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December 2017 Ben Merens
Sharing lessons learned in the art of listening
Betty Balcsik
Memories of a Traditional Irish Christmas
Adventures in Living Family Christmas Traditions Remembered
TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Month’s Featured Articles
04
Ben Merens - Lessons Learned
05 Betty Balcsik - A Irish Christmas
Monthly Columns and Business Listings 03
Editor’s Note
07 Advertisers Corner 08
Pomegranate with Yulia
10
Town and Local Events
Church Directory
15 Regional and Community Notes & Events
06 Adventures in Living - Holiday Traditions
11 Pastor’s
14
Advertisers Corner Redbery Book Corner
12
15
Car Care with Sparkey
09 Natural Connections with Emily Stone
Corner Tech Talk
07 17
December 2017 Sudoku Recipe Corner
Forest & Lakes Column Contributors
13
Food & Fun 18
19
December Crossword Puzzle Author’s Corner - James Brakken
Maralene Strom - Adventures in Living Maralene grew up in the northwoods of WI. She is a business consultant and author.
Maureen Palmer - Book Corner Maureen is the owner of Redbery Books in Cable, WI
Dr. Leo Carlson - Tech Talk Leo is part of the executive team at Norvado in Cable, WI, and a professor at the University of Northwestern St. Paul and Maranatha Baptist University. Emily Stone - Natural Connections Emily is an author and the Naturalist/Education Director at the Cable Natural History Museum.
Dr. Monica Brilla, DVM - Vet Corner Monica Brilla, DVM of Northland Veterinary Services in Iron River, WI
Pastor’s Corner The Pastor’s Corner is comprised of guest pastor’s from around our region, reflecting the various denominations and churches in and around our area.
Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 2
Yulia Welk Yulia is the owner of Yulia’s Natural Skin Care products. She teaches classes about herbs, mushrooms, and natural living. Yulia’s: www.yulias.net Bill Kokan - Car Care with Sparky Bill is the owner/operator of Bills Garage in Drummond, WI. He has over 35 years of automotive maintenance and repair experience.
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Editor’s Note
It is with mixed emotions I write my last editor’s note. For the past two years, I have worked with Christie Carlson, my business partner, to create a magazine unique to the area, with good news stories, features, and events. We have been able to maintain the publication as a free pick-up at area businesses to be accessible to the community and for visitors to get to know our region and the people who continue to make it thrive.
However, life has changed for me. I find it is time for me to step aside and leave the publication to mature even more in the capable hands of Christie Carlson. At the age of 71, I am once again experiencing a new road ahead for my life and must leave some things behind in order to engage in what lies ahead as part of my life’s journey. As many are aware, my brother-in-law passed away on the day of the Eclipse. As my two sisters and I have become very much aware, we wish to spend more quality time together on trips, and to engage in some fun times of memory building. We are all healthy, and despite the age difference of seven years older than I, and 4 years younger than I, we still have the drive to experience what God has for our lives and our remaining mission in life. You will still see me write for this publication in my Adventures in Living Column, and yes, even some feature stories as they may arise. I still am a freelance writer for several publications, and have restarted by “Maralene’s Observations” Blog. My travel plans for six weeks of camping in Mt Shasta, CA are already in the works. I’m scheduled for different photography shows, and my website will be up for 2018. I’m also in the process of completing my upcoming book. Life is an evolution of experiences and challenges. And to be sure, my family would think something was very wrong if I were not going on another adventure in living. How often they call to ask, “where are you?” instead of “hello mom”! What a joy to have a family whom we enjoy our times together in love and adventures. Christie has great plans to make Forest & Lakes Monthly grow, and give to you, our readers, a vicarious experience or encourage you to make your way to some of the businesses, events, and regional places you have yet to experience. It will also be an invitation for the visitors to the area to experience what makes the northland of Wisconsin so precious as it is to all of us. I trust you will enjoy the feature articles about Betty Balscik as a Irish immigrant, and the Christmas traditions she shares with our readers. Ben Merens, for Wisconsin Public Radio host of At Issue for 21 years, is our feature story on the book/audio book called “People are Dying to be Heard”. In this time of discourse, it is a timely book for all of us to read and/or listen to. Thank you to all the readers who support this magazine so faithfully and give encouragement for it’s continued growth in the region. As always, let Christie know of your events, stories that would be of interest to put in the magazine, and for sure the events of your community. And most of all Thank You for the many kind words and encouragement many of you sent to me. Feel free to contact me at my email. May your Adventures in Living continue to Bless your journey and open doors of new awareness. With Gratitude, Maralene
Deadline for the January: December 18, 2017
For all content and ad submissions, please contact Christie Carlson Email: ccarlson@cheqnet.net Phone: 715-798-3572
Distribution Locations in Our Region Cable: Cable Chamber Forest Lodge Library Redbery Books Rivers Eatery Cable Natural History Museum Norvado Iron River: Iron River Chamber White Winter Winery
Barnes: Barnes Town Office Barnes Com. Church PJ’s Cabin Store Buck n Bass Resort Jim’s Bait Seeley/S. Hwy 63: Calvary Baptist Church Sawmill Saloon Drummond: Drummond Library Bear Country
Solon Springs: Merchantile KD’s Family Restaurant Higgins Lakeview Lodge Benoit: The Little Gift House & Benoit Cheese Haus Coffee Shop Brule: Poplar: Round Up North Poplar Hardware Brule Presbyterian Mobile Convenience The Kro Bar Store/Gas Twin Gables Copp’s Tire & Auto Maple: Aroma’s Bistro & Coffee Hayward Shop Main Street Tacos Maple Hill Feed & Farm Hole in the Wall Books www.forestandlakesmonthly.com
Ashland: Visitors Center The Stove & Fireplace Works Lake Nebagamon: Cenex/Midland Station Presbyterian Church Patti’s Dockside Sharon’s Cafe Grand View: Pat’s Place Choppers GrandView Food & Fuel Minong: Minong Town Office Gordon: ICO Station McNamara’s Bar Y Go By
December Photo Credit ‘Tis the Season
Submitted by: Maralene Strom
This picture was taken by Maralene Strom, Forest & Lakes, Monthly’s editor, while she was on one of her many adventures, no doubt! Maralene and her family lived in Northern Wisconsin for many years, while her husband Horton taught at Drumond School. She now resides in Lake Hallie, WI, but can be found somewhere here in the Northwoods more often than not! Thank you, Maralene for sharing the beauty you find everywhere, as you go through your adventures in living!
Show our region through your eyes - Send your photos!
We’d love to feature your images on the cover! Send photo submissions to ccarlson@cheqnet.net with the subject title “Forest & Lakes.” All photos should be a minimum of 1024x768 with resolution of 150 pixels or more. If you need help submitting a photo, please call Christie at 715-798-3572.
Become a Forest & Lakes, Monthly Distributor!
