried to buy roses in Februfancy and still practical.”

Jewelers ary know how expensive Other gifts that are both WHERE: 4830 they can be,” she said, fancy and practical for men inside her 4830 Sergeant and women alike are wristSergeant Road, Road store. “If you ask me, watches.

Sioux City this will be a win/win for “Watches went away PHONE: everybody.” for a while,” Clark said.

712-255-7229 So, what do guys want “If people wanted to tell ONLINE: for Valentine’s Day? time, they’d simply look at gundersons.com Demers said masculine their cellphones.” However, bracelets allow guys to trendy twenty- and thirtymake a fashion statement. somethings are discovering “My husband has three or four bracesomething their parents knew all along. your entire purchase with this ad!* lets (from designer John Hardy),” she said.

“Watches aren’t simply timepieces,” “He likes them a lot.”

Clark noted. “They’re also pieces of jewSome exclusions apply. Expires February 28, 2017 Clark said men will also want to be on elry that have plenty of bling.” the cutting edge with a William Henry Which, he said, is the key to Valenpocket knife. tine’s Day shopping.

4921 Sergeant Road., Sioux City “These knives are truly a work of art,” “Shopping for Christmas or anniverAcross from Red Lobster he said, showing off a pocket-sized piece. sary jewelry can be serious business,” 712-276-3770 From William Henry’s “Jurassic Clark said. “Valentine’s Day jewelry is all

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FEBRUARY 2017

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LOVE cruising

Anne and Dave Radke, of Onawa, Iowa, world travelers who always sport their Iowa State University colors, stand before the Arc de Triomf (Arch de Triumph) in a recent visit to Barcelona, Spain. The Radkes spent two weeks in Barcelona, the result of a broken down cruise ship.

ONAWA COUPLE CRUISES TO NOWHERE

d

Text by Tim Gallagher

Dave and Anne Radke, of Onawa, Iowa, attended the funeral of Anne’s uncle, Bill Peterson, of Iowa City, Iowa, who was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. The Storm Lake, Iowa, native was honored with an Honor Guard, a military band and a riderless horse pulling his flag-draped coffin.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

DAVE AND ANNE RADKE, of Onawa, were soooo ready to put 2016 in the past.

Consider these sad developments in their lives: Dave’s mother, Dorothy Radke, of Hanover, Iowa, died; Anne’s mother, Jan Alderton, of Storm Lake, Iowa, died; Anne’s uncle, Bill Peterson, Iowa City, Iowa, died and was buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

In between, there were households to pack up, estates to work on.

“We decided to get rid of 2016 by going on a cruise to Monaco,” Anne said. “So, that’s how we rang out the old year and

tried to ring in 2017.”

The Viking cruise, a 2-week adventure through the Mediterranean, would also coincide with the couple’s 39th wedding anniversary. And while the 39th anniversary might not be as significant as, say, the 40th, Anne knew that they’d celebrate that occasion surrounded by children and grandchildren next Christmas, per family custom.

So, the Radkes set sail.

The funny thing – or, the not-so-funny thing – is that the Viking cruise went nowhere. The Radkes flew into Barcelona, Spain, and spent a day seeing sights before boarding a luxury cruise liner that first hit the water in May. Just as the ship left Barcelona, trouble developed.

The Radkes were both getting a massage when an urgent message crackled across the ship’s intercom system. Anne laughed and said the message reminded her of a “Code Blue” alert at a hospital.

Both she and Dave wondered if a passenger aboard the ship was having a heart attack.

“It was actually a code for a fire alert,” Anne said. “A transformer blew out and the cooking vents reacted as if the ship were on fire.”

Luckily, it wasn’t. And soon the ship churned out of port, destined for a halfdozen countries in a 14-day trek.

And while many passengers watched a movie, played cards, exercised or visited that afternoon, Dave Radke kept his eyes on a monitor showing the progress of the ship. He observed that the ship was slowly turning around.

The ship pulled back into Barcelona, where it docked for 14 days. The Radkes missed Rome, Florence, Monaco, Tunisia, Malta and more. Instead, they made do, feasting on daily doses of Barcelona history.

“We went each day into the Barcelona area as local travel companies offered us buses and tour guides,” Anne said. “Normally with Viking, one excursion per day is offered free. Well, all of ours were free and some of them were eight to 10 hours. We had our choice of many, many things each day.”

