Siouxland Life - June 2017

Combine paddle boards and yoga for exercise

Giving a landmark new retail life

Where Eagle Scouts thrive and soar

A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN SIOUXLAND

FISHING FOR FUN OKOBOJI ABOUNDS WITH ACTIVITIES

THE RETURN OF THE DRIVE-IN THEATER

JUNE 2017

SIOUXLAND LIFE IS ON THE WEB! VISIT WWW.SIOUXCITYJOURNAL.COM/SIOUXLANDLIFE

Here Comes

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CONTENTS June

2017

You don’t need constant sunshine to enjoy a day – or a week – at the lakes. There’s always something going on at the Iowa Great Lakes and this year’s no exception. For our summer getaway, we talked with residents geared up to make the summer of 2017 a memorable one. For getaway ideas, turn inside and start planning. You’ll be glad you did.

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A DRIVING FORCE Remember going to an outdoor movie? Many don’t because they’ve disappeared so rapidly.

Luckily, a Midwesterner is determined to keep the concept going.

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A LANDMARK PLACE Singer Marilyn Maye calls The Inn home every summer. Now, the historic hotel has a fresh look, just ready for the 2017 crowds.

ON THE COVER Dustin Courtright of Cherokee, Iowa, tries his luck at fishing at Arnolds Park, Iowa. He got a jump on the season in May, before the crowds descend on the weekend.

Photo by Justin Wan

FEATURES 4 HOME a forever home 15 THE BIG O history still lives 18 THE BIG O the great outdoors 20 THE BIG O handcrafted 23 THE BIG O a landmark place 26 THE BIG O saving the lakes 28 THE BIG O acting up

30 33 36 38 40 43 47

THE BIG O scouting pledge THE BIG O another style THE BIG O biking around THE BIG O fun-ercise HEALTH alzheimer’s care HEALTH medical answers PARTING SHOT

PUBLISHER Steve Griffith EDITOR Bruce Miller EDITORIAL Dolly A. Butz, Tim Gallagher, Earl Horlyk, Lindsey Nelson PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Hynds, Jim Lee, Justin Wan ADVERTISING SALES Nancy Todd ADVERTISING DESIGN Kayla Fleming PAGE DESIGN April Burford

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©2017 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.

LOTS OF TRAILS If you want to hike, bike or walk, the Iowa Great Lakes have plenty of space for you to get back to nature and test your endurance, no matter what the mode of transportation.

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HOME A

forever home

An open concept is featured on the main floor of the Travis and Amanda Ten Napel home in Helmers Addition, located in the midst of Sibley Golf & Country Club in Sibley, Iowa, just 30 minutes west of the Iowa Great Lakes.

A FOREVER

HOME 4

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s

Amanda and Travis Ten Napel hold son Joey outside their new home in Sibley, Iowa. The Ten Napels, natives of Jefferson, Iowa, moved to Sibley to work in insurance and counseling, and to be close to extended family.

Text and Photography by

Tim Gallagher

Couple finds Sibley matches wish list

SIBLEY, IOWA | Travis and Amanda Ten Napel look at each other, laugh and share a curious observation: “We built our retirement home at ages 23 and 24,” Travis says.

The Ten Napels are much at home with son, Joey, in the Helmers Addition that arises in the midst of Sibley Golf and Country Club. The Ten Napels, a golfing family, sold their previous home in Sibley to Lance and Jackie Glade.

Lance serves as superintendent for his home course.

“Being on the course was our unwritten agreement with each other,” says Travis, who keeps an office in downtown Sibley for Northwestern Mutual Life. “I had bought a house here (in Sibley) and we hadn’t married yet.

But, we agreed to one day build on the course.”

That day came sooner than anticipated in a community just 30 minutes

west of the Iowa Great Lakes.

“We intended to buy a lot here and sit (without starting construction) for a year, but then Lance and Jackie bought our house,” Travis says. “We then decided to build right away while Amanda was pregnant.”

Amanda gave birth to Joey two weeks after the couple moved into their new home in the fall of 2015.

“We broke ground on May 4, 2015, and had great conditions for construction,” says Travis, who put his previous contracting experience to work in serving as general contractor for their 5-bedroom, 2 1/2-bath home. The site features 3,418 square feet of living space, which includes a finished basement.

Three holes of the golf course can be seen east of their home. The other six homes are on the west side of the street that runs down the center of the Helmers Addition, a neighborhood comprised of young families, middleaged parents and retirees.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

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The nursery in the Amanda and Travis Ten Napel home features Winnie the Pooh. It’s where little Joey Ten Napel has slept since he was born in the fall of 2015, just two weeks after Amanda and Travis completed their home in Sibley, Iowa.

Travis’ paternal grandparents, Lee and Elaine Ten Napel live next door.

Though Joey is but a toddler, he’s not the youngest in the neighborhood.

On a breezy morning in early spring, he bounds down the sidewalk to visit a friend two houses to the north. In between, he passes his great-grandparents’ home, a home that’s been part of this development for two decades.

“My grandparents moved in during 1997, and that’s the oldest house here (in the addition),” Travis says. “You could say that our home is the newest.”

Ten lots remain in this neighborhood, one that connects with ease to schools serving Sibley-Ocheyedan, brick buildings, playgrounds and athletic fields that can be seen from this couple’s front yard.

“There’s a recreational trail that circles most of Sibley and we can get on it right here,” says Amanda, who works as an outpatient therapist for Southwestern Mental Health Center across the border in Minnesota.

The home, which utilizes an airy open concept, features light bamboo

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Wedding photos and rural decor dress up select nooks of the Ten Napel home in Sibley, Iowa.

flooring (with padding beneath the floor for sound control), expansive windows and white trim. Those windows provide a glimpse east to the No. 3 hole, a par 5 that brings water into play on the drive and second shot. A pond that comes into play on the hole stands 20 feet from the Ten Napel property line.

Heated basement floors radiate heat throughout the house during cooler months. “My dad is general manager of the Osceola County Rural Electric Cooperative, so we are energy efficient,” Travis says. “Our Lite Form basement has two inches of foam insulation on each side of our 8-inch concrete walls.”

The couple used three inches of spray foam on the main floor and in the garage, a garage accessed via 8

JUNE 2017

“We built the home on both levels, inside and outside, to host and entertain.”

TRAVIS TEN NAPEL

Right: The furnace room, or utility room, in the Ten Napel home is the picture of organization and efficiency.

SIOUXLAND LIFE

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Amanda and Travis Ten Napel are shown in the basement bar/kitchen area of their new home in Sibley, Iowa. The Ten Napels, natives of Jefferson, Iowa, moved to Sibley to work in insurance and counseling, and to be close to extended family. They enjoy hosting get-togethers both inside and outside their home, which is located in the midst of Sibley Golf & Country Club.

“We built our retirement home at ages 23 and 24.�

TRAVIS TEN NAPEL 10

JUNE 2017

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Joey Ten Napel was born just two weeks after Travis and Amanda Ten Napel moved into their new home in Sibley, Iowa, on Sept. 26, 2015.

insulated doors.

Lighting throughout the home is of the LED variety. There’s a gas fireplace to further constrict the family’s energy footprint.

“Our worst heating bill this winter was $74,” Travis says, noting that his new office in Sibley measures 750 square feet and requires about the same gas requirement for heat.

The home consists of two bedrooms upstairs and three bedrooms downstairs. The main floor, as configured now, has the master bedroom and the baby room. At some point, Travis and Amanda say, they’ll transition the nursery into a home office.

The house opens from the west, meaning the driveway and street are on that side. The front porch is concrete

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Open FlOOr plans remain a TOp pick FOr cOnsumers Whether looking for a new home or revamping a current residence, home owners continue to be drawn to the feelings of spaciousness, easy flow and welcoming togetherness evoked by an open floor plan.

40 percent of their projects involve opening existing homes’ main floors by removing interior walls entirely or by using countertops, cut-throughs or archways, rather than full walls, to define separate areas in a more open way.

Pioneered in the early 20th century, open floor plans remain popular today, according to a recent survey from the National Association of Home Builders.

The survey found that 70 percent of buyers want a kitchen-family room area that is either completely or partially open, with 32 percent wanting it completely open.

Main floors with few or no interior walls between areas for cooking, eating, relaxing and entertaining allow cooks to chat with family members or guests, provide easy flow for entertaining and enable parents to keep an eye on children from different areas.