You can find copies at our advertisers displayed throughout the magazine. We have locations in various towns throughout the region as well! If your business or location would like to be a distribution point for your area, let us know! Give Christie a call at 715-798-3572 and we’ll get some copies to you! You can also view each month’s edition online at our website! www.forestandlakesmonthly.com
Hawthorne: The Covered Wagon Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 3
BEN MERENS: LESSONS LEARNED
Ben Merens: Lessons Learned as Listener of Others Submitted by Maralene Strom, and the Forest & Monthly Editorial Team
Holidays can be a joyful time for family and friends. And yet, it can be one of the most stressful times for members of the family when trying to communicate with one another. Old wounds, disagreements, perceptions of one another, and unforgiveness for the past is still held close to the heart. What is at the heart of these issues, is the feelings of “not being heard” fully by the other, therefore the lack of understanding of perspectives and experiences. Ben Merens, former 21-year host of “At Issue” on Wisconsin Public Radio, was inspired by his listeners comments to write the book, “People are Dying to Be Heard”. His role was to be professionally objective as possible and as he describes it “an honest broker” of public debate over the issues of the day. Listeners found very early in his role was not to serve a personal ideology, but rather bring the news of the day forward for understanding and discussion. Ben never denies he had his own personal opinions, but he never expressed them on the air. “My favorite listener feedback/compliment was some who had listened to him for 10, 15, or 20 years had no idea if I were a liberal or conservative. That meant I was doing my job,” he said.
to anyone else. He says the first level of listening is listening to oneself. And how do you accomplish that? He says his experience upon awakening in the morning, he lays his hand on his chest and feel his heartbeat and the rising and falling of his breath. And to be “grateful for the fact I’ve got another day.” He suggests checking in frequently with oneself and ask, “How am I feeling?” Consider how your night’s sleep was, good or restless. Are you looking forward to the day ahead or dreading it? For some they meditate, pray, or have an inner dialogue with themselves. “The point of our self-listening is that it doesn’t have to be a huge event,” he says. No having to go on retreats or walks but to just take the time to check in with ourselves. He believes until you have your own personal “tune-up” trying to listen to anyone else is useless because you are already preoccupied to not be fully present or absorbed in the moment with the other.
“When seeking answers to life’s serious questions, be quiet and listen to your first and foremost. When the answers aren’t forthcoming, be patient and listen some more.”
Throughout his audio tape/book he continues to give strategies for listening to others and journal topics to track your own tho’ts and progress. Ben believes He says it occurred to him, people would wait 20 minutes or more to get on the the greatest gift we can give others is “time”. He says, “Time is the only gift radio for 20 seconds to be heard. “It became apparent to me often my callers that cannot be purchased. We all have the choice of how to use our free time. had no one else listening to them. In fact, it became clear they were ‘dying to be Choosing to give time to another, by listening to them, we are giving them the heard’”, he said. He doesn’t deny he was procrastinating for a time about sitting most righteous of gifts—and one that says we care.” down and writing the book, until one day he went into the studio and spoke the book into an audio book. And that is where the audio book also went into He believes it would be very valuable for schools to conduct listening sessions the form of traditional book. to help train students and teachers alike to be present with others. No technology. One part of the session would be the one with the story to tell. The other He relates a story of great influence by his grandmother, Happy Smoler. part would be the listener repeating the story to show they had been present She would sit with Ben on her living room couch when he was young. “We and heard what was said. wouldn’t speak, we sat in silence,” he shared. Then she’d always ask him, “What are you thinking about”? Two lessons came from those experiences. First, it Today, we are all aware of the unkind speech used among leaders, and public is okay to simply sit in silence with someone else and second, that it demonwith the high volatility of disagreement. It is evident listening skills are in high strates respect and kindness to inquire about a person’s thoughts. “I’ve been need in our society. Gossip, mean-spirited words of denigration to the point of imitating my grandma ‘Happy’ for many years now,” he said. bully behavior is evidence of the lack of listening to others with an open mind and compassion for the other. Ben writes, “Hearing the possibilities only happens when you are willing to sit still and listen for them.” Acknowledging we live in a very noisy world, and it is Ben Meren’s book/audio tape is a great beginning in renewing compassion and easy to miss the sounds of individual voices and stories. It is even easy to miss care for one another. You can it on Amazon or contact Ben through his website the songs of nature. He says, “Listening is connectedness and isn’t that what we www.benmerens.com . You will get more of his tips on listening there and seek in the world?” where his speaking engagements are coming up. One of the first steps in listening is to “listen to self ”. He reminds the reader/ listener, “Your essence can’t be diminished by the cruel words of another… your strength allows you to be silent in the face of those words.” He says if we do not learn to listen to one self, how would it be possible to be able to listen Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 4
Ben Merens is the “Chief Storyteller” for the philanthropy team of the Blood Research Institute, part of the BloodCenter of Wisconsin. He has taught graduate seminars, and is the president of Congregation Shalom. He and is wife live in Milwaukee. His daughter is a senior in U of Penn studying brain science. www.forestandlakesmonthly.com
BETTY BALCSIK
Betty Balcsik: An Irish Immigrant’s Christmas Traditions Submitted by Maralene Strom, and the Forest & Monthly Editorial Team
Betty Balcsik lives in Gordon, Wisconsin. A small rural community with farms, lodging, small businesses, and local services to meet the needs of the locals and visitors. It is a community valuing the natural wonders of northern Wisconsin forests, waters, and changing seasons offering recreational opportunities. Balcsik’s story starts in 1932, in Middlesex England, a suburb of London. She spent very little time there as World War II broke out in 1939. Her parents, like many at the time, moved their children back to the rural areas to assure bombs would not affect the lives of their most precious treasure, the children. So, she with her siblings returned to Ireland. Betty staying with one of her mother’s aunts. Her siblings with another relative. Her parents moved back to Newport, Ireland and the other siblings would visit Betty on weekends. The war was devastating to her parents, as they lost everything they had accrued and had to start over back in their home of Ireland. Betty describes her school days beginning with her Aunt and Uncle taking her to school, some two miles distant on a riding horse every day. The horse (Star) was so well trained that by the third grade, the horse knew to take her to school, graze on a hill near the school during the day, and arrive on time to take her home. Her next form of transportation became her own bike. As Betty recalls her Christmas traditions in Ireland, one major difference to her experience was there were no pine Christmas Trees. In Ireland, the trees were 6’ to 7’ foot Holly Trees. Red berries appear in the winter on the Holly branches with prickly leaves feeling as if there are plastic. The tree was cut Christmas Eve or the day before. Men of the home went out into the woods, along with some of the children, to cut the perfect tree for holiday. The tradition was to clip candles onto the limbs. Holly leaves melt like plastic rather than erupt into flames. Most of the decorations on the tree were created from the natural fauna with just a bit of tinsel for the added sparkle from the candle glow. Christmas Eve supper was a fast from meat until after midnight. An egg omelet was made along with fried potatoes with an egg thrown in. Then the family went to confession and mass. Every home had a candle lit in their windows to depict the light for Mary and Joseph to make their way to Bethlehem with light guiding them. Children were anxious for Santa to arrive and always hoped snow would fall so he could use the sled instead of wheels to make his chimney entrance. No socks were hung by the fireplace, instead the children went to the fireplace to see if he came, with no fire in it to assure Santa could make his chimney slide without any mishaps! Presents were hung on the mantle. The war years were lean, even at Christmas, and the typical gift was a single banana and orange. Betty recalls how lean those years were for just getting the basic commodities let alone toys or other luxuries. Christmas dinner consisted of a plump goose and green veggies with Plum Pudding for dessert. Brussel sprouts were served with a bread sauce consisting of bread crumbs, milk and a few cloves for flavorings. Family gathered for the meal and games like Chutes and Ladders, along with some wine, and some questions like “How does Santa keep his white fur clean coming down chimney’s?” Betty’s transition to America came about when she came to the states to stay with her sister who had immigrated and lived in Chicago. Betty only planned to be in America for a year and return to Ireland. However, three months into her stay, she met her American husband and they subsequently married. Her husband was originally from Gordon, and they ultimately settled back in Gordon about 15 years ago as retirement option. Betty became a widow several years ago, but her vitality for life has not diminished. She spends some time in Chicago with her family, is an active member of the Gordon-Wascott Historical Society, and finds opportunities to serve others. She has kept a recipe book which she has added to since the 1950’s. Well worn and recipes documented in her own handwriting, she shares her traditional recipe for Curly Cue Cake from Ireland with us to add to our own Christmas celebrations.
