JULY-AUGUST 2019
FREE TO A GOOD HOME
Good enough is not good enough. Stand out from the rest.
At a single glance, your marketing materials reflect many things about your business to potential customers. Professional graphic design communicates the quality of services you offer and represents the standards of your company.
Affordable pricing and fast turnaround. Contact us for an estimate today!
Professional Photography and Graphic Design Services
urbantoadmedia.com 2 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 3
CONTENTS JULY-AUGUST 2019 VOLUME 7 • ISSUE 1
FRESH FROM THE FAMILY FARM DRISCOLL FARMS KEEPS IT LOCAL
6
VOLUNTEERS WITH A BADGE SHERIFF RESERVES SWEAR IN TO ENHANCE SECURITY IN CASS COUNTY
10
HAVING A BEER WITH MIKE KAPEL PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND MORNING SHOW HOST
14
ON THE COVER - LOCAL HERO BRADY OBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION '10 SECONDS OF INSANITY' RUCK MARCH RAISES AWARENESS FOR PTSD AND VETERAN SUICIDE
18
FATHERS AN ODE TO BROWN BEAR
26
LOCAL BAND THE KNOTTIES MORE THAN JUST THE FEELS
28
SCUBA DIVING IN THE UPPER MIDWEST NORTH DAKOTA AND MINNESOTA HOME TO AVID SCUBA DIVERS
32
FROM THE EDITORS In this issue of The Good Life, we combined our Local Hero and cover story. We wanted to highlight the impact of the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation and their continued mission to assist our heroes. If you or someone you know are struggling with combat-related PTSD and need assistance, please reach out: bradyoberglegacyfoundation.org Together we can make a difference. Dawn and Darren Urban Toad Media
4 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
PUBLISHED BY Urban Toad Media LLP www.urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / PHOTOGRAPHER Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dawn Siewert dawn@urbantoadmedia.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Meghan Feir Alexandra Floersch Brittney Goodman Ben Hanson Katie Jenison Krissy Ness ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com
READ A PAST ISSUE issuu.com/thegoodlifemensmag FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/urbantoadmedia FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @urbantoadmedia FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM @urbantoadmedia
The Good Life Men’s Magazine is distributed six times a year by Urban Toad Media LLP. Material may not be reproduced without permission. The Good Life Men’s Magazine accepts no liability for reader dissatisfaction arising from content in this publication. The opinions expressed, or advice given, are the views of individual writers or advertisers and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of The Good Life Men’s Magazine.
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 5
WRITTEN BY: BRITTNEY GOODMAN
• PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Driscoll Farms Keeps It Local
Driscoll Farms, located near Glyndon, MN, has been providing fresh produce and flowers to the Red River Valley since the 1980s. The current owners, Jake and Krista Driscoll are keeping the family tradition alive. Driscoll Farms operates floral greenhouses at seven locations in the Fargo-Moorhead area including the farm on Highway 9, in rural Glyndon and also sells produce at The Market at West Acres from late June through October. The farm has been in their family since 1963 when Jake Driscoll’s grandfather purchased it. It started 6 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
out as more of a traditional farm, then in the 1980s the family started growing and selling produce: “It was a whole-family deal. My siblings and I would go door to door selling produce.” They then started selling wholesale produce to grocery stores, then to the Dike East Farmers Market in Fargo in 1985 and have been at The Market at West Acres for five years.