And owners of existing homes are choosing to open things up, too. Remodelers reported that

Open floor plans not only maximize space and flow, they optimize natural light. Windows serve more than their immediate area, illuminating the entire space.

With the increasing focus on accessible design, open floor plans meet another of today’s needs— with fewer doorways, they are easier to navigate in a wheelchair or with a stroller.

To find a builder or remodeler in the Siouxland area, visit www.siouxlandhba.com or visit nahb.org for more on remodeling trends.

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color-dyed walnut and then stamped barn-plank to look like wood.

Out back, then, is an expansive eastfacing deck, fire pit, grill and more. The back patio is a circle of regular concrete treated with acid release on top and stamped cobblestone. It appears to be the perfect place from which one can enjoy and evening out socializing, dining and watching the golfers negotiate that tricky par 5.

All told, the home represents a labor

Above: The back of the Ten Napel home in Sibley, Iowa, features a large deck that looks out onto a circular concrete patio with grill, fire pit and more. The No. 3 hole of the Sibley Golf & Country Club layout is located just 40-50 yards from the Ten Napel back yard. Left: This bathroom in the home of Travis and Amanda Ten Napel, in Sibley, Iowa, has a violet look to it. The Ten Napels live in a development that’s in the heart of the Sibley Golf & Country Club layout.

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of love for the Ten Napels and their extended family. Amanda, for example, designed the Heirloom cabinets from Great Lakes Countertop. The plans for the entire home are hand-drawn by the couple.

“My dad (Jeff Ten Napel), uncle (Jay Ten Napel), grandpa (Lee Ten Napel) and Amanda’s dad, Sam Harding (who owned a construction company) all did a lot of the work here,” Travis says. “We built the home on both levels, inside and outside, to host and entertain.”

And, perhaps, maybe as a place in which to retire.

Above: The Ten Napels built a home that’s part of the Helmers Addition in Sibley, Iowa, where Travis Ten Napel works. The home stands on a street that cuts through a portion of the Sibley Golf & Country Club. Right: Amanda and Travis Ten Napel hold son Joey in their new home in Sibley, Iowa. The Ten Napels, natives of Jefferson, Iowa, moved to Sibley to work in insurance and counseling, and to be close to extended family.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

THE BIG O history

still lives

The Central Emporium houses more than 25 businesses.

RETAILERS SAY LIFE IS GOOD AT

THE CENTRAL EMPORIUM

a

Text by Dolly A. Butz Photographs by Justin Wan

Jerry Daugherty, owner of the Sugar Shack, said his old-fashioned candy store located in the Central Emporium is a place young visitors don’t want to miss.

ARNOLDS PARK, IOWA | The Central Emporium, an iconic building overlooking West Okoboji that was constructed in 1901, is being restored to its former glory after ownership of the property changed hands last year.

Butch Parks, owner of Parks Marina, Inc., bought the Central Emporium, 144 Lake Shore Drive, to preserve it. He didn’t waste any time repairing and improving the landmark, which is popular with

locals and tourists alike.

“From the different owners over the years, some things have been done and some are needed to be done,” said Parks Marina, Inc., spokesman Jeff Thee. “Butch will be making that a top priority while still maintaining the look that people have known for over a century.”

Putting a new roof on the building and adding a new lake-level deck for customers of The Gardens bar and restaurant are two notable improvements, Thee said.

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Sarah Strom, owner of Life on the Lake, said the Central Emporium has a nostalgic feel to it.

Life on the Lake sells Life is Good brand clothing and accessories.

“It’s a great expansive area there for people to enjoy,” he said of the new deck.

“They can dock right up with their boat.”

The Hi-Point Sky Lounge, a recreation of a restaurant popular in the Lakes region during the 1960s and ‘70s, will open in the Central Emporium around Memorial Day. The restaurant will be among more than 25 businesses located in the historic shopping and dining venue near Arnolds Park Amusement Park.

Thee said the upscale steakhouse is taking a space formerly house by Rabab’s at the Lake.

“Butch decided he wanted to recreate that and use the space where a restaurant was,” Thee said of the Hi-Point Sky Lounge. “It’s just got a great view of the lake and sunsets.”

Sarah Strom, owner of Life on the Lake, said the Central Emporium has a nostalgic feel to it. Her store, which features Life is Good – a brand of quality, cotton clothing and accessories with positive messages, opened there nine years ago. The T-shirts are printed with images of sunsets, flipflops and sailboats – fitting wear for time spent at the lakes.

“It used to be a really famous dance hall. They would come from all over,” Strom said of the Central Emporium.

During the 1920s, some of the country’s biggest names in music, including jazz pianist and composer William James “Count” Basie and famed trumpeter Louis Armstrong, performed at the Central 16

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

The Central Emporium was purchased by Butch Parks, owner of Parks Marina, Inc., in 2016.

The Sugar Shack is an old-fashioned candy store complete with candy jars, scoops and a manual scale.

Ballroom Nite Club in the Central Emporium, which was then called the Central Pavilion.

Today, Strom said, the Central Emporium is a favorite stop of families who have been coming to the Iowa Great Lakes to vacation for years.

“When they were a kid they came here and now they’re bringing their kids,” she said. “It’s a tradition.”

Jerry and Sharon Daugherty are in their 29th year of owning and operating the Sugar Shack, an old-fashioned candy store located in the Central Emporium, which features classic candies and homemade confections, as well as modern goodies.

“The young people like to stop here.

It’s kind of a must before they go home or when they get here,” Jerry Daugherty said. “On the way up that’s all they talk about is going to the candy store. It’s a place they don’t want to miss.”

Sharon Daugherty, who spins her own cotton candy in multiple colors, said the store has glass jars upon jars filled with chocolates, taffies, gummies, sour candies and more.

“We have a lot of nostalgic candy that used to be sold a long time ago – Clark candy bars, Sugar Babies, Sugar Daddy (Pops),” she said. “We even have one that’s like the Marathon Bar.” Pick up a sweet treat and a T-shirt or sit down for an elegant meal at the Central Emporium this summer and life is good.

Jars of candy are shown at the Sugar Shack at the Central Emporium. The store is owned by Jerry and Sharon Daugherty.

Life on the Lake sells Life is Good brand clothing and accessories.

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THE BIG O the

great outdoors

Gaylord Kemp, owner of Superior 71 Drive-In Theater, checks out the view at his drive-in theater northeast of Spirit Lake.

A ‘SUPERIOR’

MOVIE EXPERIENCE

s

Minnesota man builds drive-in north of Spirit Lake

Text by Tim Gallagher Photographs by Justin Wan

SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA | The Superior 71 Drive-In Theater north of Spirit Lake isn’t boasting, necessarily, in linking its name to an adjective that might describe the movie-going experience you may have.

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Rather, Superior, is the name of the township in which this 9-year-old drive-in rises on 10 acres of former crop ground. The site is two miles west of the town of Superior, Iowa, not far from Spirit Lake.

“We began looking for land in 2005,” says owner/operator Gaylord Kemp, who

SIOUXLAND LIFE

hails from about 20 miles away in tiny Alpha, Minnesota. “We looked for land around Jackson and Fairmont, Minnesota, and at several sites along Highway 9 near Spirit Lake. We also tried areas around Estherville.”

Kemp and his wife, Pam, finally settled on 10 acres in Superior Township,

The sign at Superior 71 Drive-In Theater welcomes moviegoers.

just east of Highway 71 north of Spirit Lake. When conducting their search, land was often selling for $2,500 to $3,000 per acre.

“Actually, at that time it wasn’t a bad price,” he says. “Just after the land got re-zoned to be used as a drive-in theater, land prices skyrocketed. A farm around Terril, Iowa, the day we closed on this property went for $10,000 per acre.”

Kemp then went to work on developing the former farm tract. He found a 55-foot by 90-foot outdoor movie screen in Estherville. The steel screen was erected in 1979. It now sits in 83 yards of concrete. The viewing area

spans 40 feet by 90 feet.

“We built the drive-in during the spring of 2008 and we struggled,” Kemp recalls. “It was a very wet spring. We had it built by Labor Day of that year and opened for a few weeks in 2008.”

The first shows: “What Happens in Vegas” and “Space Chimp.”

Superior 71 Drive-In can handle 366 vehicles parking atop some 900 loads of crushed rock that make up the parking lot, or the movie viewing area.

Movie-goers tune their FM radio to 99.9 on the dial to hear the movie. Kemp estimates there are 300 or so drive-in theaters in the United States these days and most, if not all, use sound on an FM transmitter.