Curly Cue Bake Submitted by Betty Balcsik
Directions:
Ingredients: 8oz flour 4oz margarine 2oz sugar 1tsp baking powder 1 egg Milk to mix & pinch of salt
Sift flour, salt and baking powder. Rub the fat into the flour til the mixture looks like bread crumbs. Add sugar and mix well. Add well beaten egg and enough milk to make a soft dough. Pat out and put into a 8” flan tin. Starting from the center, make a whirl in the dough, with your finger, fill with Raspberry Jam. Bake in a hot oven for 30 to 35 minutes. (hot oven 375 or so).
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Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 5
ADVENTURES IN LIVING - HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
Adventures in Living - Holiday Traditions Submitted by Maralene Strom
Christmas in our family has always been a special season of church, school programs, baking, decorating, shopping and lots of music. As a child, the excitement was built up with traditions of helping Mom bake the cookies and then hiding them so my Dad wouldn’t eat them all before the holiday. It became a game of hide and seek cookie hunt! Of course, my Mom made sure we left a dozen or so out for him, but he always knew there were more to consume. He’d put on his “Scrooge” persona and try the old “Santa won’t come unless I let him know the cookies are here.” Of course, we were wise to that old trick. It seemed the time we went Christmas shopping as a family was always on the 23rd and 24th of December. We’d get in the car to travel the 15 miles to Superior, park the car and with our money to spend in our coin purses make our rounds. It always seemed to snow during the evening of shopping which made the experience even more magical. Christmas lights and decorations lined the street and stores were aglow with their myriad of seasonal displays. My younger sister and I would peruse Roth Brothers Department store’s basement to find that special gift for our Mom. Our parents let us go by ourselves so we could have the secret safely in our bags. Dad’s gifts often were new socks, red of course. As we got older we also knew Wisconsin Typewriter store held a lot of interesting items for his home office. It seemed we always made time to visit Santa who was engaging with children as they shared their secret wishes for his visit. Santa often reminded the bystanders of his favorite cookie with milk. I often wondered if he and my Dad were related!! When Mom pulled out the Christmas decorations for home it was filled with excitement as we sorted them and gleamed with joy that Mom let us have a lot of influence for the décor arrangements. We always put the village snow scene on top of the upright piano. Cotton snow, little green trees with snow on them, a church with a choir singing outside, sleighs and horses, snow covered roof tops of village and rural houses. Every year, the decoration was a different layout scheme. We had the most beautiful manger scene. A book shelf my Dad made had a space in the middle accommodated it perfectly. Every year we got some hay or straw from the barn to cover the shelf floor for the stable to take center stage. We knew exactly how the scene was to look from year to year with the pretty angel atop the roof, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus with the glowing blue light shining behind them, the three kings and shepherds, animals, including a horse (my Mom raised horses), surrounding the stable and within to honor the focus of the season. My Dad always cut down a tree on Christmas Eve day. Most often we rode our horses into the forest to find just the right tree. Dad and his girls in the brisk winter day as snow fell with big flakes is my fondest memories. Even the horses seemed to sense the excitement of the tradition as they seemed more animated than usual. We each got turns to chop at the tree trunk and Dad would finish it. We’d echo the words “timber” as it fell in the woods and snow falling from surrounding branches. Dragging the tree home from the base tied with a rope, we sang Christmas songs which echoed through the woods and valley. Right to our front door, calling for Mom to come and inspect the tree chosen. As soon as the door opened we could smell some fresh aromas of more baking she had done while we were gone. Once approved Dad then built the wood stand to keep the tree upright. Moving the tree into place in our living room we got to put the Christmas tree lights on the tree. Carefully placed the rest of the ornaments under the tree, for Santa to create the magic of decoration. We’d hang our stocking on the window sill near the tree. Have some hot chocolate and treats while making sure Santa’s plate was full. Now that I think of it, seemed Dad had heavy influence on the selection. Then we were off to bed. I often think all the activity of being outside riding horseback to get a tree was the sedative that put us to sleep at night despite the excitement we shared. Our tradition was to go to church on Christmas morning for the 6:30am service. Of course, we couldn’t sleep past 4:00am, so my sister and I would quietly go down stairs to see a brightly lit tree all decorated with reflections of color in the shining tinsel. Under the tree were a host of gifts including the ones we had gotten for each other. Always was a gift unwrapped for each of us. Yes, one of the special items of a new doll, sled or surprise. Stockings brimming, barely able to hold the items in the size of the year socks we were wearing. To this day, we still laugh about my Mom’s sock having at the very top a toy caterpillar dozer which would emit sparks from the exhaust on the hood. One that looked very much like the dozer at the saw mill. Mom and Dad came down the stairs by 4:30 or so and we were each given a present to unwrap before we went to church. Mom made a light breakfast of cinnamon rolls to have before Church. The candlelit service always seemed to set the stage of reverence and joy for this special day we would enjoy. Without a doubt, some of the traditions carried forward into my parent’s children and grandchildren. Yes, new traditions have emerged but the joy of celebration has remained as we enjoy the surprises of Santa, and rejoice in the meaning of the Manger scenes each have placed in their homes in honor of the messenger of Joy and Peace for a world often in chaos. A Christmas gentle reminder of the Source of Life. The world is not made up of differences as much as knowing we are all one unique creation of brothers and sisters with all the world. Discrimination against other ethnic traditions and color are against the message of the season. Wise words from the spiritual text, “Love one another as I have loved you.” That means letting go of negativity towards others. Let go of tearing someone down for whatever reason, but rather lift them up with encouragement and support. Merry Christmas to ALL. Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 6
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Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 7
POMEGRANATE WITH YULIA
Pomegranate - Ancient Royal Fruit to Brighten Your Season. Submitted by Yulia Welk of Yulia’s Natural Skincare. Yulia Welk lives in Cable, WI. Check out her website at: www.yulias.net or call 715-798-3175
I love every month of the year. The special thing about December is a pomegranate fruit. This red royal berry (the size of an orange comes from Persia, and is well known, appreciated and enjoyed in the Middle East, and South Asia from Mediterranean to Himalayas including India. I remember eating juicy red seeds as a child in Russia, when pomegranate became ripe down south and was delivered to our cold, snowy northern province.
Pomegranate
children this woman will have.