The couple toured Cava Freixenet, said to be the world’s largest cava winery, even traveling deep into the bowels of the winery’s cave. They spent many hours in a museum created by artist Salvador Dali, one he erected in a burned out building.

“Dali might not have been on our itinerary had the ship not broken down,” she said.

The Radkes learned much about Barcelona’s effort in hosting the 1888 and

Anne and Dave Radke stand with an Iowa State Cyclones flag, a flag they travel with everywhere, outside Cava Freixenet, a cava winery in Barcelona, Spain. The Radkes are ISU supporters who love unveiling their flag – and sporting the Cardinal & Gold – all across the world.

Dave is shown inside Antoni Gaudi’s magnum opus, the Las Sagrada Familia, on which construction began in 1882. The architect moved into the structure as he worked in 1910. It won’t be completed until 1926, marking the 100th anniversary of the death of the architect.

1929 World’s Fair and 1992 Summer Olympic Games. Spain, they learned, has some of the most preserved Romanesque structures in the world, architectural marvels not damaged by the winds of war, as have others across Europe.

They joined tour groups intent on

learning more about Antoni Gaudi, a Spanish architect, a genius said to have helped impact the Catalan Modernist movement.

“Gaudi started building a cathedral (the Sagrada Familia), then got hit by a trolley and died in 1926,” Anne said.

“Work continues on his cathedral and it is set to be done by 2026 (to mark the 100 years since his death).”

The only day the couple remained on the boat was Jan. 6. And on that day, a lighted boat parade passed, an event that highlighted the Feast of the Epiphany, the official end of the Christmas season, a day in which residents of Spain shower gifts upon one another.

The Radkes already felt blessed, having been on a “tour to nowhere” that became a fantastic way to ring in 2017.

Officials with the Viking line did all they could do to compensate their guests in the way of outright cash and credit for a future cruise.

Anne Radke said she and Dave will take them up on the offer, gladly.

“We didn’t go anywhere, but we stayed on a boat that has a five-star hotel, stayed there for free for two weeks,” she said. “They fed us daily and took us on an excursion each day.”

If she had to assign a grade to their tour on a broken boat, Anne Radke would give it an “A.” “We’ve already signed up for two more cruises,” she said.

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LOVE a

high note Sioux City singersongwriter Jill Miller says a love song doesn’t have to be romantic. “It can also be spiritual,” she says.

L

o

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LOVE CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED

o

Sioux City songwriters reveal the art of writing love songs Text by Earl Horlyk

Photographs by Justin Wan

ON A CHILLY JANUARY morning, singer-songwriter Mike Langley strums an acoustic guitar to the tune of “Ballad O’ Love” – his latest love song – inside a music room loaded with vintage CDs and LPs. “Romantic songs will be popular as long as love is universal,” he said.

On the other side of town, singer-songwriter Jill Miller sits in a space that doubles as both her office and makeshift recording studio.

“A love song doesn’t have to be romantic,” she noted. “It can also be spiritual.”

Both accomplished performers and prolific songwriters, Langley and Miller bring a wealth of experience to writing love songs.

Langley – a 2012 Iowa Rock ’n’ Roll Music Association (IRRMA) Hall of Fame inductee – learned to play the guitar from his singersongwriter dad Jack Langley (himself, a 2005 IRRMA Hall of Fame inductee and a Matousek Family Lifetime Achievement Award recipient).

Following in his dad’s footsteps, Langley subsequently moved to Europe and made a

name for himself as a musician.

Later on, younger brother Jon Langley joined him and the two formed the Langley Brothers Band.

“When I was a kid, I thought all love songs had to be ‘pop-y’ like The Beatles’ ‘She Loves You,’” Langley said. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that a love song can mean love between a partner, love for a child or even love of a planet.”

Unlike Langley, Miller wasn’t born into a musical family. She only ventured into the music world following a career as a court reporter, a stint as a stay-athome mom and later a fundraiser for a nonprofit organization.

Now a full-time entertainer, she regularly performs around the Midwest and has worked with some of Nashville’s most accomplished musicians.

“I consider myself a storyteller,” said Miller. She’s written music about infertility, adoption, divorce, the struggles of stepparenting, and dealing with a dad with dementia. “My songs are like three-minute stories.”