A two-story building was erected to handle the projection booth (upper level) and the restrooms/concession stand (lower level). The Kemps employ up to 15 people during peak summer season, June through August. Movies begin showing on Friday and Saturday nights in mid-April before transitioning to shows seven nights per week after Memorial Day. While the formal parking area is limited to 366 vehicles, Kemp says he can host 500 to 600 cars, parking the excess on grassy areas if those areas are dry and conducive to traffic.

“Since our screen is big enough, you can see a movie 600 feet from the screen,” he says.

Gaylord and Pam Kemp worked for more than 30 years at AGCO, a manufacturing enterprise in Jackson, Minnesota. Two years ago, Gaylord retired and began directing his energies full-time to the drive-in theater, an enterprise he’d thought about starting ever since he was

a boy.

“I practically spent my last 54 years thinking of building a drive-in,” he says.

“Even as a little kid, my dad and grandparents or aunts and uncles would take us to drive-in theaters. I remember walking across the lot at the old Gay Theater in Worthington, Minnesota, with my hands outstretched way over my head.

I’d watch cars come in and see people sitting around excited about being at a movie on a warm summer night.”

As a boy, he says, he can remember seeing movies at drive-in theaters in Worthington and Fairmont, in Minnesota; and at Estherville, Spirit Lake, Milford and Spencer, in Iowa.

“I met my wife in the 1970s and we spent lots of time at drive-ins,” he says.

“But those theaters were hit hard by VCRs. We began losing our drive-in theaters around here.”

After seeing all of them close near Jackson, Kemp vowed to resurrect the big outdoor screen.

For the first seven seasons or so, Gaylord Kemp kept working at AGCO while running the theater. He’s now doing it full time, spending his summer mornings cleaning up the parking lot and his summer evenings jump-starting cars whose batteries die while the movie plays.

“Oh, I’ll have to jump-start anywhere from five to 20 cars some night and that’s no problem at all,” he says. “There are some days where I’ll jump-start three or four cars before the first movie begins. I can get people going in a minute.”

Pam staffs the concession stand, as do other family members and employees.

Ticket prices, he adds, have remained constant with $8 tickets for those 13 and over, $4 tickets for ages 5-12 and free for those younger than than age 5. Each evening features two films, with the first starting at sundown. In the heat of the summer, he notes, the second movie might not end until 1 a.m.

Kemp attempts to show first-run movies.

“We’ve not raised concession or ticket prices all these years,” he concludes.

“And in the last two years, gas prices were down and our patrons began finding out about us through Iowa and Minnesota. We had our best year in 2016, and turned a profit.”

Making a ton of money isn’t foremost to this owner. Offering a “superior” movie-going experience tops his list.

“It’s a perfect retirement business,” Gaylord Kemp says. “The drive-in creates an atmosphere everyone enjoys. What kind of job can you work at where people come in and they’re all happy because they can relax and watch a movie?”

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THE BIG O handcrafted

Furniture made by Matt Slemp can be found in his Carnes, Iowa, home as well as at Sfumato Pizzeria, a business in which he is a co-owner.

ARTISTRY IN WOOD: RESTAURATEUR DISCOVERS THE CALMING NATURE OF BUILDING FURNITURE

c

Text by Earl Horlyk Photographs by Justin Wan

CARNES, IOWA | There isn’t a whole lot to see in the tiny Sioux County town of Carnes.

There’s a grain elevator and then there’s a former carpentry shop that has been converted into a small pizzeria, which is co-owned by Ann Plageman, Mark Slemp and Mark’s son, Matt Slemp.

And, to be honest, that’s about all there is to see in Carnes, Iowa.

However, Sfumato Pizzeria – a restaurant specializing in Neapolitan pizzas – features furniture designed by Mark Slemp, who also owns a construction

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company, and Matt Slemp, who enjoys woodwork as much as his dad.

“Pretty much everything I know about making furniture, I learned from my dad,” Matt Slemp said in a workshop next to the pizzeria. “When it comes to design, he taught me everything that I know.”

Even though he doesn’t advertise his services, Matt is becoming known for crafting one-of-a-kind home furnishings.

Indeed, he recently made a grand, live-edge walnut table for a client who lives in Okoboji, Iowa.

“The client knew exactly what she wanted and the end result really turned

SIOUXLAND LIFE

out well,” Matt said.

So, does that make Matt a pizza maker, a restaurateur or a fine furniture maker? Well, he actually wouldn’t mind doing all three.

This isn’t too surprising since Matt has always been ambitious.

A retired U.S. Marine who was injured in a helicopter crash while serving in Iraq on Dec. 11, 2006, Matt experienced a broken left hip, a broken left knee, a broken nose, a fractured left shoulder and a brain injury as a result of the accident.

After retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps 3rd Battalion 4th Marine, Matt joined his dad in a pizzeria than was

A table made by Matt Slemp is seen at his home in Carnes, Iowa.

named after a painting term coined by artist Leonardo da Vinci.

According to legend, Sfumato literally means going “up in smoke.”

That certainly isn’t happening to the pizzeria, which quickly acquired a devoted clientele.

Always a willing student, Matt received training and certification from Verace Pizza Napoletena, the governing body for the Neapolitan pizza makers.

“When I do something, I try to learn as much as I can,” he said.

And once you think about it, making a pizza isn’t that drastically different than making a table, Matt said.

They’re both crafted lovingly by hand

and each can be considered pieces of art.

However, he concedes an elegant table can last a lifetime. A pizza, no matter how well made it is, isn’t likely to last much beyond meal time.

Giving a quick tour of his shop, Matt said carpentry will more than likely remain a sideline.

“The restaurant is a full-time job,” he said. “Making furniture is something I do to relax on my days off.”

Showing off some of the pieces he has made, it’s clear that Matt knows design.

“It’s fun because I love working with wood,” he said. “I can show my creativity through the furniture that I make.”

A table Slemp created for an Okoboji, Iowa, resident.

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SIOUXLAND LIFE

THE BIG O a

landmark place

The Inn at Okoboji has 155 rooms with 13 different room styles.

THE INN AT OKOBOJI GETS AN UPDATE, WHILE HOLDING ONTO TRADITION

o

Text by Dolly A. Butz Photographs by Justin Wan

Mitch Brown, sales manager at The Inn at Okoboji, said some families have been returning to the hotel for summer vacation for decades.

OKOBOJI, IOWA | For the many families who vacation at Okoboji year after year, it wouldn’t be summer without The Inn at Okoboji Resort & Conference Center.

The property’s roots date back to 1896, when J.A. Beck constructed a 24-room hotel on the picturesque blue waters of West Okoboji Lake. Although the hotel partially burned, was repaired and then razed in 1955 and replaced with a new resort complex, it hasn’t lost its appeal to visitors or its historic charm.

“Some of the families have been coming here for 50 years every summer,” said sales manager Mitch Brown, who said guests travel from as far away as California and Texas to vacation at The Inn. Besides old photographs, Brown said the only marker of the original hotel is the “wedding tree,” an old oak tree

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Above: This suite was named after Grammy-nominated cabaret singer and musical theater actress Marilyn Maye, who stays at the resort every summer. Top: The wedding tree overlooking West Okoboji Lake at The Inn at Okoboji is the only remaining marker of the original hotel.

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located at the front of the resort on the water. He said many couples have exchanged vows underneath it. Even the land, is ever-changing.

“Originally we had a beach down by the lake. Now, just because of erosion and that sort of thing, it’s been shored up by rocks,” Brown said. “The landscape directly on the lake has changed. Now, it’s only accessible by dock.”

The resort has three docks for boating, swimming and fishing. All day long, Brown said guests lounge outside on picnic tables near the water. They also might take a dip in the indoor and outdoor pools, play a game of volleyball on a sand court or try their luck on the links.

The Inn has a 9-hole, Par-3 golf course.

Two years ago, Brown said, The Inn, which is under the operation of Great Lakes Management Group, underwent a transformation in decor to give it a soft, soothing lake-like feel. Last year, its

The Inn at Okoboji hotel units received a new roof, windows and an air conditioning system last year.

The bar at The Inn at Okoboji features the original chairs from the 1960’s Hawaiian lounge.

conference center got an update with hardwood floors and a color scheme that matches the lobby.

Nautical touches are scattered throughout the property, but Brown said the beachy look is more refined. The lobby features white crown molding and rich wood flooring. Deep gray woodwork is accented by airy aqua blue walls.