This Punica granatum fruit grows on a 6 foot tall tree. It is called granatapfel in German, melograna in Italy, granatapple in Sweden, Granada in Spain, granade in France and гранат in Russian. One legend has it that pomegranate has 365 seeds inside, for every day of the year. Check and see if that is true:-) No wonder it is an ancient symbol of fertility! Old Armenian (country near Russia and Turkey) tradition is on the wedding day for a bride to throw a pomegranate against the wall, to see how many seeds fall out - and that is how many
The fruit has a top that looks like a crown, and some say that pomegranate gave crown shape idea to people. I used to tell my college friends to eat at least one pomegranate a year to make the blood rich. And I still say the same to my children and friends:-) Anything red is great for heart and blood. The juice is used to make grenadine, a flavoring for cocktails, sherbets and pickles. The pulp is boiled to a syrup to be used in the Middle Eastern cuisine. Dried seeds are popular decoration for Indian bean dishes. Juice is great for marinating meat, it makes it tender. The pretty vermillion pomegranate flower is the emblem of Spain. And the fruit is on a logo of many Turkish cities. It is rich in vitamin C, B1, B2, B6, B12, E, A and antioxidants. Also magnesium, potassium, manganese, phosphorus, iodine, iron and sodium, as well as some organic acids and tannins. It lowers the blood sugar, and blood pressure. It supports production of erythrocytes and hemoglobin. When kids eat it, they become smart and energetic. It supports immunity, blood vessels health, nervous system. Excellent for older people, especially after surgery. Pomegranate boasts 15 amino acids, almost half of which is only found in meat products. So it becomes a great addition to a vegetarian diet. Pomegranate juice is great during colds, coughs and fevers, for throat gargling and oral health. Just make sure you dilute is with water 1:1 as it is strong. Check your nearest supermarket or health food store for pomegranates. The ideal fruit is red, big, heavy and hard without the soft spots or any green skin. The skin needs to be smooth and not have any smell. Seeds inside are beautiful red jewels, that are all uniform in shape. To open it cut off the crown part as a circle cover just through the skin, peel off the top. It has segments inside, just carefully cut the skin along those segment borders and then open them up like a flower with your hands. Enjoy the beauty. When you eat them, it is normal to chew and swallow the white seed that is inside (they are not hard, and easily chewed), it is good for hormone balance. Once you peel the fruit save the skins. They are very good as tea for any stomach problem. You can dry them too and store in a glass jar. If you get a bug or diarrhea, get a 1-inch piece, and cover it with hot water in a cup, let it brew for 10-15 minutes. The tea will be light yellow and bitter. Just take a sip or two, may be couple times a day. I always use it and it works very fast, and I learned it from my mom, that used it on us as children. The Hippocrates was using this tea for dysentery, salmonella and for washing bloody wounds. It also kills E.coli in a matter of hours. Just make sure you don’t use the skin tea a lot if you have constipation. Also try it for the beauty. Take one tablespoon of the juice and mix it with a beaten egg white. Spread on clean face for 20 minutes. Wash with warm water. It improves the cell structure of your skin. We make a Pomegranate salad in Russia that is called a Garnet Salad. Layer shredded boiled potatoes, cubed chicken, boiled and shredded carrots, and boiled and shredded beets. Spread a layer of mayo between each vegetable and on top of beets. Sprinkle the pomegranate seeds on top. Delicious. Add it to your whipped cream, ice cream or green salad as beautiful garnish. Get to the store fast before pomegranate season is over. The seeds freeze well too. Yulia lives in Cable, WI and have been teaching about herbs for 7 years. You can contact her at 715-798-3175 or on her website: www.yulias.net
Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 8
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NATURAL CONNECTIONS
Natural Connections - Columnar Jointing: Something familiar in a far-off place Submitted by Emily Stone, a Naturalist/Education Director at the Cable Natural History Museum
It was late in the afternoon by the time we’d completed the scenic drive through Yosemite National Park. We’d been distracted by the looming face of Half Dome, panoramic views, lunch by a sparkling stream, neon green wolf lichens, and the sweet, butterscotch scent of sun-warmed ponderosa pine bark. My cousin Heather and I had already visited Yosemite Devil’s Postpile. Photo by Emily Stone. on previous trips (separately), though, so we pushed eastward toward a new destination.
Although I was thrilled to witness firsthand the textbook images of Devils Postpile, I was even more enamored when we followed a trail up to the top of the formation. While glaciers were excavating this cliff, the sand and rocks locked in the base of the ice acted like sandpaper and polished the newly-exposed surface of the lava bed. Thousands of years later, a setting sun glinted off the smooth rock surface inscribed with a striking pattern of hexagons. Heather, a chemist, couldn’t help but ponder the chemical properties at work in the rock. And I, having just started the planning process for our next exhibit about bees, couldn’t help thinking that this looked like a giant stone honeycomb.
The Devils Postpile is a striking example of something called columnar jointing. It occurs during the cooling process of lava, especially down within the lava flow or when the lava is intruded into other rocks. Most materials take up more space when they’re hot, so as the surface of the lava flow begins to cool, the material contracts. To relieve the strain of this change, the rock fractures. The amazing thing is that the contraction occurs at centers which are evenly spaced throughout the rock and forms hexagons. As the lava continues to cool, the joints get pulled down into the mass of rock, and we end up with these tall, tightly packed, hexagonal columns.
I’ve circled the base of Devils Tower. I’ve written assignments about the patterns in Gooseberry Falls. I’ve driven up the North Shore countless times. It wasn’t the novelty of the Devils Postpile that drew me there, but the sense of connection I feel when I encounter something familiar in a far-off place.
Hexagons are an excellent shape if you’re interested in having the greatest volume, with the shortest possible perimeter, and no gaps in between. These properties make hexagonal jointing an efficient way for the lava to release stress as it cools. They also make the hexagon an During an Introduction to Geology course back in my days at Northefficient shape for storing honey. Instead of being a product of cooling, land College, I’d seen a photo of a landform known as Devils Postpile though, the bees’ hexagons are a product of warming. As many worker in our textbook. The image of huge bedrock “logs” all stacked together bees simultaneously use wax to form little round storage pots in the captured my imagination just as it had captured the imaginations of hive, the honeycomb starts off as a series of closely-packed circles. The John Muir and President William Howard Taft. Taft designated it as next step for bees is to heat those wax circles until the wax flows toDevils Postpile National Monument in 1911, under the recently created gether. The closely packed circles flatten into each other and astonishAntiquities Act. ingly precise hexagons appear. Hexagons appear all over nature. The scutes of turtles’ shells, snowflakes, and the crystal structures of some Nestled deep in a valley in the eastern Sierras near Mammoth Lakes, minerals all use this efficient shape. California, this unit of the National Park Service has a very short season. Even though the summer shuttle into the monument had ceased Columnar jointed rocks like the ones in the Devils Postpile aren’t to run, and no ranger in a flat hat stood in the boarded up fee station, uncommon, either. The striking waterfalls of Gooseberry Falls State the narrow, winding entrance road would be open until October 31, Park in Minnesota have cut into thick layers of 1.1 billion-year-old or until snow made it impassable. No snow was in the forecast as we columnar jointed basalt. Many roadcuts along Highway 61 up the hiked in tank tops toward the Postpile. We had perfect timing. Late North Shore of Lake Superior exhibit this fracture pattern, too. Devils afternoon sun streamed through the trees and illuminated the unusual Tower in Wyoming is a huge example. Columnar jointing captures the rock formation. imaginations of people around the globe.
Emily’s book new book is here! Order yours at http://cablemuseum.org/ natural-connections-book/. Listen to the podcast at www.cablemusum. org!