“Everything we offer is locally grown – you know exactly where your food is coming from.” – Jake Driscoll
In 1987, Driscoll Farms dove into the flower business, selling locally grown flowers – bedding plants and hanging baskets. Driscoll emphasized, “Unlike other places you can buy flowers, all of ours are grown locally right on our farm.” Driscoll, now 31 years old, grew up on that same farm and has been working full time there since he graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) in 2012. He married Krista five years ago. They recently had their first child together, Daxton (Dax). “Krista helps out during the flower season and on weekends,” Jake said, adding, “But
she is not able to work as much at the greenhouses since we have our 10-month-old son.” Driscoll asserted, “Everything we offer is locally grown – you know exactly where your food is coming from.” Driscoll Farms’ most popular produce is sweet corn, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers (especially pickling sized), peppers, squash and melons. They also sell their family recipe Minnesota Lakes Barbecue Sauce. Driscoll takes pride in their flowers: “We’re one of a few in the area that grows everything we sell. At other places, you are getting things shipped in from across the country. We pride ourselves on a quality product and we have good help who take great care to keep our greenhouse flowers looking good.” Freshness matters, Driscoll explained: “At a farmers market, you are likely to buy produce that was picked that same day or the day before. If you aren’t buying local, think about all the freshness lost due to the transportation time. If you come to our farmers market you get something that could last you a week, week and a half, easily. With our produce we use very little herbicides. For our weed control, you either use your hands or a hoe to control the weeds.” Driscoll works full time at the farm: “Me, my dad Mike, my uncle Jim and my friend Adam are fulltime, year-round. My mom, Tari, is involved heavily during the flower season, as is my aunt Connie and my youngest sister Elizabeth.” Driscoll added, “When you go to one of our greenhouses, even if
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 7
it is not a family member working there, you are still getting experience, as most of our employees have been with us 20-30 years. It gives us an edge over other places. Plus, it’s all locally grown.” Driscoll enjoys his work: “I like being outside.” While in college, he juggled between majors, finally deciding that the family farm was his calling: “It is really neat to see a seed in the ground or a flower in a pot grow over the months – it is neat to be a part of that process.” Driscoll also loves interacting with customers, especially at farmers markets: “There are so many loyal people coming back year after year and you really get to know them.” Working with family is also a bonus: “It is nice – crazy sometimes – but it is nice to work with family. It is a lot of work with ups and downs, but it can be very rewarding.” He also loves that “I can walk out my front door and pick what I need that night for supper.”
"I can walk out my front door and pick what I need that night for supper. " – Jake Driscoll Driscoll explained the growing process: “In the beginning of February, we start our plants in greenhouses. Flower season goes until the end of June. Then we get into the produce which takes us until the end of October. During November we do maintenance and cleanup.” December and part of January is the 8 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
“downtime” where Driscoll said, “We can relax and regroup.” That time is important: “Last winter I got to stay home with my son, Dax, and took care of him for a few months instead of sending him to daycare. That was great.” During his spare time, Driscoll with his wife and son enjoy visiting his parents’ lake place about 30 minutes from the farm. He and his family are also very into playing basketball: “Basketball is a big part of my life.” Driscoll was raised on the family farm: “Growing up on a farm was awesome. We have a 10-acre farmstead and outside of the farmstead, there are 300 plus acres. As a kid, it was crazy, the amount of space we had to run around all day long – I am excited for my son to be able to have the freedom to be able to do what he wants.” It is also some hard work: “When I was a kid we started working early, as far back as I can remember – picking weeds and other farm chores. I have plenty of fun memories of doing that work with my family and friends, as well as some memories of just not wanting to do it – but having to do it. Back in high school, the summers were fun, but you had to get your work done first before you could go out.” When asked what “The Good Life” means to him, Driscoll answered: “It is doing something that I enjoy doing and having good people around you – friends and family. That’s a big thing to me and is very important in my life.” •
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 9
VOLUNTEERS WITH A BADGE Sheriff Reserves Swear In to Enhance Security in Cass County WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON
• PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
“At one point about 40 percent of our patrol deputies came directly out of the reserve unit.” – Sgt. Jade Van Den Einde The uniform is the same. The passion is the same. The call to serve is the same. Much of the training is even the same. If you were to find yourself at Ribfest, the Red River Valley Fair or a local street dance, chances are almost certain you would never know that many of the deputies protecting your evening of fun were volunteers. Salary, or the lack thereof, is not the only difference between the full-time deputies within the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and its highly trained, well-qualified reserve unit; but it certainly is the biggest. In fact, the Sheriff’s Reserve Unit (SRU) — which first began training volunteers back in 1979 in an effort to help better manage the safety and security at the Red River Valley Fair — has become a prime recruiting tool for the department. “At one point about 40 percent of our patrol deputies came directly out of the Reserve Unit,” explained Sgt. Jade Van Den Einde, the Sheriff's Reserve Unit Commander. “It can be a huge feeder program for us, as it’s basically a very long interview process where we can evaluate them. In Cass County, we typically only draw for patrol from the jail, where candidates are often already licensed, and from the reserves, where some may be licensed eligible. They can prove themselves through their training and in the field, and we can evaluate them at the same time.” 10 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Training for the Reserves At any given time, the Reserve Unit is comprised of up to 25 sworn deputies that work under the authority of the Cass County Sheriff. The unit’s primary responsibilities are working large events, ensuring public safety through activities like traffic control, responding to minor incidents and writing tickets. For example, consider the guy in line at the beer garden who clearly should not be served another drink… if he happens to get out of line, an SRU deputy will respond to handle the situation. But before any recruit gets tossed into the middle of an unruly crowd at a barn dance — or asked to lead a small town parade for a little positive PR — he or she undergoes a rather rigorous training period to qualify for the job. Ninety hours worth, to be exact, during an approximately six-month period. After successful completion of this initial training period, recruits are sworn in by the Sheriff himself.