“We don’t have that anchor border we used to,” he said. “It’s a more sophisticated color palette and furnishings, but it still fits in with a water theme.”

While the bar area has stayed the same with its dark wood and original chairs from the 1960s Hawaiian lounge, Brown said the restaurant, now a Crazy Bob’s location, has been overhauled.

“It’s kind of wild. It’s red and yellow and tin,” he said. “It’s barbecue, but they offer all sorts of good things. It’s just a fun, fun environment.”

In late April, the huge outdoor pool

The interior of Crazy Bob’s restaurant is shown at The Inn at Okoboji in Okoboji, Iowa.

“It’s a more sophisticated color palette and furnishings, but it still fits in with a water theme.”

MITCH BROWN, SALES MANAGER got a face-lift with new decking and plastering. Although peak season for The Inn is June 15 through Aug. 15, some weekends are already sold out. Brown said the hotel phone has been ringing off the hook as vacationers book rooms, which all have lake views. Last year, each unit received a new roof, windows and an air conditioning system.

“We have 155 rooms and 13 different room styles, so it just depends on what people want,” he said. “Maybe our suites are all sold out, but we may still have a standard queen room available.”

Yet to be redecorated, is a large suite named in honor of Grammy-nominated cabaret singer and musical theater actress Marilyn Maye.

Brown said Maye stays at the resort every summer. Currently, her suite is nautical-themed, as are the other guest rooms in the 155-room resort. The suite, which overlooks the lake, features a spacious living room with a fireplace and wet bar. It also has its own private balcony, two bathrooms and a king-size bed.

“It’s really, really popular,” he said. “(Marilyn Maye) is going to be coming back and redecorating it, but her schedule just hasn’t allowed it yet.”

Stay tuned for more updates at The Inn.

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THE BIG O saving

the lakes

CONSERVATIONISTS FIGHT TO PROTECT WHAT MAKES

OKOBOJI UNIQUE

o

Text by Lindsey Nelson Photographs provided

OKOBOJI, IOWA | Arnolds Park’s Preservation Plaza will be filled with music, kids’ activities and talk of clean water Aug. 11 and 12.

“It’s all about raising public awareness of water quality issues locally and across the state of Iowa,” says Greg Drees, festival chairman and longtime water quality advocate.

“Our water resource is what defines us here – without our lakes, we’re just another small town in Iowa.”

The Okoboji Blue Water Festival is the brainchild of the Okoboji Protective Association, a group responsible for maintaining the water quality of West Lake Okoboji. Founded in 1905, the OPA is one of six lake protective associations in the Iowa Great Lakes.

Drees, past president and current board member of the OPA, says the group was looking for a way to spread the word and start a conversation about water quality and natural resource issues.

“2016 was the inaugural event and it was a big success. We had exhibitors, an expert panel, about 30 booths with kids’ activities, all with clean water themes, and Boz Scaggs performed on stage Saturday night.”

This year, singer-songwriter JD McPherson will perform at 7:30 p.m. and

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rock artist Chris Isaak will perform at 9 p.m. Friday. Eric Burdon & The Animal will end the festival with a bang at 9 p.m. Saturday.

Admission to both days of the festival is free. Festival elite sponsor Bank

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Midwest and over 100 local sponsors “make it possible for the OPA to bring the festival to Okoboji free of charge,” Drees says.

Having grown up in a family of conservationists, Drees has been advocating

IF YOU GO...

WHAT: Okoboji Blue Water Festival WHEN: Aug. 11-12 WHERE: Preservation Plaza, Arnolds Park Amusement Park, 37 Lake St., Arnolds Park, Iowa.

COST: Free for clean water his whole life and he hopes the festival will inspire the next generation of conservationists to get involved. “Last year, kids really embraced the festival, and we hope that’s the case this year, too.” Educating young festival goers is a big focus says Drees. “They are our future.”

Candidates for the 2018 Iowa gubernatorial seat, including Rich Leopold, John Neiderbach, Todd Prichard and Ron Corbett, will discuss Iowa’s clean water and natural resource issues.

Passionate water advocates from all over Iowa will be in attendance to discuss water quality initiatives as part of two expert panels to be held on Saturday. A local panel will discuss the latest water quality initiatives in the Iowa Great Lakes and a panel of state experts will talk about broader water issues facing the state of Iowa.

Mike Hawkins of the Iowa DNR will speak as part of the local panel.

Hawkins will discuss current water quality improvement projects the DNR is working on and a few “pertinent issues” that face the Iowa Great Lakes.

Hawkins lists managing nutrient input and invasive species as two areas the Iowa DNR is concerned about.

“There is a lot of education and outreach here in the Iowa Great Lakes and the festival is a great way to reach thousands of people,” Hawkins says.

“The Iowa Great Lakes have been leaders in water quality work for a long time. One component I, and other partners, am very proud of is the reach these projects have had. What we’re doing here has had application to other parts of Iowa and the Midwest. I think we will continue to work and share our successes.”

Panelists for the 2016 Okoboji Blue Water Festival

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THE BIG O acting

up

Iowa native Danika Portz will bring her unique country pop sound for a special concert at 7:30 p.m. July 19 at Okoboji’s Pearson Lakes Art Center.

SOMETHING

FOR EVERYBODY

o

Pearson Lakes Art Center slates diverse acts

Text by Earl Horlyk Photographs Provided

OKOBOJI, IOWA | As the performing arts director for the Pearson Lakes Art Center, Amanda Schindler always tried to book some veteran performers as well as a few newcomers.

“It gets to be a balancing act on occasion,” she said, “but I try to book shows that will appeal to a wide variety of people.”

Schindler isn’t kidding when she suggested the 2201 Highway 71’s Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre’s summer schedule has something for everybody.

For instance, the swinging sounds of the Dick Bauman Big Band will be

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boogie-woogie-ing, every Monday between now and Labor Day, while Hotel California, an Eagles cover band, will “take it to the limit” for a concert on July 12.

“That’s the fun part of my job,” Schindler said. “The Dick Bauman Band has been performing for us for many, many years while Hotel California is completely new to us.”

“I’m sure Dick Bauman will draw a big crowd but so will Hotel California,” she continued. “After all, when I think of summer I think of the Eagles.”

But do you think improvisational comedy is a natural when the temps heat up? Apparently, Schindler does. Chicago’s famed Second City will bring its “We’re All In This Room Together” sketch

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show at 8 p.m. July 29 in the Lauridsen Performing Arts Theatre.

“We’ve had Second City for quite a few summers,” she said. “Every time they come, it’s an entirely new and an entirely improvised show. They’re amazing.”

Indeed, Okoboji audiences are always hoping to discover the next Second City superstar. So, does that mean the next Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert or Bill Murray may be taking Schindler’s stage?

“Maybe, you never know who’s going to be the next big thing in comedy,” she noted.

The same could be said about the world of jazz.

At 7 p.m., June 21, the Headliners – made up of featured artists and students at Iowa Lakes Community

Dave Rowley & Friends has become a popular act, season after season, at the Pearson Lakes Art Center.

This year, they’ll be taking the stage for a show at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18.

DETAILS WHAT: Pearson Lakes Art Center WHEN: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday Wednesday and Friiday - Saturday; 10 a.m.

- 9 p.m. Thursdays; Noon - 3 p.m. Sundays WHERE: 2201 Highway 71, Okoboji, Iowa ONLINE: Lakesart.org College’s annual Okoboji Summer Jazz Camp – will play the Great American Songbook in Pomerantz Hall.

“This is traditionally a very popular show,” Schindler said. “The summer jazz camp brings the best young musicians who get to learn from some very talented jazz artists.”

But if country pop is more to your liking? That’s OK since Remsen, Iowa, native Danika Portz is set to perform at 7:30 p.m. July 19 at the Pearson Lakes Art Center.

Pearson Lakes Art Center director Amanda Schindler is always on the lookout for next bands. This year, she booked Hotel California, a tribute band that covers the music of the legendary Eagles.

“Danika is a Northwest Iowa girl who has been trying her luck in Nashville,” Schindler said. “I think Danika’s unique sound and energy sets her apart of your typical country act.”

Which is exactly the kind of act the Pearson Lakes Art Center is always on the lookout for.

“We may be in a small town but we like bringing in acts that a larger city will have,” Schindler reasoned.

Discussing the Pearson Lakes Art Center summer entertainment line-up

a few weeks before its traditional Memorial Day start, Schindler is especially excited about the return of Dave Rowley & Friends, a concert that combines memorable tunes, funny stories and unforgettable antics.