Heather and I admired the angular wall, its striped shadows, and the wash of lovely green lichens. We also scrambled around at the edge of the scree field beneath the cliff, on a search for the most perfect hexagonal chunk of rock in the heap of rubble. The columns formed within a lake of lava caught behind the dam of a glacial moraine about 82,000 years ago, and have been brought to the surface by years of weathering from more recent glaciers and a nearby river. The erosion continues, and one by one, the columns detach from the wall and tumble down. Near a similar formation on one of the Hawaiian Islands, people have used broken hexagonal columns in place of logs to build roads and bridges. www.forestandlakesmonthly.com
Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 9
CHURCH DIRECTORY
Local Church Directory St. Ann’s Catholic Church
Country Peace Presbyterian Church
Trinity Lutheran Chapel
Gordon First Presbyterian
Brule Presbyterian Church
Living Hope Community Church
Solon Springs First Presbyterian
Lake Nebagamon First Presbyterian
St. Anthony Catholic Church
Calvary Baptist Church
Barnes Community Church
Reverend Jon Hartman, Pastor 3200 County Rd. N Barnes, WI 54873 Church Office: 715 795 2195
Rev. Phil Milam 13445 County Highway M Cable, WI 54821 Church office: 715-798-3066 Home: 262-470-0736
First Lutheran Church
Hayward Wesleyan Church
Mission Covenant Church
Mark Wilson, Senior Pastor 10655 Nyman Ave, Hayward, WI 54843 Church Office: 715- 634-4613
Rev. Darrell Nelson 5161 South County Road P, Poplar, WI 64864 Church Office: 715-364-2738
Trinity Lutheran Church
Bethany Baptist Church Pastor John Dudley
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ Delta Rev. Phil Milam 61190 Pike River Rd. Mason, WI Phone 262-470-0736
The Oaks Community Church
Our Saviors Lutheran Church
14695 County Hwy N Drummond, WI 54832 Church Office: 715-739-6344
Rev. Jason Clifton 11405 51st Street, Solon Springs, WI 54873 Church Office: 715-378-2252
New Hope Lutheran Church 801 Houston Avenue Minong, WI 54859 Phone: 715-466-4112
St. Mary’s Catholic Church
The River Wesleyan Church N13205 Rice Lake Road Minong, WI 54859 Phone: 715-466-2844
Calvary Lutheran Church 675 Shell Creed Road Minong, WI, 54859 Phone: 715-466-2366
St. Pius Catholic Church
St. Anthony Catholic Church 9718 County Rd Y Gordon, WI 54838 Phone: 715-378-4431
If you would like your church information featured in our directory, please contact Christie at 715-798-3572 or via email at ccarlson@cheqnet.net
Father Gerald Willger 13645 County Highway M, Cable, WI 54821 Church Office: 715-798-3855 (Cable) 715-634-2867 (Hayward) Rev Richard Blood 14465 S. Antoine Circle, Gordon, WI 54838 Rev. Blood: 218-343-4850 Leslie Anderson 715-790-1863 Rev Richard Blood 9243 E. Evergreen Solon Springs, WI 54873 Rev. Blood: 218-343-4850 Leslie Anderson 715-790-1863 Phil Markel, Pastor 13713 W Thannum Fire Lane Hayward, WI Church Office: 715-934-5000 Home: 715-634-0506 10680 Main St, Hayward, WI Church Office: 715-634-2141 Website: www.firstlutheranhaywardwi.org Pastor Mark D. Triplett 10576 Gresylon Dr, Hayward, WI 54843 Church office: (715) 634-2260
506 Main Street Minong, WI 54859 Phone: 715-378-4431
11651 Business Hwy 53 Solon Springs, WI 54873 Phone: 715-378-4431
Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 10
Rev Richard Blood 4694 S. County Rd. A Superior, WI 54880 Rev. Blood: 218-343-4850 Leslie Anderson 715-790-1863 Rev Richard Blood 5810 S. Country Rd. H Brule, WI 54820 Rev. Blood: 218-343-4850 Leslie Anderson 715-790-1863
Rev Richard Blood 6880 S. 1st Avenue W. Lake Nebagamon, WI Rev. Blood: 218-343-4850 Leslie Anderson (Lay Preacher) 715-790-1863
21020 Co Hwy E, Mason, WI 54856 Church Office: 715-746-2442
13520 Spruce Street, Cable, WI 54821 Church Office: 715-798-3417
43170 Highway 63, Cable, WI 54821 Church Office: 715-798-3712
Fr. Andrew Ricci Pastor, Fr. Adam Laski Parochial Vicar 11648 E Cty Rd B Lake Nebagamon, WI Office 715-374-3570
Cable United Church of Christ
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PASTOR’S CORNER
Looking Ahead to 2018
Submitted by Pastor Phil Markel of Calvary Baptist Church of Hayward, WI
The last portion of 2017 is fast slipping into the tube of time and, if the Lord wills, 2018 will be here before we know it! How are you going to face the new year? What are your plans? What are you hoping to accomplish in 2018? Where is your hope? Is your confidence fixed in your job? Do you look to your savings account as assurance for the new year? Or is there something more, welcoming you into 2018? Many people are looking to many different things to carry them through the new year, relying on things like money, jobs, social status, and other worldly tangibles to carry them into next year. Have you ever thought of what it would be like to just simply trust the Lord and His word in 2018? What kind of freedom would that welcome into your life? Here’s how the born-again believer will face the new year. In Proverbs 3:5-6, the Bible says “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowldege Him, and He shall direct your paths.” God directs the path of His own - His Children. In Psalm 37:25, David said,
“I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.” God supplies the needs of His children. In Phillipians 4:13, the Apostle Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” God will strengthen you, and just as a loving parent cares for their child, God will take care of you, strengthening you, meeting your needs spiritually, and physically. We must only trust in Him. Remember, If Got is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31) We may not know what awaits us in 2018, but, we know that the Author and Finisher of our faith is just that, faithful and true, and loves us with an unfailing love that is beyond measure.
We cannot see what lies before, And so we cling to Him, the more, He leads us ‘till this life is o’er Trust and Obey
“If We Could See Beyond Today, A Hymn by Norman Clayton”
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Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 11
TECH TALK
Tech Talk - Cool Tech for Christmas! Submitted by Dr. Leo Carlson, Business & Technology Director at Norvado
Christmas is right around the corner so what do you get for the geek in your family? Well… Cool gadgets, that’s what! Right now, there is a lot of very cool tech gadgets on the market and many of them would make excellent Christmas presents for that gadget guy in your house. There are a couple of websites that I really like for gadgets and tech trinkets, www.thinkgeek.com and www.thegrommet.com Both of these sites have some really unique toys and trinkets that even the geekiest will find interesting and fun. In addition to trinkets, here are a few gadgets that any geek worth their stylus will truly enjoy. The NES Classic Edition by Nintendo – WARNING! This one may be hard to find and it has been for the last two years since it was released. If you do find it, it might be a bit expensive. This is the classic Nintendo with the square controllers that most of us grew up with. Who doesn’t remember the cartridges that occasionally stopped working until you blew the dust out of them? Or the blisters on your thumbs from long hours mashing buttons on those uncomfortable (and non-ergonomic) controllers? Those issues aside, the NES Classic was one of the first real video game systems that most of us ever owned. As kids, we played it for hours and hours in caffeine fueled binge gaming sessions, it was AWESOME! This remake no longer requires cartridges but instead comes preloaded with over 500 of the games that made this one of the best-selling consoles ever made. Fun fact – Every game ever made for the NES console can now fit on one single flash drive! The new Apple iPad Pro – Now, I am not normally on the Apple bandwagon, in fact, I do not personally own any Apple products, but I recently had the opportunity to play with the newest iPad and the Apple Pencil and I was thoroughly impressed! The drawing capability was really something, I am no artist but even I wanted to draw pictures with that pencil. Most amazing was the display, It was unbelievably clear and sharp. The new iPad has more computing power than most laptops and of course it has the entire Apple App store at your disposal for games and apps, that is over 2 million apps! But… It is an Apple product so, that means that you will pay a premium for what you get. For the biggest and baddest, expect to pay in the $1,000 ballpark and possibly higher. Every Geek likes gadgets and tech so I hope this helps you find some great gadgets for the geek in your family! Merry Christmas everyone!
Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 12
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ADVERTISERS CORNER
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Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 13
REDBERY BOOK CORNER
Redbery Book Corner Submitted by Kathy Hanson, Constributing Writer on behalf of Redberry Books
Redbery booksellers have been working hard, getting the store ready for holiday shoppers. We have a terrific selection of books and gift items for everyone on your list! Check out these favorite books, recommended as great gifts by our knowledgeable, book-loving staff. Life in a Northern Town: Cooking, Eating and Other Adventures Along Lake Superior by Mary Dougherty: I love looking through cookbooks but I don’t generally read them cover to cover. Mary Dougherty’s Life in a Northern Town was an exception. Captured first by the beautiful photos on the cover, I was soon immersed in the personal stories that fill the pages between Mary’s unique and flavorful recipes, which range from simple to more complex, and follow the seasons of the year. The photos are stunning and capture what we all love best about living in northwest Wisconsin. Don’t miss the Epilogue, which is a beautiful poem titled Perhaps the World Ends Here by critically acclaimed Native American poet Joy Harjo. Life in a Northern Town is one of those books that will be treasured for many years by anyone who receives it. (Maureen) Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak: It’s Christmas and for the first time in years the entire Birch family will be under one roof. Even Emma and Andrew’s elder daughter - who is usually off saving the world - will be joining them at Weyfield Hall, their aging country estate. But Olivia, a doctor, is only coming home because she has to. Having just returned from treating an epidemic abroad, she must stay in quarantine for a week... and so too should her family. For the next seven days, the Birches are locked down, cut off from the rest of humanity - and even decent WiFi and forced into each other’s orbits. Younger, unabashedly frivolous daughter Phoebe is fixated on her upcoming wedding, while Olivia deals with the culture shock of being immersed in first-world problems. As Andrew sequesters himself in his study writing scathing restaurant reviews and remembering his glory days as a war correspondent, Emma hides a secret that will turn the whole family upside down. In close proximity, not much can stay hidden for long, and as revelations and long-held tensions come to light, nothing is more shocking than the unexpected guest who’s about to arrive... Anyone who has spent the holidays with extended family will enjoy this debut novel. Funny, sarcastic, tragic and surprising, it will appeal to those of us who love holiday stories with a bit of a twist and a wicked sense of humor. (Sarah) The Purloining of Prince Oleomargarine by Mark Twain and Philip Stead: This wonderful new children’s book needs a little explanation. It’s based on 16 pages of Mark Twain’s handwritten notes, discovered by a university professor in a vault at the University of California in Berkeley, where they sat for well over a century. The notes had been written and used by Twain to entertain his children. In the evenings, after an exhausting day of writing, Twain would flop in a parlor chair only to be ambushed by his children begging to be told a story. They’d pick up a magazine, point to a picture and demand a story. One day, they pointed to a figure drawing, and Twain brought it to life as a boy named Johnny, the hero of this tale. Twain’s beloved daughter, Suzy, may also have encouraged him to show a different side of himself. In her biography, she wrote,” I have wanted Papa to write something that reveals something of his kind and sympathetic nature.” Sadly, Twain’s notes were never fully developed, including no ending. So, over a century after Mark Twain’s death, the Caldecott Award winning author-illustrator duo, Philip and Erin Stead, were hired to turn the notes into a book - a modern-day collaboration with one of America’s most famous and beloved authors. It’s a tender and heart rending tale, written with Twain’s trademark slant on life. The Steads’ contributions are seamless, and show deep respect and affection for the man they consider a dear friend. The story breathes through the illustrations, which fill the imagination with feeling. (Susan) Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford: The setting for this sweet story is Seattle, before and after the Seattle World’s Fair of 1909. A half Chinese boy named Ernest is adopted by the madam of a famous brothel in town. He finds stability and acceptance here where he is befriended by two orphan girls. Ernest’s life unfolds in interesting ways, because and in spite of, these relationships. (Marilyn) The Alice Network by Kate Quinn: One of the reasons I love working at Redbery Books is that I get to learn about great books from my coworkers. We all have different tastes and preferences, so there is a wide variety of suggestions and discussions on who likes what. The Alice Network, by Kate Quinn, was recommended to me by Marilyn. She loved it, ordered it for the store, and I snatched it up before it could be put on the shelf! The Alice Network is based on two women of different generations whose lives intertwine by circumstances of war, family and mystery. At the heart of Quinn’s telling is the true story of the covert “Alice Network” through which courageous men and women infiltrated the German lines in rural France. This book moves quickly, alternating between the two main women’s perspectives; explaining connections, keeping the suspense going between the chapters. (Jan) Leonardo da Vinci by Walter Isaacson: Walter Isaacson brings Leonardo da Vinci to life in this exciting new biography. Based on thousands of pages from Leonardo’s astonishing notebooks and new discoveries about his life and work, Isaacson weaves a narrative connecting his art to his science. He shows how Leonardo’s genius was based on skills we can improve in ourselves - passionate curiosity, careful observation, and an imagination so playful that it flirted with fantasy. Leonardo’s delight at combining diverse passions remains the ultimate recipe for creativity. So, too, does his ease at being a bit of a misfit: illegitimate, gay, vegetarian, left-handed, easily distracted, and at times heretical. His life should remind us of the importance of instilling, both in ourselves and our children, not just received knowledge but a willingness to question it - to be imaginative and, like talented misfits and rebels in any era, to think different. (GoodReads review, book chosen by Jane) Forest & Lakes Monthly December p. 14
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Car Care with Sparkey - Who’s in Control?
CAR CARE WITH SPARKEY
Submitted by Bill Kokan of Bill’s Garage in Drummond, WI
Is your car smarter than you are? In some aspects, yes, it is. I’m afraid that the engineers in Detroit dont have a very high opinion of us a vehicle operators. So, the computer, or the control module, which is the proper terminology is asked to do more and more - much to the cagrin of us old timers, but, that’s progress. The control module operates everything from the power train, braking, steering, suspension systems to climate control, lighting, entertainment, and safety systems like automatic emergency braking, blind spot detection, adaptive cruise control, stability control, electronic steering, and back up cameras. If your car is less than a couple of years old, you probably have a keyless smart fob that allows the vehicle to sense your approach and unlock the doors, waking up the on board electronics. The day is coming - when you are just along for the ride. You will still get a steering wheel, but it won’t be attached to anything. If the police pull you over, do they send the ticket to some engineer in Detroit? I don’t think so, most likely, it will go to some mechanic that can’t figure out what the heck is going wrong. So, if you want to lay rubber, or fish tail on a slippery road, better do it soon. Please, as always, drive safe! Car Care with Sparkey is brought to you by Bill Kokan of Bill’s Garage in Drummond, WI. If you have any car care questions or topics you would like to see covered, please email them to Sparkey at carcare@forestandlakesmonthly.com
Town of Barnes Announces Credit & Debit Card Payment Options for Payments Submitted by Judy Bourassa, Town of Barnes Clerk/Treasurer
Beginning December 15th, individuals who wish to make payments to The Town of Barnes using credit and debit cards may do so through GovPayNet*. GovPayNet accepts the major credit and debit card brands for payments 24/7 on-site, online (www.GovPayNow.com) or by phone (1-888-604-7888). Cardholders can make payments on their own behalf or on behalf of friends or family. They need only have some basic information regarding the payment, easily provided by the Town of Barnes. For added convenience, GovPayNet has a fully staffed, bilingual call center available 24/7. Cardholders pay a service fee at the time of their transaction. There are no charges to the Town of Barnes for participation in the GovPayNet service. Improving the convenience of payment transactions with the Town of Barnes means more frequent and timely payments, increased agency revenues and reduced government costs. “Cardholders can pay their obligations to the Town of Barnes in the same way they handle other transactions, anytime, day or night, and without having to write a check, carry large sums of cash, or wait in line,” explained Judy Bourassa, Clerk/Treasurer, “This increases our efficiency and improves service.” GovPayNet accepts Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express® and Discover®. “Each business day, we reconcile the previous day’s payments with the government agency and then electronically forward the cardholders’ payments in full to the agency’s bank account,” said Mark MacKenzie, CEO of GovPayNet. “We also handle all cardholder calls and inquiries about any payment issues,” he added. GovPayNet, based in Indianapolis, is a category leader in accepting credit and debit card payments on behalf of government agencies. More than one million cardholders annually rely on them when making payments to over 2,300 agencies in 35 states. GovPayNet processes over $200 million annually in payments to government agencies. “Making GovPayNet’s services available is an excellent opportunity for the Town of Barnes to be at the forefront in offering a convenient, flexible way to pay government obligations,” noted Judy Bourassa. For more company information, visit the website at www.GovPayNet.com, or call GovPayNet toll-free at (888) 561-7888. www.forestandlakesmonthly.com
Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 15
COMMUNITY NOTES & EVENTS
Community Notes, News, & Events for December 2017
All Community Notes & Events are also published on our website at www.forestandlakesmonthly.com, and on our Facebook Page. Mature Lunch Brunch
Meals are served Monday Thursday at noon at the Barnes Town Hall 3360 Cty Hwy N. in Barnes. Sign up at the meal site day of, or call Dana at 715-7952495 with questions
UFO Craft Meeting
Meetings are at Barnes Town Hall on the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month. Contact Judy at 715-795-3247 for details
Please use CAUTION when traveling on Lake Road. Work has been suspended, but the road is still under construction and in rough gravel condition. The speed limits (25 mph on the south end, 35 mph on the north end) should be obeyed. Further speed reduction may be necessary when snow packed. Please note, the Town of Barnes is not liable for damage to vehicles on traveling roadways.