While some of her songs are autobiographical, others have been written about people Miller has met along the way.

That included “That’s What

Mike Langley a singer-songwriter and 2012 Iowa Rock ’n’ Roll Music Association (IRRMA) Hall of Fame inductee, plays love songs at his Sioux City home.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

Love Looks Like,” a song Miller co-wrote with veteran Nashville composer Randy Dorman.

“Randy’s mom was Hazel Dorman, but everybody knew her as Mama Bear,” Miller said. “Hazel was married to Bruce, whom everybody called Papa Bear. Well, Papa Bear had been married to Mama Bear for 65 years when he passed away.

“To her dying day, Hazel had a glimmer in her eye when she spoke about her husband,” she said. “Hazel would say, ‘I was married to Papa Bear for 65 years and it just wasn’t enough.’”

Miller wiped away a tear.

“To love someone that much for so long is amazing,” she said. “Still, we wish we could have it for a little bit longer.”

Miller said music must be able to mark the moments of our lives.

“Music must connect us emotionally,” she said. “Sometimes it’s love and sometimes it’s sadness. But either way, it should move us.”

And what moves Langley? Neil Young’s classic “Lotta Love.”

“This is one of the most requested songs that I sing when I perform at the Betty Strong Encounter Center,” he said, grabbing his guitar. “Hey, who doesn’t love a little Neil Young?”

Langley then proceeds to perform an impromptu concert with love as its theme.

He starts with a melodic version of Van Morrison’s “Moondance,” continues with an emotional cover of Willie Nelson’s “Valentine,” before finishing with a surprisingly affectionate version of “Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime.”

“Didn’t think you’d be hearing a Dean Martin cover today, did you?” Langley said with a laugh.

When asked about her favorite alltime love song, Miller said it would have to be Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On,” the love theme from ‘Titanic.”

“If you’re a melody freak like me, then that song’s a classic,” she said decisively.

For his favorite long song, Langley chooses a wistful little tune that was thought to be one of the last lyrics written by John Lennon.

“Oh, ‘Grow Old with Me’ always brings a lump to my throat,” he said. “It’s just so bittersweet knowing that (Lennon’s) life ended so soon and he never had the chance to grow old.”

Echoing something Miller had said, Langley maintained the best music will leave a lasting impression.

“A love song can take you back to a happy time of your life or can return you to a sad place,” he said. “Either way, it stays with you. Love is universal and music is how we remember the feeling.”

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LOVE ‘art’

in heart

The story of a marriage in paint and poetry

Writer Paula Bosco Damon and painter Brian Damon share their 50-year relationship in “Intrepid Coalescing,” a traveling exhibit that combines her poetry with his abstract art pieces.

An art show 50 years in the making

a

Text by Earl Horlyk

Photographs by Justin Wan

Any long-term relationship can be expected to have a few peaks in addition to a few valleys.

There will also be times when we pull together and other times we feel pulled apart.

Abstract artist Brain Damon has visualized the intricacies of a 50-year relationship in “Intrepid Coalescing,” a traveling exhibit that features his prints and paintings alongside poetry composed by his wife, writer Paula Bosco Damon.

“We called the show ‘intrepid’ because that’s another word for fearless and unflinching,’” Paula said. “While ‘coalescing’ means combining elements and coming together.”

“That really does encapsulate my relationship with Paula,” Brian said. “We may not always be in perfect harmony but we come together in the end.”

Love at first sight This has been the case practically from the minute Paula, then 16, met Brian, then 18, during Spanish class at their Jamestown, New York, high school.

“One of my girlfriends wanted me to pass a note to this cute boy in Spanish,” Paula remembered with a laugh. “I threw the note away because I was interested in Brian myself.”

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february 2017

Despite some concerns, Brian was also attracted to Paula.

“Now, Paula is very Catholic, very Italian and emotional while I’m Swedish, Lutheran and very low-key,” he admitted.

“I thought there’d be this clash of culture that never occurred.”

Moving to Iowa for college, Brian married Paula during his junior year.

“I became a psychotherapist,” Brian said. “Paula and I laid down roots and raised our three children in North Sioux City.”

Paula worked in public relations while writing a weekly newspaper column, while Brian pursued a career in counseling.