“Dave Rowley & Friends is another one of our veterans acts,” she said. “If you haven’t seem them yet, Dave Rowley & Friends is a great way to close out your summer.”

Rowley and company will perform at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18.

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THE BIG O scouting

63

pledge

EAGLE SCOUTS AND COUNTING

m

Milford men lead Boy Scouts Troop 170

Text and Photographs by Tim Gallagher

Boy Scouts Troop 170 leaders Bob Eilers, front, and Mick Umscheid have helped lead the organization for 35 years and 29 years, respectively. Since the early 1980s, some 63 Boy Scouts from Troop 170 have earned the Eagle Scout award.

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MILFORD, IOWA | For Boy Scouts Troop 170, the number is soaring. And set to fly higher.

That number, 63, represents how many Boy Scouts have become Eagle Scouts under the direction of Bob Eilers and Mick Umscheid, troop leaders for Troop 170.

The irony? Neither one of them was an Eagle Scout. Eilers, a Milford native, wasn’t even in scouts as a boy. Umscheid, also a native of Milford, participated in scouting until he was 13, when Troop 170 disbanded for a few years.

“I began participating as a leader in 1981,” says Eilers, 70. “I went to camp with Scoutmaster Robert Koppert and he told me he needed help. My wife, Kathy, encouraged me to get involved.”

Eilers noticed the enjoyment Koppert derived from his leadership position. He began assisting and his sons, Kirk and Kent Eilers, became scouting mainstays.

Both Kirk and Kent earned their Eagle awards in 1990 and 1993, respectively.

Umscheid, like Eilers, came about a leadership position through Koppert, who insisted Troop 170 needed a few more adults involved.

“Bob said that at some point, someone would also have to help fill his shoes,” Umscheid said. “So, I got started helping in 1988. And six years after that, my son

Above: An Eagle Scout project in 2015 involved re-setting benches in Milford’s Florence Park. The effort was directed by Reed Jensen, who became an Eagle Scout that year. This bench faces the Milford Veterans Monument in Florence Park, just east of Okoboji High School in Milford. Right: The roster of Eagle Scouts that have come from Boy Scouts Troop 170 of Milford, Iowa, stands at 63 and counting. The names are shown on this display where Troop 170 meets each Sunday evening.

Ben became a Boy Scout.”

Ben Umscheid was added to the impressive roster of Troop 170 Eagle Scouts in 1998.

Since 1982, Eilers says, there have been 63 Eagle Scout awards presented to members of Troop 170. Before that time, there were at least a couple, and maybe a few more, though the records aren’t available for that era.

“There would most likely be other Eagle Scouts from here in the 1960s and 1970s,” Umscheid said.

And, others are coming. Four members of the Boy Scouts here are currently on track to earn their Eagle Scout award at some point.

“We’ve had Eagle Scouts as young as 13,” said Umscheid, a district representative for the Eagle board. “The oldest would be 18, unless a young man had a special-needs extension.”

Umscheid, 62, said he enjoyed Koppert’s company and demeanor more than he did working with boys when he became involved three decades ago. Koppert, a high school industrial arts teacher, was known as a strict taskmaster, who carried his classroom personality over to his work in the Boy Scouts.

“He could be rough and gruff, but that’s how he kept discipline,” Umscheid said.

These days, Umscheid enjoys taking a longer view, seeing how an 11-year-old grows from being a boy to graduating as a young adult. Some go on to serve as chiropractors, bankers and street superintendents in Milford, to name but a few.

Troop 170 has, in the past, taken in

Boy Scouts Troop 170, of Milford, Iowa, has had 63 young men become Eagle Scouts since the early 1980s.

members from the nearby communities of Lake Park, Spencer and Estherville, if conditions warranted such action, namely, if a town had lost its charter because of declining membership.

Attracting and keeping Boy Scouts can represent a struggle in today’s climate, one in which school and work demands, extracurricular activities and club sports can dominate one’s schedule.

“We went to meeting on Sunday nights back in 1994 as a way to help kids be able to make the meeting,” Umscheid said.

Back in the 1990s, Troop 170 counted 28 members on its roster. That number dipped to about a half-dozen Boy Scouts five to six years ago.

“It’s cyclical,” Eilers said.

Among the memorable Eagle Scout

projects in Milford, both men agreed that an undertaking by Reed Jensen in 2015 helped better the community. Jensen directed an effort to re-set benches serving visitors to Florence Park, just east of the high school.

“He took those crooked park benches, re-landscaped the area around them, put bricks beneath each bench and put in cobblestone,” Umscheid said.

Another project involved the painting of house numbers on curbs throughout the Dickinson County community. Tony Halbur piloted that effort as part of his 1990 Eagle Scout award.

Both men lauded adult leaders for their roles in keeping Troop 170 as part of this active community. Linda Nase, for example, is one adult leader who has raised three Eagle Scouts and will soon have a daughter who will earn the women’s equivalent of the award.

Umscheid and Eilers also credited Milford’s American Legion Post 384 for continuing its work as a sponsor and host of Troop 170. The Legion has a building east of downtown Milford and offers half of the site to Troop 170 for its meeting site and as a place in which to work on projects.

Eilers, a U.S. Marine who was injured in Vietnam in December 1966, is a member of the American Legion who extends the tie between the Legion and the Boy Scouts, a bond solidified for years by Koppert.

“The Legion has always been the Boy Scout sponsor,” Eilers said. “And I’ll keep leading the scouts as long as the good Lord allows.”

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THE BIG O another

style Spies (or tourists) can come out from the cold by staying in the Sean Connery Suite at the Okoboji Commons Hotel. The $5 million hotel opened in May 2017.

FROM OKOBOJI

WITH LOVE:

A JAMES BOND-INSPIRED HOTEL BRINGS UNIQUE BRITISH PANACHE

o

OKOBOJI, IOWA | A few days prior to the May 2017 grand opening of her 71room resort, The Okoboji Commons Hotel co-owner Misty Katzfey couldn’t recall the name of Timothy Dalton.

“Goodness, it’s on the tip of my tongue,” she admitted, inside the hotel located at 1302 Highway 71.

Momentarily forgetting British movie stars shouldn’t ordinarily be a concern for an experienced businesswoman like Katzfey. But you have to realize that the suites of The Okoboji Commons Hotel are all named after actors who’ve portrayed Sir Ian Fleming’s superspy James Bond over the past 50 years.

“The Sean Connery is our big luxury

Text by Earl Horlyk | Photographs by Justin Wan

Are you in the United Kingdom? No, don’t let the Union Jack pillow fool you. The Okoboji Commons Hotel is located at 1302 Highway 71 in Okoboji, Iowa.

suite with the beautiful view of the lake,” she said. “The Pierce Brosnan, Daniel Craig and Roger Moore suites are quite luxurious.”

Then Katzfey suddenly remembered Dalton, James Bond in 1987’s “The Living Daylights” and 1989’s “License to Kill.”

“Our Timothy Dalton Suite is also gorgeous,” she said with a laugh. “I can’t believe I forgot his name.”

Katzfey has good reason to be a bit overwhelmed.

In September 2015, she and business partner Kristi Leigh purchased the property that sits on a 6.2-acre site on East Lake Okoboji.

Over the past year-and-a-half, they’ve

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For your eyes only? Nope, anybody can rent the Sean Connery Suite at The Okoboji Commons Hotel.

Above: You only live twice! So, why not give a suite at the Okoboji Commons Hotel a try. Right: Scenes of London add visual appeal to the Sean Connery executive suite at the Okoboji Commons Hotel. Each of the resort hotel’s suites is named after a different actor who played Sir Ian Fleming’s James Bond.

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transformed the space into an urban hotel with elegantly furnished suites, gazebo, wedding tent as well as a James Bond Meeting Room.

So, we’re sensing The Okoboji Commons Hotel has a bit of an Anglophile theme going for it, right?

“Absolutely,” Katzfey said. “When we were thinking about decor, we kept on going back to a mod, 1960-ish vibe that was both a bit retro but still a lot of fun.”

“Then it struck us,” she said. “Why not give the entire place a James Bond feel?

That would immediately set us apart from any other hotel in Okoboji.”

Another thing that sets The Okoboji Commons Hotel apart is the Smack Shack, which Katzfey said is “a smashing place to grab a gourmet sandwich.”