“The training we provide is pretty extensive,” Van Den Einde said. “We train the first Tuesday in December all the way up until the end of June… every Tuesday night. That’s the most basic training level, after which I’ll allow them to work a special event paired up with a veteran deputy.” For those wanting to expand their role and their volunteering options, f u r t h e r training is also available.
Experienced SRU deputies have the option to become what’s known as Field Readiness Trained (FRT), after completing a full Field Training program. This allows an SRU deputy to earn the skills needed to patrol Cass County in marked patrol vehicles. To reach this point, an SRU will have completed, at a minimum, 425 hours of training and at least ten ride-alongs. The training, which includes use of force training, OC (pepper spray) training, taser training, defensive driving training, standard field sobriety testing training, CPR/AED training and firearms qualifying, is the same training program used to train full time, paid patrol deputies. So, while all sworn SRU deputies are authorized to enforce North Dakota Century Code and make arrests, only SRU FRTs with this advanced training are authorized to conduct traffic stops and issue citations. “They can work their way up to being able to patrol on their own like a regular officer,” Van Den Einde said, “but we still limit what calls they go to and try not to
“We essentially saved the taxpayers of Cass County about a hundred grand last year.” urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 11
make them the lead deputy on the scene. Instead, we want them there to assist. We keep four cars dedicated to SRU FRTs, so we could have up to four volunteer deputies out at a time, all being supervised through the radio, phone and GPS technology.”
Impact on Community “If you were to put a price tag on the number of hours our volunteer SRU deputies put in, we’d be talking in the hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Van Den Einde said. “In 2018 our Reserve Unit donated $99,000 worth of time based on a deputy’s wages. So we essentially saved the taxpayers of Cass County about a hundred grand last year. Other years we’ve had more events going on, so we’ve hit well above that number. In 2017, it was $160,000.” The impact to the community obviously goes well beyond saving money. It’s more about proving a greater security presence to ensure public safety at larger events. In fact, according to Van Den Einde, the enhanced public safety effect is huge. He says it’s been proven that people who see someone wearing a uniform are less likely to commit a crime, so the visual presence alone makes a difference.