Artistic aspirations It wasn’t until Brian retired after more than 30 years at Mercy Medical Center that he decided to return to school.

“Even though I loved being a psychiatric social worker, art was my passion,” he said. “When I retired, I enrolled as an art student at Briar Cliff University.”

Luckily, Brian had Paula’s support.

“Some people learn to become artists while others are just born with the ability,” Paula said. “Brian was born to be an artist.”

Others apparently agreed. Since graduating suma cum laude from Briar Cliff University in 2015, Brian’s paintings have been exhibited in 20 different shows in Iowa. Nebraska and South Dakota.

Siouxland Life

A collaboration 50 years in the making It wan’t long before Brian invited his wife to exhibit her writing in one of his shows.

“I was a journalist who only began writing poetry a few years ago,” Paula said. “The thought of combining my poetry with Brian’s art was terrifying.”

Brian nodded his head in agreement.

“Abstract art is, of course, meant to be abstract,” Brian said. “On the other hand, Paula really had to put herself out there through her words.

“She did an amazing job,” Brian added.

Over the past three months,

The poem “Alzheimer’s” by Paula Bosco Damon is seen paired with her husband Brian damon’s painting, “Plaques and Tangles” at North Sioux City Community Library.

“Intrepid Coalescing” has been exhibited at both the Le Mars Arts Center as well as the North Sioux City Community Library.

Paula said the experience has been an eye-opener for her.

“Brian and I bring such diverse perspectives in our journey together,” she said. “It’s amazing to see our personalities reflected in our art.”

Even after 50 years together, a relationship is still hard to sustain, according to Brian.

“No matter what, there’s still some give and some

take,” he said.

However, Paula said that’s what makes their relationship work.

“We all have different strengths and different weaknesses,” she said. “When one partner is down, the other one can pick up the slack.”

Indeed, that’s part of the journey for any couple.

According to Brian, a person needs to have drive, passion and a desire to make art.

“However, it’s more fun when I’m able to explore art with my wife,” he said.

Siouxland Life

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Get Ready for the New Year!

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3100 Business Hwy 75N, Sioux City, IA 51105 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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Siouxland Life

LOVE letters

Learn how to write a classic love letter

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METRO

Today’s digital world has given rise to fast, stinted communications. According to the Pew Research Center, texting is the most widely used smartphone app, with 97 percent of Americans using it at least once a day. Across the globe, 8.3 trillion text messages are sent each year.

That translates to roughly 16 million messages per minute.

In addition to text messaging, social media posts are generally concise and short on depth. The written form of communication has changed dramatically in the last decade, as letter-writing and other forms of prose have all but faded away.

But come Valentine’s Day, it can be special to dust off that pen and paper to express oneself via the written word in the name of love.

Love letters are cherished keepsakes that can be kept for years. Such couples can illustrate a couple’s present-day love for one another and shed insight on their relationship years later. Here are some steps for writing a romantic love letter or note.

• Jot down ideas and inspiration.

Make a list of attributes and qualities in a spouse or romantic interest that you would like to highlight. Write down phrases and terms that come to mind.

These words can serve as the foundation for the letter.

• Categorize your thoughts into three areas. Jot down things that you like and love about the person, things that the person may do for you or your family that you appreciate, and various memories from throughout the years.

• Write what you know. Do not feel pressured to make this letter more complicated than it has to be. The words will come when you write from the heart. While you can use other letters to spur ideas, do not lose your voice or try to mimic someone else’s work.

• Make the letter personal and specific. Small details are important and make love letters more meaningful. Such details illustrate to a significant other that this letter was specifically written with them in mind.

• Disregard length. The letter does not have to be a certain length. Whether it is a paragraph or several pages, the letter will be a success if it says what you want to express. It doesn’t have to be long if that’s not your style.

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Sunday, February 19, 11am -1pm 4th Floor, Mercy Heart Center - 801 5th St.

Join us at the Heart Expo to learn the latest information on keeping your heart healthy.

The Heart Expo will include: • Free Carotid Artery Demonstrations • Meet the Mercy Cardiologists • Blood Pressure Screening • Cath Lab Tour

• Open Heart Surgery Simulation • Cardiac Rehab Tour • Electrophysiology Lab Tour • Free Hors d'oeuvres

All attendees will be included in drawings for free screenings and prizes.