Oh sure, we guess a person who could order a Double Smack Burger (a beef patty with cheese, lettuce, a special “Smack” sauce served on a Brioche bun); a Smack Dog (an all-natural beef hot dog served with jalapeno and sweet relish); and, even, a Smack Cubano (sliced roasted pork, ham, provolone, pickles and mustard on a toasted hoagie roll).

But that doesn’t sound very British to us.

Katzfey takes the bait. The Smack Shack also has a London-to-Okoboji variation on fish and chips, a favorite in the United Kingdom.

The Okoboji Commons Hotel offers three pieces of beer-battered cod along with some Smack Shack fries made by executive chef Jeremy Neppl.

A graduate of New York’s Culinary Institute of America, Neppl trained under celebrity chef Michael Chiarello before creating classic cuisine in Chicago and Philadelphia.

“Jeremy is originally from the lakes region,” Katzfey said. “He wanted to come back home and we’re lucky to have gotten him.”

Hmm...will Neppl actually feel at home with a resort that’s decorated with scenic views of London and the Union Jack depicted on pillows?

Katzfey is convinced Neppl will feel comfortable at The Okoboji Commons Hotel and so will you.

“Inside, you’ll feel like you’re in a new and urban hotel but, outside, you’ll see the beauty of Okoboji,” she said. “Our guests will experience the best of both worlds.”

The courtyard at Okoboji Commons Hotel.

Shane Neavin, right, of Transition Homes, gets an update on the progress at the Okoboji Commons Hotel, from his foreman, Ed Sullivan. Transition’s crews worked through the winter in an effort to make the planned June 1, 2016, opening of the 70-unit hotel a reality. Russ Oechslin, Sioux City Journal

DETAILS WHAT: The Okoboji Commons Hotel WHERE: 1302 Highway 71, Okoboji, Iowa PHONE: 712-332-2222 ONLINE: Okobojicommons.com

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35

THE BIG O biking

around A woman rides a bike along West Okoboji Lake in Arnolds Park, Iowa.

BIKE RIDE AROUND SPIRIT LAKE ENCOURAGES LOCALS TO RACK UP MILES

s

Text by Dolly A. Butz Photographs by Justin Wan

SPIRIT LAKE, IOWA | Over the past decade, the Iowa Great Lakes has become a cycling destination.

Iowa Great Lakes Trail, which runs through the heart of Dickinson County, is also friendly to walkers, runners and inline skaters.

“People can park on the south shore of Big Spirit Lake or on the west side of Big Spirit Lake and bike clear down to Milford,” said Blain Andera, executive director of the Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce. “Dickinson County Andera Trails is always working on new trails.”

What has caused locals to up the mileage on their bicycles and get serious about cycling?

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“People can park on the south shore of Big Spirit Lake or on the west side of Big Spirit Lake and bike clear down to Milford.”

BLAIN ANDERA, Executive director of the Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce Andera said Bike Ride Around Spirit Lake, an annual event founded in 1993 by a group of local cycling enthusiasts to raise money for the northern extension of the Dickson County Spine Trail, sparked the interest.

Today, Bike Ride Around Spirit Lake or BRASL is a popular event that features a family-friendly 15-mile ride around Big Spirit Lake, a 25-mile ride that includes a loop along Loon Lake in southern

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Minnesota, and a challenging 50-mile ride to Jackson, Minnesota, along the scenic Des Moines River.

“When I first started, the 15-mile route around Big Spirit Lake was by far the most popular route of the three that we provide,” Andera said. “Now, it’s the smallest. Most of the people do the 25- or the 50-mile route. That just shows the change in the last 10 or 12 or 15 years.”

This year’s BRASL will be held the morning of July 8, beginning in downtown Spirit Lake. Riders participating in the 25-mile and 50-mile routes take off at 7:30 a.m. The 15-Mile BRASL ride begins at 9 a.m.

Andera said the 15-mile route, which is fairly flat, is predominately asphalt trail with small portions of roadway.

First-aid stations, rest stops and a support vehicle will be available along the routes.

“We have a couple rest areas on that route where we offer watermelon,

Aaron Lowry, of Spirit Lake, jogs along a trail in Okoboji, Iowa.

bananas, cookies and water,” Andera said of the 15-mile route. “We’ve got a lot parents with their kids in tow behind.”

The 25-mile route takes riders in a figure eight around the south shore of Loon Like in Minnesota and all the way around Big Spirit Lake. The 50-mile route, which is popular with cyclists training for The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa (RAGBRAI), takes riders from the Iowa Great Lakes up to Jackson, Minnesota, and back.

“It’s more of a challenging route – a lot of hills,” Andera said.

He recommends that riders register for BRASL 2017 in advance online at spiritlakecc.com. Registration includes a T-shirt and a certificate for lunch at participating Chamber member restaurants.

Pre-Registration is $25 for adults and $15 for children under 12 through June 23 with a cotton T-shirt and $30 for adults and $20 for children under 12 through June 23 with a Dri-Fit T-Shirt.

Starting June 24, for an adult that the fee increases to $30 for a cotton T-shirt only.

Cyclists can also register the day of the race onsite from 7 to 9 a.m. Parking will be available at the Library and in public parking lots and on side streets.

The Iowa Great Lakes Trail, formerly called the Spine Trail, is popular with cyclists.

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37

THE BIG O fun-ercise

WHAT’S

SUP

Yoga and paddle boarding make great companions

Philip Ramstack (left) and Amanda Jorgensen (right), with their paddle board brand VESL, outside The Studio in Spencer, Iowa.

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s

Text by Lindsey Nelson Photographs provided

SPENCER, IOWA | Inside The Studio Yoga and Barre on Fourth Street, Amanda Jorgensen and Philip Ramstack press their feet firmly into their yoga mats. On the waters of Okoboji, their mats are 32foot paddle boards.

“You’ll have a greater appreciation for your feet after you experience SUP yoga,” says Jorgensen, owner and head yogi of The Studio Yoga and Barre. “Your mat is constantly moving, so it changes how you move from pose to pose.”

Jorgensen has practiced yoga since she was 19, but it was Ramstack who suggested a change of venue. “He’s the one who got me doing yoga on the board.

I’ve learned a lot about SUP from Philip.”

Ramstack first tried stand-up paddle boarding, or SUP, in 2009 while on vacation with his wife Marcia in Florida.

“Right away I was hooked,” he said.

Ramstack, now a certified PaddleFit Pro coach, traveled back to Miami in 2009 to shadow with PaddleFit founder and 2016 Olympic head coach for the USA SUP and paddle board team Brody Welte.

With numerous races under his belt, Ramstack wanted an activity that would keep him in SUP shape during the offseason. Yoga was the answer, just as it was for Jorgensen.

“After I had my fourth child, I was exhausted. I didn’t have the energy to run or lift weights, but I felt I had the energy to crawl around on a mat,” said Jorgensen. “Yoga helped me gain strength and clarity.”

The water, Jorgensen added, brings a serenity and calmness. “The water takes away other distractions that you may have during a class. But at the same time, water can bring new challenges.”

“Because your base isn’t on solid ground, it forces you to focus on using all of your muscles, rather than just using the muscles for a certain pose. It’s more of a full-body experience,” said Ramstack “You’ll find muscles you didn’t know you had,” Jorgensen said.

SUP may sound advanced, but Jorgensen said SUP yoga is “for everyone; any age, any skill set.”

“On the water, we’re moving a lot slower. We’re doing more seated poses that focus on the core and foot placement. Movements are slower, more calculated.”

Jorgensen said unless participants are really challenging themselves with a difficult pose, “people rarely fall into the water.”

Left: Amanda Jorgensen practicing SUP yoga on Lake Okoboji, summer 2016.

Below: Philip Ramstack (left) and Amanda Jorgensen outside The Studio in Spencer, Iowa.

“Safety is the The Studio Yoga most important and Barre thing – whether Where: 10 W. you’re paddle Fourth St., Spencer, boarding of doIowa 51301 ing SUP yoga, studiospencer.com you should 712-330-9798 always be out there with a life jacket,” Ramstack said.

After his time in Miami, Ramstack returned to the Midwest knowing he wanted to share what he had learned from Welte. He opened The Studio SUP, located inside Jorgensen’s shop in Spencer, which offers paddle boards, SUP gear, race programs for kids 9 to 14 and classes that focus on paddle board form and technique.

They held free, casual SUP yoga classes in Okoboji this past summer “just because we love it,” Jorgensen said. The duo are working on a joint venture that will bring The Studio to the lakes all summer long. A date and location soon will be announced.