Red Hat Ladies
The Red Hat Ladies will meet Wednesday, December 20th, at noon, at th Cedar Lodge in Barnes.
December Area Food Shelf/Holiday Meals, Drives, Dates & Sites
Use Caution on Lake Rd
Cable Food Shelf
December 28, 2017 from 11:00am - 6:00pm at the Cable Professional Bldg. at the corner of US Hwy 63 and Spruce Street in Cable
Barnes Food Shelf
December 13, 2017 from 9:00am - 11:00am at the Barnes Community Church located at 3200 Highway N in Barnes
Ruby’s Pantry in Hayward
December 21st at the Hayward Wesleyan Church. Food shares are $20.00. Doors open at 5:00pm.
www.rubyspantry.org Sharing One’s Surplus
SOS Food Share meets the 2nd Saturday of the Month at the Mission Covenant Church in Poplar. Shares go on sale at 9:30am. $30
Barnes Book Club
No meeting in December. We will resume January 22nd at 9:30am.
Barnes Community Events for December 2017
Lake Nebagamon Events for December 2017
December 2 Barnestormers Snowmobile Club Annual Banquet For questions, please call 715-795-2331 December 4 Barnes Lions Club Meeting at 6:00pm at Maki’s December 19 Town of Barnes Regular Board Meeting at 6:30pm at the Barnes Town Hall 715-795-2782 December 22 Christmas Eve Holiday - Town offices are closed December 24 Christmas Day Service at 10:30am at the Barnes Community Church December 24 Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service & Children’s Sermon at 5:00pm at the Barnes Community Church December 24 The Cabin Store will close at 5:00pm December 25 The Cabin Store will be open from noon - 5:00pm December 25 Christmas Day - Town offices will be closed December 31 New Year’s Eve Party at the Cabin Store from 9:00pm - Close 715-795-2561 December 31 Ring in 2018 at the Cedar Lodge Steakhouse & Grille Food & Drink Specials 715-795-2223 January 2 New Year’s Holiday - Town Offices will be closed
December 2 Karaoke 9:00pm - 1:00am at Dockside December 3 Tree Lighting and Holiday evening at 4:00pm at the Lake Nebagamon Auditorium December 4 DJ Trivia 7:00pm at Dockside December 5 Lake Nebagamon Board Meeting will be held at 7:00pm at the Auditorium Downstairs December 11 DJ Trivia 7:00pm at Dockside December 15 Jim Manion Accustic Set 5:00pm - 7:00pm at Dockside December 16 Len and Lois 2:00p - 5:00pm at Dockside December 16 Karaoke 9:00pm -1:00am atDockside December 17 Whiskey Trail 5:00pm -7:00pm at Dockside December 18 DJ Trivia 7:00pm at Dockside December 22 Dockside Customer Christmas Party at 7:00pm at Dockside December 30 Karaoke 9:00pm -1:00am at Dockside December 31 New years Eve Party 7:00pm-Close at Dockside
Submitted by the Town of Barnes Clerk/Treasurer Judy Bourassa
Cable Natural History Events for December 2017 Submitted by the Cable Natural History Museum December 2
Junior Naturalists: Animal Tracking
December 9
Rag Rug Workshop
December 14
Christmas Tree Basket (Adult Naturalist Program)
December 14
CNHM Dinner Lecture: The Fluency of Our InLand Sea;
Exploring Physics in Large Lakes
(Adult Naturalist Program)
December 16
Christmas Bird Count
December 16
Talon Talk Live Raptor Program
December 23
Talon Talk Live Raptor Program
December 30
Snowshoes and Sweets At Farmstead Creamery & Café
Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 16
Submitted by Patti Coughlin/Village of Nebagamon Website
Town of Cable Events for December 2017 Submitted Courtesy of the Town of Cable Website December 6
Plan Commission Meeting at 5:30 pm at the Cable
Community Centre December 14
Town Board Meeting at 6:00 pm at the Cable
Community Centre December 25
Town of Cable offices will be closed Christmas Day
January 2
Town of Cable offices will be closed New Years Day
Town of Drummond Events for December 2017 Submitted Courtesy of the Town of Drummond Website December 13
Town Board Meeting will be held at 6:30 pm in the Drummond Civic Center www.forestandlakesmonthly.com
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT/ RECIPE CORNER
Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation Awards 5 Area High Schools Grants for Tech-Ed Programs Submitted by Scottie Sandstrom, Executive Director, Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation
At the October 19 Tech-Ed Day at Northwestern High School in Maple, the Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation (BCEDC), in collaboration with Memorial Medical Center, provided a $100.00 check each, for five high school Tech-Ed programs. Receiving the funding, left to right, are Lawrence Charlier, Tech-Ed Instructor at Northwestern High School, Scottie Sandstrom, Executive Director of BCEDC who presented the funding, David Johnson, Tech-Ed Instructor at South Shore High School, David Doering, Tech-Ed Instructor at Bayfield High School, Kristine Lamb, Drummond High School Principal and Al Gillberg, Drummond High School Tech-Ed Instructor. Not present for the picture, was Patrick Earing, Tech-Ed Instructor, Washburn High School. With over 50 attendees, the event brought in Tech-Ed Instructors from throughout the CESA 12 District, along with businesses who shared how they support high school teched curriculums. It also provided networking opportunities for all present to learn how tech-ed and industry can work together to strengthen curriculums for students in our region. The event was planned and sponsored by Ashland Area Development Corporation, Bayfield County Economic Development Corporation, ESA 12, Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, and the Tech Council Innovation Network-Lake Superior chapter.