Just for Teenagers Ages 13 through 18 - Leiter Room, Mercy Medical Center Next to the Kaleidoscope Gift Shop

Sunday, February 19, 11 am – 1 pm, Leiter Room, Mercy Medical Center The Teen Heart Expo will include: • Educational Games • Tour of the Mercy Heart Center • Teen Heart Health Screenings • Awesome Giveaways, Prizes and Snacks • Interactive Sessions on CPR and AED Devices • Nutritional Displays • New this Year – Lifesize Operation Game

Both events free to the public.

Free parking is available in the Mercy Parking Ramp.

From the hospital that has been taking care of Siouxland hearts for over 40 years.

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Siouxland Life

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february 2017

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HEART awareness

student raises awareness about rare heart condition

s

Text by Dolly A. Butz

Photograph by Tim Hynds

Sam Simon loves to play sports, but a rare heart condition sidelined the 23-year-old for life last year.

The Wayne State College sophomore was playing basketball in 2012 when he began to feel dizzy. He closed his eyes for what he thought was 10 seconds, but two or three minutes had actually passed.

A slew of tests followed at the hospital in Kearney, Nebraska, where Simon’s

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diagnosis was epilepsy.

For a year and a half, Simon took antiseizure drugs and didn’t have another episode. He joined the football team at Wayne State as a kicker, but the day after the season ended in November 2015, trouble struck again on the basketball court. The dizzy feeling returned.

“My heat rate was getting over 300 beats a minute. I couldn’t stop it. I couldn’t move my body because my heart was pumping so fast. I wasn’t getting feeling into my feet and hands,”

Siouxland Life

Simon said. “They used the paddles on me twice. That’s the last thing I remember about being in Wayne.”

A doctor in Wayne suspected something was wrong with Simon’s heart and he was rushed by ambulance to Mercy Medical Center in Sioux City where he underwent an electrocardiogram, a test that records the heart’s electrical activity as a series of waves, and an echocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart.

Cardiologists decided Simon needed a defibrillator implanted in his chest. The

Sam Simon of Kearney, Nebraska, right, listens as Mercy cardiologist Fayaz Hakim talks about Simon’s condition at Mercy Mecical Center – Sioux City.

small battery-powered device detects abnormal heart rhythm and delivers an electric shock when the heart is beating too fast to restore a normal heartbeat.

After receiving the defibrillator, Simon tried to play soccer in March. Five minutes into the game, the defibrillator delivered a shock to his heart that failed to get it back into a regular rhythm.

“I got shocked about 11 times in about a five-minute span,” he said. “It’s like being kicked in the chest by a horse.”

Simon was airlifted from Wayne to Mercy Medical Center. Cardiologists initially thought his defibrillator wasn’t working correctly and scheduled a procedure at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. But the day before, cardiologist Fayaz Hakim called Simon and told him he suspected he was suffering from arrhythmogenic right

ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C).

ARVD/C is a rare form of congenital heart disease that occurs when the muscle tissue in the right ventricle dies and is replaced by scar tissue. This disrupts the heart’s electrical signals and causes abnormal heart rhythms or arrhythmia.

“It’s a very rare genetic disorder that runs in families,” Hakim said. “I think this was the first case to be reported from this part of the state.”

Hakim said Simon is the second or third patient with the condition he’s come across; and he’s not sure whether he will see another. He said people living on Naxos, a Greek island, are known for having a variant of ARVD/C. “Those people have kinky hair and they’ve got thickening of the soles and the palms and that is much more a

malignant form of it,” he said. “I think people have migrated from those places to the United States of America.”

Hakim said ARVD/C can be autosomal dominant, meaning many family members are affected, or autosomal recessive, where only some family members are affected. Simon said there is a history of heart issues on his dad’s side of the family. His aunt has a form of cardiomyopathy.

“It’s not uncommon for these conditions to be missed because they may be the rare, benign form of the conditions,” Hakim explained. “Someone has to have a very high degree of suspicion.”

Hakim said such a diagnosis needs to be confirmed with a cardiac MRI – a capability Mercy Medical Center doesn’t have. He referred Simon to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he received training.

Unfortunately, Simon couldn’t get an appointment until August. Simon’s mom, Michele Meisenbach, contacted a woman on Facebook whose son had the surgery her son needed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Within two weeks, Simon was on his way to Baltimore.