“We want to take both of our loves and build a community of people who feel strong and secure on their boards,” Jorgensen said. “It’s a unique way to understand and enjoy the lakes. And it’s just good for the soul.”

Philip Ramstack (orange board) racing in the 2013 Midwest circuit in Chicago, Illinois.

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39

HEALTH alzheimer’s

care

Dr. Zaldy Tan fields questions from participants at the Alzheimer’s Caregiver Boot Camp. Tan helped develop the program, which teaches skills and techniques to those who have taken on the responsibility of caring for a loved one with dementia. (Courtesy of UCLA Health)

‘BOOT CAMP’

HELPS ALZHEIMER’S, DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES, TOO

l

Text by Anna Gorman | Photographs by UCLA Health

LOS ANGELES | Gary Carmona thought he could do it all. He’s run companies and chaired nonprofit boards. But since his wife was diagnosed with dementia, Carmona, 77, has felt overwhelmed.

“I really see myself at times crashing,” he said. “In my mind, I’m saying, ‘You know, I can’t really handle all this.’”

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There was the time his wife, Rochelle, wandered outside and fell down.

And the time she boiled water and walked away, leaving the burner on.

“I’m always double-, triple-, quadruple-checking everything that she’s around,” he said.

Carmona was among about 25 people who went to a Los Angeles-area adult day care center on a recent Saturday

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for a daylong “caregiver boot camp.” In the free session, funded in part by the Archstone Foundation, people caring for patients with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia learned how to manage stress, make their homes safe and handle difficult patient behaviors. They also learned how to keep their loved ones engaged, with card games, crossword puzzles or music.

Doctors and researchers increasingly recognize that caring for people with dementia compromises the physical and mental health of the caregivers.

And that, in turn, jeopardizes the wellbeing of the people they are caring for. Some studies have shown that the burden on caregivers may increase the likelihood that the loved ones in their charge will be placed in a nursing home.

“People with Alzheimer’s who have stressed caregivers have been shown to have poor outcomes,” said Zaldy Tan, the medical director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program who created the boot camp. “Their caregivers have essentially thrown in the towel.”

People with dementia are also more likely to go to the emergency room and be hospitalized if their caregivers aren’t prepared for the job, Tan said.

That’s one of the main reasons why UCLA Health and its geriatrics division started its caregiver boot camps in 2015.

UCLA holds four boot camps a year at community and senior centers around Southern California and hopes to expand over the next year to meet the growing need. About 5 million Americans, 1 in 10 people over 65, have Alzheimer’s disease — a number that could balloon to 16 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Similar caregiver training programs have taken place in New Jersey, Florida and Virginia.

Tan started the recent session by explaining the progression of dementia, noting that in its later stages people often don’t remember their loved ones.

“Do they all reach that stage?” asked one woman, who takes care of her sister.

“They do, if they live long enough,” Tan said. “I know it’s heartbreaking.”

He also warned the group that their actions can provoke anxiety or aggression in their loved ones, inadvertently.

“A lot of times, when you see someone shift from being calm to agitated, happy to angry, typically there’s a trigger,” Tan said. “A trigger is just like a trigger in a gun. You push something and then you get a reaction.” He told them that as caregivers they were in the best position to identify and avoid those triggers.

Leon Waxman, who also attended the boot camp, said he tries not to upset his wife, Phyllis. But sometimes she gets mad, as she did that day when he

An actor, right, trained to play a patient with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, role plays with a participant at UCLA Health’s Alzheimer’s Caregiver Boot Camp. (Courtesy of UCLA Health)

“People with Alzheimer’s who have stressed caregivers have been shown to have poor outcomes.

Their caregivers have essentially thrown in the towel.”

ZALDY TAN, Medical director of the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Program

dropped her off for day care while he attended the session for caregivers.

Taking care of Phyllis the past few years has been trying, he said. She can still dress herself, but she gets easily confused and can no longer make decisions.

“The hardest part for me is I don’t have a wife anymore,” said Waxman, who has been married to Phyllis for 58 years. “She’s not the same person she was 10 years ago.”

During the boot camp, recreational therapist Patty Anderson demonstrated a game caregivers could play at home: music bingo. Each square had the name of a song, and she played music.

“What’s this song?” Anderson asked the group.

“Bye blackbird,” one yelled out.

“If you have that one, mark it off,” she said.

Anderson said that even people with dementia can sometimes recognize songs and read their titles. “There’s a lot of good things that come out of this activity — just listening to music, clapping your hands, reminiscing,” she said.

In another room, occupational therapist Julie Manton explained how to prevent people with dementia from falling. She advised the group to ensure their homes have good lighting and the beds have rails, as examples. She also urged them to get rid of throw rugs.

Manton warned the participants that their loved ones might wander off and suggested the use of monitoring devices. “The key thing is to know where your loved one is at all times,” she said.

KHN’s coverage in California is funded in part by Blue Shield of California Foundation.

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Answers

‘DOC, I’VE GOT A QUESTION …’

I’ve been told I’m overweight by my physician. But if you looked at me you wouldn’t say that. Why do those charts skew so low, particularly when “muscle weighs more than fat”? What should I really be concerned about?

MEET THE DOC Dr. Chris Wolf is a native of Sioux City and graduate of East High. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Iowa in integrative physiology and medical school at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

He is a resident family practice physician at Siouxland Medical Education Foundation. He resides in Sioux City with his wife and young daughter.

I believe the chart you are referring to is the BMI calculator, which stands for body mass index. It was first thought up

by Adolphe Quetelet, a Belgian astronomer and mathematician who lived in the mid 1800s. The current formula was published in 1972 by Ancel Keys in the Journal of Chronic Diseases. In other words, it is a number that compares your weight for your given height. Different medical, statistical, and public health groups have argued about what the standard measures should be, but currently the medical community uses these values for adults: Underweight equals less than 18.5, Normal weight equals 18.5–24.9 Overweight equals 25–29.9, Obesity equals BMI of 30 or greater.

As you mentioned, there are flaws in this calculation. Most important, it does not differentiate weight from muscle vs fat or bones. So, it is a measure of excess weight versus excess fat, although those usually go hand in hand. Factors such as age, sex, ethnicity and muscle mass can influence the association between BMI and body fat. Older individuals usually have more fat and less muscle mass than a younger person with the same weight. Women tend to have more body fat for the same BMI compared to males. Muscular people, or highly trained athletes have higher BMI due to high muscle mass. There is also a debate on how height should be scaled in the calculation. Currently, very short people may have their BMI be too low, and a tall person may have a higher BMI than appropriate. For example, Clay Matthews is an NFL linebacker, who is listed as 6’3”, 255 pounds. This gives him a BMI of 31.9. I would certainly not describe Clay Matthews as obese, particularly to his face. No offense to you or other readers, but most of us do not look like Clay

This reaction can be life threatening, and requires immediate action. Autoinjectors like the Epi-Pen are set up to give a specific dose that is already in the unit. You do not have to use a needle to draw up the medication into a syringe. To use an Epi-Pen, you remove it from its container, then remove the safety cap, which is blue on the Epi-Pen. Position the needle end, which is orange, a few inches away from the outer part of the thigh, and jab the orange end into the thigh, through any clothing present. It will make an audible click sound to let you know it activated.

Hold in place for a slow three-second count, then remove from the leg and massage site of injection for roughly 10 seconds. The needle will automatically move back into the unit. At this point it is important to either call 911 or to take your friend to the emergency room for further evaluation. A second dose, using a second Epi-Pen, can be given 5-15 minutes after the first, if symptoms persist.

There are other brands of epinephrine auto-injectors that may have slight differences in their use. The main principles are the same however: the dose is ready to go, aim for the outer thigh and hold in place for at least three seconds before removing. Auto-injectors are designed to go through clothing, including jeans.

The most important thing is to ask you friend what her specific allergies are, as well as what her reaction tends to be or look like. Ask your friend to show you the unit she has and walk you through its use in person. Her doctor’s office or pharmacy may be able to get practice pens without medication that you could practice with to become more comfortable. With the Epi-Pen, you cannot give the wrong dose if used correctly, and you can never give more medication than it is set up for. As long as you give the dose

answers to your medical questions

Matthews and do not have large enough muscle mass to drastically throw off our BMI. BMI works well for population analysis of weight and body fat, but admittedly works less well for an individual.