Recipe Corner - Slow Cooker Must Haves for the Holidays Recipes credited from various websites, cookbooks, and otherwise cited resources
Slow Cooker Pork with Noodles Courtesy of www.foodnetwork.com
Ingredients:
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup Chinese rice wine or dry sherry 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar 4 cloves garlic, smashed 1 2-inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced 2 pieces star anise
Kosher salt 3 pounds boneless pork shoulder 1 head bok choy, roughly chopped 3 1/2 ounces dried rice vermicelli noodles 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Directions:
Combine the chicken broth, soy sauce, rice wine, brown sugar, garlic, ginger, star anise and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a 5-to-6-quart slow cooker. Add the pork, then cover and cook on low 8 hours. Add the bok choy to the slow cooker; cover and cook about 20 more minutes. Add the noodles to the slow cooker, making sure they are submerged. Cover and cook 10 more minutes. Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred the meat. Divide the pork, bok choy and noodles among bowls, then ladle in some of the broth. Sprinkle with the cilantro. www.forestandlakesmonthly.com
Slow Cooker Classic Beef Stew Courtesy of www.realsimple.com
Ingredients:
4 pounds bottom round, cut into cubes 1 cup all-purpose flour ⅓ cup olive oil (plus more if needed) 2 large onions, diced (2 cups) 1 6-ounce can tomato paste 1 cup dry red wine 1 pound potatoes, cut into 2-inch pieces
(about 4 cups) ½ pound baby carrots (about 2 cups) 2 cups beef broth 1 tablespoon kosher salt 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves 1 bay leaf 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
Directions:
Coat the beef in the flour. Heat a few tablespoons of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the meat, a few pieces at a time, adding more oil as necessary. Transfer to a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add the onions to the skillet and cook over medium heat until tender, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste and coat the onions;. Transfer to the cooker. Pour the wine into the skillet and scrape up any browned bits; add to the cooker. Stir in the potatoes, carrots, broth, salt, thyme, and bay leaf. Cover and cook on low heat for 7½ hours, or on high for 4 hours. he peas and heat through. Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 17
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Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 18
25 Clever word plays 27 Sway 34 Popular game 36 Movie "King" 38 Pay day 40 Ancient Greek dress 42 Towheaded 43 Herb
Down 36 Revolutions per minute 1 Cramps 37 Sour ale 2 Buttocks, slang 38 Ice sheet 3 Termination 39 Defeat 4 Soaring plaything 40 Mr. Donahue 5 Yell 41 Peeper 6 Only 30 42 Baby eating apparel 7 Fasten 43 Pair 8 Type of gasoline 45 Box 9 Rally 46 City 10 Reward 48 "Pathfinder" maker 11 Long time 49 UN cultural branch 12 Find 50 Avenue 13 Make a mistake 50 21 Orchestra instrument 52 Cant 56 Fake butter 23 Ship initials 57 Pots 25 Grieve 58 Beehive State 26 Card game 59 IBM Competitor 28 National capital 60 Terminal abbr. 29 Glasses 61 2,000 pounds 30 Kilometers per hour 63 Pierce 32 School group 64 French "yes" 35 Happy ________________________ 62 Ermine 44 Note of debt 65 Compass point 45 Kind of knife 66 Repent 47 African antelope 67 Steam room 51 Antes 68 Expert 53 Movie star 69 Long poem division 54 Am not 70 Imitative 55 Single 71 Negative 57 Stewardess 59 Barium www.CrosswordWeaver.com 13
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AUTHOR’S CORNER - JAMES BRAKKEN
Raising the Steaks
Submitted by James Brakken, 1st place winner of the 2014 Wisconsin Writers Association Jade Ring Award.
The following tale is an excerpt from James Brakken’s upcoming book, Billyboy, the Corner Bar Bear, Plus 36 Fairly True Tales from Up North, available soon at BadgerValley.com. Snook Wilson, our local game warden, always got his man. Well, almost always. There was this one time … Eyes closed, Snook relaxed in the chair while the barber finished trimming around his ears. “Say, Earl,” he said, “I picked up a fawn on the way into town. Charlie Hollister’s wife smacked it with their Studebaker this morning.” “Aw, that’s too bad, Snook. Any damage done?” “Not to the car, but Betty sure was shook up after hitting the deer.” “I suppose I’d be shook up, too. Poor little guy.” “The deer is in good condition. I mean, other than being dead. It’d be a shame to have it go to waste. You know anyone who wants it? Mighty tender meat.” “My boy helped me cut up a deer last fall. Butchering another would be good experience for him.” “Then it’s yours for the taking.” “Y’know,” said Earl, brushing hair from Snook’s collar with a soft whisk broom, “I could throw a summertime venison feed.” He poured a dab of Wildroot Cream Oil into his hand and rubbed it into Snook’s hair, then reached for a comb. “I could invite a few friends out to my cabin Sunday afternoon. You and your wife would be welcome to join us, of course.” “Why, thanks, Earl. Mary and I would like that.” “Let’s say about two o’clock, then?” “We’ll be there.” Earl turned the chair so Snook could see the haircut in the mirror. Snook leaned his head one way then the other and nodded his approval. Stepping from the barber chair, he reached in his pocket. “This haircut’s on me, Snook. In trade for the deer.” “Nope. That wouldn’t be right. Imagine how folks would talk if Snook Wilson, the game warden, traded out-of-season venison for haircuts.” He handed six bits to Earl. “Where should I put the deer?” “Back yard would be good.” “Back yard it is.” “Two o’clock Sunday, then?” “Two o’clock Sunday.” Four days later, Snook and Mary Wilson drove out to Earl’s cabin. Snook parked between two pickup trucks. “Mary, this might be a very interesting party.” “What makes you say that?” “The truck to the left of us belongs to Swede Jorgenson. The one on the right is Charlie Wagner’s. I’ve been tryin’ to nab those two fellas for over a year for poaching.” “Oh, dear!” “And that Chrysler over there is Tom Finstead’s. I pinched him last month for spearing walleyes.” “Oh, my!” “Mary, maybe we shouldn’t stay.” “Oh, honey, it’ll be okay. Other than the fact that they have a problem following the fish and game regulations, I’m sure they’re good people. C’mon, Snookie. We’ll have fun.” The Wilsons joined a dozen others on the lawn in front of Earl’s cabin. Earl fished two beers from a washtub filled with ice and beverages, handing them to Mary and Snook. “Folks,” said Earl, “here’s to our game warden who provided the venison for our party today.” Everyone raised their bottles and cheered. “And wait till you taste these steaks! Swede’s in the kitchen frying them up as we speak.” “So, Earl, your boy cut the deer I gave you into steaks?” asked Snook. “Yep. He did a good job, too. The kid’s gonna be a dang good butcher. I’ve got him helping out in the kitchen right now.” “I wouldn’t have guessed there’d be enough steaks for a group this size.” “Oh, I think you’ll be surprised when you see all the steaks we got from that deer. Say, here comes Swede with the first batch now.” “First steak goes to our guest of honor!” shouted Tom Finstead. All eyes followed Swede Jorgenson carrying a large platter stacked high with steaming, sizzling venison steaks smothered in fried onions. Swede set the platter on the table, stuck a fork in the top steak, and plopped it onto Snook’s plate. The inch-thick, two-pound venison steak hung over the plate’s edges. Snook’s eyes widened. “So, Earl, was it Tom or Swede who put you up to this?” “Up to what, Snook?” “This steak. Why, just look at the size of it!” Swede laughed. “Oh, I just fried it up real fast so it didn’t have time to shrink.” “Bullfeathers!” said Snook. “Either I’m lookin’ at a round steak from a big ol’ whitetail buck, or Earl’s boy knows more about cutting meat than Benny, the fella behind the meat counter down at the Piggly Wiggly.” “Well, that’s Earl’s boy,” said Swede with a grin. “One helluva good butcher!” No, Snook Wilson didn’t get his man this time. But he and his wife sure enjoyed the party. And the story of the summertime venison feed out at Earl’s cabin will live on for decades. ©2017 James Brakken www.forestandlakesmonthly.com
Forest & Lakes Monthly December 2017 p. 19
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