Hakim said Johns Hopkins Hospital is the only hospital in the nation with an ARVD/C clinic staffed with doctors who specialize in treating the condition.

“Luckily there is a new approach called ablation where they can actually go in and cauterize that part of the heart where these arrhythmia are coming from,” he said. “He went to Johns Hopkins, they did the cardiac MRI, they confirmed the diagnosis and at the same time they did the ablation.”

Simon and his mom founded the nonprofit group Northeast Nebraska Sports Screenings to support cardiac screenings for high school and college athletes.

Hakim said shortness of breath, passing out, fluttering in the chest, intermittent heart palpitations and decreased exercise tolerance shouldn’t be ignored.

“I played college football and had a physical before the season started and nothing was seen on that,” Simon said.

“I had all of these symptoms and I just attributed it not playing soccer after high school and I thought I was just getting out of shape. I didn’t really think much of it.”

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Have a question?

Ask A Professional!

Q:

My resolution this year is to get in shape/be healthy.

What can I do to stick with my goal?

A: Many people make New Year’s resolutions each year, and that trend is unlikely to change in 2016. But if history is any guide, few people are likely to achieve their resolutions. So how can you make this year the year when your New Year’s resolution becomes a reality? Consider the following tips.

Don’t go it alone. One of the best ways to realize your New Year’s resolution is to enlist the help of a friend. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, then start going to the gym with your spouse or a friend who works out regularly. The buddy system can provide just the motivation you need, and having a friend there to offer support can help you stay focused on those days when your will to keep going starts to disappear.

Be as specific as possible. Vague resolutions leave too much wiggle room, and that can compromise your ability to achieve your goal. Set specific goals with clear benchmarks so you can celebrate your progress as the year goes on. If your goal is to save ‘X’ amount of money in the next year, divide that number by 12 and aim to reach that smaller figure by the end of each month.

Be realistic. Some people fail to achieve their resolutions because they simply set the bar too high. While it’s good to push yourself, don’t choose a resolution that’s unrealistic. If you do, you may quit early if you realize you aren’t making enough progress despite your putting forth your best efforts, or you might take an unhealthy approach in an attempt to circumvent some of the obstacles in your way. If your goal is to lose weight, speak with your physician first to determine a weight loss goal that is healthy and reasonable.

Expect a few bumps in the road. En route to achieving your resolution, expect a few bumps in the road. Life is never entirely predictable, and there will be a few unforeseen events over the course of the year that may throw you off target. Anticipate and accept such obstacles so they don’t derail your efforts.

Call 276-4325 today for an appointment!

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february 2017

Siouxland Life

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FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR HOME (AGAIN) Remember when you first walked in? Was it love at first sight? Or maybe you loved it, but knew you had to refine it? How many years has it been now? Two, ten, twenty?

Has it lost its’ sparkle? Here we are smackdab in the middle of a dreary winter – it’s February, and you wonder how it could have come to this. Sigh…

Don’t be so quick to turn your back on all your precious time you’ve invested in this relationship – now is a great time to fall back in love with your spouse—er, I mean, house—all over again.

• Take Time To reconnecT. Our homes age and change over time. Just like our cars (or us, for that matter) they require regular maintenance to stay in tiptop shape. And just like our bodies-junk in, junk out. So show your home some love at least once a month and be rewarded for years to come. Think of it as date night.

• communicaTe, communicaTe, communicaTe. Listen closely to your home, it’s constantly sending you signals and telling you what

it needs. Watch for signs of deterioration or wear and remedy situations before they become major issues.

• commiT To geTTing ouT of your ruT. Shake things up a little and make a change.

It doesn’t even have to be that big - paint a wall, get a new throw rug or change out the curtains in your least favorite room.

• Take acTion.

Maybe you’ve been neglecting your home a bit. Take some time to declutter, clean furnace filters, empty dryer vents and vacuum refrigerator coils. When your home runs more efficiently, you save money, and well, who doesn’t love that?

Even an older, run-down house can have some charm. If you look closely, you’ll find it. But if you’re in a relationship crisis with your home, the Siouxland Home Show is a great place to get new ideas, find new products, and hire a contractor to inspire you to try something you hadn’t considered.

Make plans to attend the 60th Annual Siouxland Home Show march 2-5, 2017.