BMI works as a first screening tool, but is not diagnostic for excess body fat on its own. If your doctor is concerned about your weight, there are other more specific tests that measure body fat percentage. In general, higher BMI usually correlates with higher body fat percentage, which studies link with increased risk for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, strokes, gallbladder disease and several types of cancer. I would recommend discussing with your weight with your doctor and find out what concerns he/she has.

I have a friend who has an Epi-Pen. She says I have to use it on her if she ever needs it. I’m scared. What do I do?

Can I screw it up?

Epi-Pen is a device that delivers a specific dose of epinephrine to a patient who is undergoing a severe allergic reaction, referred to as anaphylaxis. Signs of anaphylaxis including rapid onset rash, skin redness, throat or tongue swelling, vomiting, dizziness or low blood pressure.

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in the outer thigh and hold for three seconds, it is almost impossible to use it incorrectly. And I want to reemphasize, once the dose has been given please seek emergency medical attention, either by taking your friend to the ER or calling 911.

How damaging are seasonal allergies?

I know certain plants make me sneeze.

But after their season is over, I’m fine. Do I need to take anything for this?

Seasonal allergies, like other allergies, are due to an immune reaction caused by exposure to a substance our body is sensitive to. This causes a release of

histamine from immune cells, which causes constriction of the smooth muscle of our GI tract and airways, enhanced permeability of blood vessels, increased mucus production, itching, and dilation of blood vessels in the skin. This causes the characteristic symptoms people with allergies experience, including sneezing, itching, watery and red eyes, trouble breathing and coughing. These symptoms can be miserable for many.

Allergies affect anywhere from 10--to-30 percent of Americans. Seasonal allergies are usually caused by pollen from trees, grasses and weeds. Luckily, these often improve after the season.

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While certain allergic reactions can be life-threatening, most seasonal outdoor allergies are less troublesome. They can cause trouble with sleep, difficulty with taste or smell, increased chance of migraines and nasal obstruction. If your symptoms don’t bother you that much, you do not have to take anything. But there are several over the counter antihistamines available that can be quite beneficial for symptom control. These include loratidine (Claritin), cetirizine (Zyrtec), fexofenadine (Allegra), and desloratadine (Clarinex). All of these meds work and do not tend to cause much drowsiness. Some people will have a better response with one medication vs the others. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is another anti-histamine that works very well, but tends to cause more drowsiness than the others. If you do not get good relief with one medication, I would try switching to another to see if it works better for you. If you still do not get relief, consult your physician.

When are you not contagious? I have a co-worker who said she had the flu all weekend. She came into work on Monday and said, “Don’t worry. I’m not contagious.” Should I have exercised concern?

Unfortunately, there is no one answer to the question of how long a person is contagious after contracting an infectious illness. People with simple viral upper respiratory illnesses can remain infectious for several days.

Generally speaking it is always best to exercise caution when you are around people who are or have been sick in the last several days. If possible, anyone who is sick should stay home from work.

This is especially important if he/she has a fever. The easiest and best ways to reduce transmission of microbes like viruses and bacteria include: frequent hand washing, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, avoiding close contact with sick people, and avoiding touching your eyes, mouth and nose. Use a cleaner to wipe down your work space, paying particular attention to things you touch the most, including cell phones, keyboards and mouses. Also, it is important to get your yearly flu shot to help reduce your chance of catching or spreading influenza.

Ideally, people would wait until they don’t have symptoms before returning to work, however this isn’t feasible for most. A general rule of thumb, anyone with a fever needs to stay home. You may return to work after going 24 hours without a fever and not using anti-fever medications like Tylenol or ibuprofen.

If your doctor put you on antibiotics for an infection, in addition to following the

fever guideline, it is best to wait until 24 hours after starting the antibiotic before returning to work. The best way to reduce transmission is the simple things listed earlier, especially frequent hand washing!

What kind of damage can the sun do to your eyes? Are cheap sunglasses just as protective as the expensive ones?

The sun gives off a type of light known as UV light. This type of light is what can cause skin cancers like melanoma. At the same time, it can cause damage to yours eyes as well, including increasing your risk for cataracts, growths on the eye called pterygium, keratitis (corneal sunburn), and multiple types of eye cancer as well as skin cancer on the eyelids. Because of these risks, it is important to protect your eyes just as you protect your skin from the sun’s rays with sunscreen. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) has several recommendations to protect your eyes: 1. Wear sunglasses all year, not just in the summer. 2. The sun can still cause damage on a cloudy day. 3. Sunlight is strongest mid-day to early afternoon, at higher altitudes, and when reflected off of water, ice or snow. 4. Wear a hat as well, broad-brimmed are best. 5. Don’t forget your kids! Their eyes are just as vulnerable.

The AAO also has recommendations on what sunglasses to buy, and luckily it has nothing to do with price! The AAO recommends buying sunglasses that state “100 percent UV protection.” They are listed as blocking both UV-A and UV-B light, and are labeled as UV-400 or 100 percent UV protection. Bigger sunglasses that cover more of your face protect better. Wraparound styles help cut down on light entering from the sides.

The color of the lens make no difference as long as they provide 100 percent UV protection, dark lenses do not necessarily work better. Polarized lenses help cut glare, which you may find beneficial, but do not increase protection to your eyes.

You can find plenty of cheap sunglasses that meet the recommended 100% UV protection. More expensive sunglasses do not provide any protection that you cannot find in cheaper offerings. So make sure you are looking at the protection before you buy, wear a hat, and don’t forget the kids and you will keep your eyes happy and healthy!

WHAT KINDS OF HEALTH QUESTIONS DO YOU HAVE? Submit your questions and they may be used in this monthly feature. Write to Siouxland Life at 515 Pavonia St., Sioux City, Iowa 51102.

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PARTING SHOT By

Bruce Miller

THE POWER OF THE 20-MINUTE NAP

i

I HAVE PERFECTED the art of the 20-minute nap.

Any more time, I’m told, and you’re entering a different level of sleep. Twenty is just enough to give you that burst of energy to power through the rest of the day. I’m sure there are substances that could help you do that, too, but I’m not THAT interested in working around the clock.

The 20-minute nap, for me, goes something like this: 1. Eat something.

2. Turn the TV on low.

3. Grab a pillow.

4. Set egg timer.

5. Sit in a chair, then throw your legs over one arm.

6. Hold the pillow in your arms. (Don’t question this, just do it.)

7. Rest your head on the back of the chair.

At the end of 20 minutes, you should be ready to iron, clean, pay bills or empty garbage. Unless, of course, you set the timer for another 20 minutes. Then, all bets are off.

The 20-minute nap has helped me through a multitude of projects. I’m not quite at the Marie Kondo level of tidying up, but I have gotten specific rooms up to code, just in case.

The energy burst can be wasted on puzzles, card games, phone conversations and internet searches. But if you hide those devices under a pile that needs to be cleaned, you won’t be tempted.

I have a bad habit of leaving laundry in the dryer or in a basket. Folding things just isn’t my thing, so I wait until it’s an absolute must.

By putting my cellphone under the pile (and, yes, it does take some doing), I’m forced to begin the chore.

I don’t thank each piece of clothing as I fold it or decide if it’s ready to find a new home, but I do try to use Gap techniques to make sure T-shirts look like they belong on an end cap.

Towels are easier (and, if you’re keeping score, a closetful can be folded during an average commercial break) and look nice when they’re put on a shelf like a display in a department store. (In case you’re wondering, those perfect stacks aren’t stacks at all. Sometimes, they’re just one towel shoved into a display to LOOK like 12 towels in a stack. I know. I looked.)

A bucket – with all the cleaning supplies I could possibly need – rests in my kitchen, ready to be used during a lull in activity. I even have a stainless steel cleaner that has been banned in several

states because it has been known to cause several debilitating diseases (but it cleans like a dream).

That bucket rarely makes a trip around the house in one day because when you’re working on a 20-minute energy boost, you can only do so much.

I’ve thought about using the power nap reserve to cook, but that just brings up another cleaning problem and nobody wants that.

Twenty-minute bursts give you the ability to talk on the phone, too, and could stretch the night depending on who you’re talking to.

I haven’t used the extra time for anything significant – rotating tires, for example, or yard work. And I’ve limited myself to what I can accomplish before midnight.

Try anything after that hour and you’re sure to have an accident. Every time I’ve hand-washed glasses at 12:01 a.m., I’ve cut myself and required stitches.

I’m sure that wouldn’t have happened had I napped for 30 minutes. But I’m not going to test the theory just to see if it’s true.

A dishwasher will get them just as clean. And, you can probably get a good night’s sleep as well.

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