“It gives people who are curious about law enforcement an opportunity to explore the career.” 12 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
And when a serious situation arises, the Reserve Unit is also there to provide muchneeded backup. “Any critical incident that pops up where we need all hands on deck,” Van Den Einde said, “we have up to 25 more people that can drop what they’re doing and come help and have the training to jump in and make a difference. “The other benefit to the Sheriff’s Office from a recruiting standing is that it gives people who are curious about law enforcement an opportunity to explore the career. Guys have switched careers after being in the Reserve Unit. I became a reserve deputy myself to get my foot in the door. It lets people have an opportunity to volunteer and give back to their community, and they’re literally putting their lives on the line for free. I don’t know how much better a volunteer you can get.” •
WANT TO LEARN MORE? The Reserve Unit ramps up recruiting shortly after the Red River Valley Fair concludes, and anyone interested can contact Sgt. Van Den Einde directly at the Cass County Sheriff’s Office: 701-241-5816 or email: VanDenEindeJ@casscountynd.gov
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 13
HAVING A BEER WITH | MIKE KAPEL
HAVING A BEER WITH
MIKE KAPEL
PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND MORNING SHOW HOST WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR
• PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Good Life: If you were a dog, what would your name and breed be? It’s not every day you meet someone who actually became what their childhood self wanted to become. Mike Kapel is one of those people, and we chatted outside of Drekker’s Brewhalla on a sunny Tuesday. As my too-large sunglasses kept falling off my face, Kapel told me of how his mother was a regular listener of WDAY Radio. It sparked his interest immediately, and a dream was born. Kapel knew he needed to end up there. Since those bygone days, he’s spent 20 years working in radio for the likes of FM 105.1 and Y94. Five years ago, he started working for WDAY Radio as the program director and a morning show host, and his inner child started applauding and doing somersaults. However, my job isn’t to tell his life story but to uncover the weird, the unexpected, and the unknown (kind of), so read on.
14 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Mike Kapel: Ooh. Oddly enough, my name for my FM radio career was Big Dog. I would be a big breed. GL: Like a Great Dane or a German Shepard? MK: German Shepards and Rottweilers are my favorite dogs, but I don’t know if I embody them. I’d probably be a bulldog. That sounds reasonable. GL: So a bulldog named Big Dog? MK: Or just “Big” in that case because I’m already a dog. “Here, Big! C’mon, Big!” GL: Unless it’s like how some human males are named Guy, which I’ve never understood. MK: I worked with a guy named Guy. I always think of Guy Smiley from Sesame Street. Do you remember that? GL: I don’t. MK: He was the cheesy game show host. You need to get up on your Sesame Street. You’re getting married, Meghan. You need to know these things. It’s on HBO now, so it probably has a little more grit and edge to it. Probably swearing. GL: Some nudity. MK: Probably some mild puppet nudity. Probably some murder. GL: They want to stretch the limits as much as they can. MK: Absolutely.
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 15
HAVING A BEER WITH | MIKE KAPEL
GL: Do you play any instruments? MK: No, I don’t. I have zero artistic or musical ability. When I was a kid I played the cello and the bassoon. I was in orchestra for a short time. I decided to hang it up in junior high. I wanted to go out at the top of my game. You don’t want to go out in high school as like a fourth or fifth chair. I was chair one of one, and I knew there were two other bassoonists in high school, so I figured if I got out then I’d always be the first chair bassoonist of Agassiz Middle School.
GL: Do you think it’s weirder that humans drink cows’ milk or that humans eat bugs? MK: I think it’s weirder that humans eat bugs. That’s really gross. GL: It’s definitely more foreign to us. MK: I guess it’s because I’m so far down the consumer line with milk that, for me, it’s just a clean, easy product. At some point, somebody had to see the milk coming out because the cow had some babies and was like, “I’ll give that a shot!” Because there wasn’t any pasteurization, 16 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
“I was chair one of one, and I knew there were two other bassoonists in high school, so I figured if I got out then I’d always be the first chair bassoonist of Agassiz Middle School.” – Mike Kapel they probably died from it. Honestly, at that time, eating a bug made more sense. As I’m talking here, I maybe changed my own mind. Maybe bugs were the better way to go.
GL: Do you have any favorite quotes? MK: I don’t. GL: That’s fine.
GL: What’s your favorite climate? MK: When it’s 40 at night and 70s during the day, that’s perfect for me.
GL: What’s one thing you hope people remember you by? MK: I hope that we got somebody listening to the radio to laugh or think, and I hope we entertain them and help pass the time during their day. I remember being on the other side of that. Some people go to work every day, and they might not hate it, but they don’t love it. It’s just the daily grind. If I can help somebody just forget for 5 or 10 minutes that they hate traffic or aren’t excited about work, that’s what I like to do.