Before you go, check out our website for the latest information and a list of exhibitors that will be showcasing their products and services at siouxlandhba.com/home-show.

• Don’T forgeT To have fun.

What were your favorite parts of the home when you moved in? Was it the sun room?

The gourmet kitchen? The master soaker tub? Take the day to do something in your Todd favorite homey spot. Yes, chores need to be Hagaman done too, but sometimes, it’s just time to President curl up in your favorite spot and be grateful Todd Hagaman for all the things you love about your home. Construction SIOUXLAND LIFE

712-255-3852 siouxlandhba.com FEBRUARY 2017

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ADVICE Medical

Answers

‘DOC, I’VE GOT A QUESTION …’ answers to your medical questions

When should you go to the emergency room? I’m never sure when something is serious enough. Do I go only when I can’t get in to an urgent care?

This is a great question! It can be difficult to know exactly how serious an issue is to warrant going to either the clinic vs. an urgent care vs. the emergency room.

What I usually tell me patients is that if you’re not sure, just ask! Most clinics and emergency rooms have someone available 24/7 to answer phone calls from patients. If you belong as a patient to a particular clinic, call there first. If the clinic is closed, most will have voicemail instructions on how to reach the on-call provider for that given time. If you don’t belong to a clinic, you can also call an urgent care or emergency room and someone will be available to answer your medical question(s) and help determine when you should be seen. There are some other systems in place as well to help you get the care you need in the most appropriate setting. For instance, if you present to the clinic or an urgent care for chest pain suspicious of a heart attack, you would be transferred over to the emergency room.

If you require more specialized care than a particular location can offer, you will be informed and the appropriate arrangements can be made. Again, I always suggest calling your clinic, urgent care, or emergency room first if you are unsure as to where you should go because this also helps prevent you from going to an emergency room or urgent care when maybe waiting until your clinic is open to be seen is more appropriate for your medical issue(s).

My skin is shedding like a snake.

Does this mean I need more water? Lotion? Or is it just a winter thing and it’ll disappear in spring?

Having dry skin is fairly common in the winter months in places that 46

FEBRUARY 2017

experience cold and dry winters, such as here in Siouxland. Dry skin can be a sign of dehydration and other medical problems, but is more often a symptom resulting from dry environmental conditions. However, if your skin is actually “shedding like a snake,” that might be something more than just dry skin.

Dry skin usually flakes off and doesn’t typically shed off in layers. Moisturizing lotions and creams usually help with dry skin, so I would suggest trying a moisturizer and if no response or you have a change in signs or symptoms, you should go see your doctor. Shedding skin can be a sign of something more than just dry skin and having a doctor actually look at the skin and sometimes taking a sample for testing, called a biopsy, can be helpful in making an accurate diagnosis.

Your doctor can also ask more questions such as “Does this only happen in the winter?” and “How old were you when this all started?” Skin problems and rashes are difficult to diagnose without seeing the actual problem, and still then sometimes we often scratch our heads about what the diagnosis might be just based on looking at the skin. This is why sometimes we also need to do other testing, such as a biopsy and bloodwork, to come to a precise diagnosis.

Is there such a thing as the 24hour flu? I’ve had friends who have been fairly sick for a day with vomiting and diarrhea and then they’re better the next day.

Could it have been food poisoning? What’s the difference?

Ah, good, so this is one of my pet peeves, and I’d love to make some clarifications. So, when many people use the

SIOUXLAND LIFE

MEET THE DOC Jesse Nieuwenhuis is a family medicine resident physician at the Siouxland Medical Education Foundation in Sioux City, Iowa.

He 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. term “flu” and describe their symptoms as vomiting and diarrhea, this is actually a misleading term because true influenza (flu) viral infections do not typically cause vomiting and diarrhea in adults.

However, I will say that in children, about 10-20 percent who test positive for influenza can in addition to the symptoms I’ll describe below have vomiting and diarrhea, but again this is less common and not the general presentation. Influenza characteristically begins with an abrupt onset of fever, headache, muscle aches, and malaise (a general feeling of discomfort and illness). These symptoms are then accompanied by indicators of a respiratory tract illness, such as a dry cough, sore throat, and runny nose. You may have heard the term “stomach flu,” which involves vomiting and diarrhea, but this illness is usually a viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection known as gastroenteritis and not actually influenza. This gastroenteritis infection is what most people then think of as the “24-hour flu.”

Gastroenteritis can also be caused by bacteria from food poisoning. In a sense, gastroenteritis is a broad term used to describe a lot of different infections of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Less severe gastroenteritis from food poisoning typically is shorter lived but more severe forms of this type of infection from food poisoning or other causes can last several days. Sometimes a way to distinguish between gastroenteritis from food poisoning vs. other infectious causes is to see if other people who ate the same food as you are also sick. Food poisoning typically affects a group of people who ate the “bad” food, whereas gastroenteritis from other causes is typically more isolated, affecting people more “randomly.”

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.

parting shot By

a

Bruce Miller

If the SWAT team comes…

A year ago, I heard a knock at my door at 3 a.m. and decided to ignore it. It got louder and, frankly, I figured the person wasn’t going to go away.

To my surprise, I discovered it was a team of police officers, wondering if I was harboring someone was sought in a crime.

Now, if you know anything about me, I’m not likely to harbor anyone but myself.

Sure, I move like Dale Earnhardt Jr. when people call before they come over.

But if you stop by unexpectedly, I’ll likely crack the door 3 inches and pretend I’ve got plumbing issues.

Part of the problem is exhaustion. If, like me, you come home feeling like you’ve just been through basic training, you know there’s no energy left to sterilize the bathroom, cook for a week and karate chop the living room pillows.

Many days, I don’t even have the heart to set the table and eat like real people do. I dine over the sink, thus avoiding the need to do dishes.

I avoid going into rooms that are “untouched” (thus preventing me from messing them up) and I wait until every shirt I own has been worn before I even think about pulling out the ironing board. (Then, it becomes a marathon, usually one accompanied by a TV series binge – a long TV series binge.)

The dining room table is often home to my “things to do.”

There are stacks for mail, papers, magazines, bills and laundry.

While I’m very good at folding towels and sorting socks, I’m very bad at putting them away. Yes, I know that it just takes a few steps to do that but, often, I can get distracted. One phone call. One Google search. One crossword puzzle and I’m out.

Days pass and, still, there’s a mountain of washcloths sitting near my thank-you notes. I get around to putting them in the linen closet when there are no more there. Lazy, I know. But that’s just the way it is.

In the bedroom, I discovered the joys of comforters. When we only had bedspreads, I could leave the bed undone for a week. Now, that glorious invention has made it simple. Just pull the thing over the blankets and you’re done. Bed made. Bam!

I’m not that good at putting belts, ties and shoes away (my floor is like a minefield) but I will put dirty laundry in the hamper and re-hang pants. Again, priorities.

Thanks to a system of bins, buckets and drawers, I’m much better in the bathroom.

Years of drooling over the Container Store catalog have made me well organized in the room with the best lighting.

I have containers for all sorts of things and, after I’m done in the morning, all I have to do is put them in their proper place.

The counter is cleared and ready to be cleaned. A spritz of Lysol, a spray of Windex, a douse of Tilex and I’m good. The place looks like it’s ready for a health inspection.

“Show” towels (and you know what I mean – the kind that are never used) hang untouched because the ones I use are too ratty to be put out for company. The “regular rotation” ones are used once, thrown in the hamper and sent to the laundry room where they get cleaned faster than anything else. (Why? Because it’s very easy to say, “I did laundry today,” when all I really did was toss towels in the washer and dryer.)

Once I got a turbo dishwasher, I haven’t worried about cups, glasses and plates. I’m not all that good at taking them out and putting them away. But, hey, two washings never hurt any dish.

Vacuuming, however, is another matter. I have three vacuums and hate using two of them. They’re too heavy. The third works well, but I resent using it because I don’t want to walk on the results (if I don’t, it looks like a hotel room. Classy.).

Windows are a whole other problem. By keeping the drapes and blinds closed, I don’t see how truly dirty they are. (Besides, natural light just encourages dust.)

I frequently go on Pledge sprees and, for a good day or two, it looks like I polished furniture like a high-end carpenter.

I’m bad about changing lightbulbs, but that’s just because I don’t like to get on ladders.

And, if I have too much lighting you’ll see all of my housekeeping sins.

That is, of course, if I let you in the door.

SWAT team or not.

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