GL: What does living “the good life” mean to you? MK: Living the good life is just a good work-life balance, time with family, not letting work take over your life, which is so easy for us to do these days, and finding the balance for all those things. Electronics, jobs, screens everywhere — somehow with all this technology everywhere, we’re way busier than we used to be. Technology is good, but it’s hard trying to find that balance. That, to me, is what the good life is; trying to do all those things and find a balance. If you figure out how to do that, let me know.. •
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 17
ON THE COVER | BRADY OBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION
18 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
LOCAL HERO
WRITTEN BY: ALEXANDRA FLOERSCH
• PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 19
ON THE COVER | BRADY OBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION
Flashback to October 23, 1983. While most Americans lay tucked in bed that peaceful Sunday morning, John Dalziel’s life changed forever. The atmosphere of the Marine compound just outside Beirut's airport was like any other morning as John grabbed a cup of coffee shortly after 6 a.m. and headed back to the barracks to wake a friend. "I was about 100 yards away when the explosion happened,” says the now 56-year-old retired Marine. “It knocks you down, and you try to pick yourself back up and figure out what happened.” At 6:22 am, a truck toting 21,000 pounds of explosives charged through the barbed-wire fence, slammed into the barracks and detonated. 241 Marines, sailors, and soldiers lost their lives at the hands of Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.
L-R: TRACY OBERG DUNHAM, JOHN DALZIEL, KATIE OBERG
20 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
“We spent a significant period of time digging out our friends plus continuing to do our mission," John recalls. "My biggest issue was … survivor guilt. Why did I walk out of the building and my friends – my brothers in arms – didn't?" It’s these horrifying stories – similar, yet unique – that haunt many veterans as they return to “normalcy” back home. Both a Marine and retired FBI agent, John was deployed to Beirut, Iraq and Afghanistan seven times total. But that's not just seven deployments; it's also seven times John had to adjust back home. "Nobody ever comes back the same,” John explains with candor. “It's easy for the vet to leave the war, but it's almost impossible for the war to leave the vet."
LOCAL HERO
"Nobody ever comes back the same. “It's easy for the vet to leave the war, but it's almost impossible for the war to leave the vet." – John Dalziel Back Home But Still Fighting Depending on the era in which they served, 11 to 30 percent of U.S. veterans suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Whether indirect fire, anticipation of mortars ahead, the unknown in patrolling outside the wire or just the initial anxiety of deploying, a number of experiences can cause PTSD. "It's the veritable plethora and the entire breath of knowing you're going into a war zone,” John says. "What might seem inconsequential to one guy can be highly traumatic for another. Everyone has different coping levels." Life is lived on high alert on deployment. Changing that mindset – and letting their guard down – is often the first challenge soldiers face once home. That’s the same issue the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division, 4th Brigade Combat Team faced after their
year-long deployment to Afghanistan in 2010. With 100 percent mission completion, all 139 troops returned home victorious. But even though blood wasn’t shed overseas, 14 soldiers have since taken their own lives. Brady Oberg was one of them. ‘10 Seconds of Insanity’ A true patriot, Brady’s family wasn’t surprised when he finally enlisted with the U.S. Army as an active infantryman in 2009 before deploying to Afghanistan under Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). “Sometime over there, his job flipped and he ended up
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 21
ON THE COVER | BRADY OBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION
being a sniper,” says his sister, Tracy Oberg Dunham, 38. “As a sniper, you only have one job." When Brady returned home from war, a peculiar set of keys followed him home. After prodding about their significance without avail, Brady’s wife, Katie, finally let it go. Not until Brady passed did the Obergs learn the back story from his sergeant. The keys were from one of Brady’s first kills. Taken from the vehicle just thereafter, the set of keys symbolized the moral conflict that battled within this soldier from that moment onward. "Brady had a moral conflict of what he had to do and what he believed in. He very much believed in his missions and the military way of life,” Tracy says, “but you can't be a sniper and have emotion – there's no last-minute thoughts. When he came home, it went from separating that to all of a sudden I should have all these emotions?" Even though Brady was less forthright about his hearing loss thanks to explosions, he vocalized the 22 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
physical pain he felt from the weight carried overseas. But one thing Brady didn’t talk about was the mental repercussions of war. "He would have visions during the day while he was awake,” Tracy says. “The crinkling of a water bottle or reflections in a window was a trigger.” Whether it was the unavoidable triggers or vivid visions of warfare, Brady’s family will never know what demon convinced him to commit suicide on August 6, 2015, as the result of PTSD. "I lost my brother to 10 seconds of insanity," Tracy says, with the insight only a sister could offer. During 10 seconds of terror, Brady made a decision he couldn’t take back. The Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation When Brady died, Tracy searched fervently for answers. In the days between her brother’s death and his funeral, the same memory kept replaying in Tracy’s head – the two of them sitting around a bonfire, contemplating life after Brady’s high school graduation.
LOCAL HERO
“He said to me, 'I just want to do something bigger and better than myself,'" Tracy recalls vividly. What started as $20,000 from funeral gifts slowly grew into the “bigger and better” that would serve as Brady’s lasting legacy. Now Chairman of the Board, Tracy – along with family and a few friends – founded the the Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation in November 2015 to create community, raise awareness for veteran PTSD and fund the Brady Oberg Legacy Scholarship at the University of North Dakota (UND) to benefit veterans wanting to become psychologists – and, in turn, help other veterans. Their first mission was to recreate that camaraderie amongst local soldiers. From fitness programs to fishing retreats and exotic ram hunts, urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 23
ON THE COVER | BRADY OBERG LEGACY FOUNDATION
"everything we do is centered around, 'Would Brady like this?'" Tracy explains. Trained to put their country before themselves, many veterans don’t sign up for these free events. Tracy’s response to that is simple: “If you don't sign up for you, sign up for your family. Sign up for the other vets that are doing it, too, to be support for each other." The second arm of the foundation’s mission is PTSD awareness – both reassuring veterans they’re not alone and educating the public on how they can help. With a ruck march in May, an annual golf tournament in June, the Ride for Combat PTSD in August and the Fargo Defender Dash later in the fall, the foundation organizes and participates in several yearly events to help shed light on the matter. Marching Forward for Fallen Soldiers Alongside nine board members, John is a valuable ambassador, having lived through many experiences Tracy and other civilians haven’t. Last year, he organized a ruck march from the U.S.-Canada border to North Dakota-South Dakota border to raise awareness for PTSD – all in Brady’s name. Starting at midnight, the four men took turns ruck marching 10 miles at a time, often without another living creature in sight. "The aches and pains – your feet, hips and shoulders from carrying 20 pounds to symbolize the 20 veterans that take their own life every day… you get a chance to realize why you're doing it." Rucking 240 miles in 62 hours, the four men finished in Brady’s honor, raising just over $10,000 for the foundation. This year, John decided to go bigger, planning a route that spanned from western to eastern North Dakota – a total of 397 miles split up into 5-mile legs. Recruiting 16 people to march for awareness, the crew started once again at Brady’s grave to pay their respects before heading west to Beach, N.D. on May 21 and finishing on Veterans Memorial Bridge in Fargo-Moorhead during Memorial Day weekend. "We're honoring those who can't spend time with their loved ones anymore, who can't talk to their dad, their brother, their sister,” John says. “Our key point is it's not a sign of weakness to ask for help. Put down the gun. Pick up the phone." ‘Help One More’ Last year when the foundation took off, Tracy reexamined what Brady would think about the foundation’s efforts. “Would he say, 'Keep it up! This is awesome,' or 'What are 24 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
LOCAL HERO
you doing? Spend this time with your kids instead,’" Tracy asked herself. "Then I realized at the ruck march all of these people took four days out of their personal life, away from their families and work to help a mission we started – and they didn't even know him. It made me think this is really bigger than what we ever thought it would be.” Currently a fund at Dakota Medical Foundation, The Brady Oberg Legacy Foundation has its sights set on becoming a full-fledged non-profit in order to help as many veterans as possible. "We had a veteran tell us, ‘You always say you want to help one. Well, I'm that one … so help one more,” Tracy recalls. "If we can prevent another family from enduring the pain we have in losing Brady, that’s worth it every day." Defining the Good Life Earning an Army Commendation Medal for saving four of his brothers overseas, Brady’s legacy is so much more than the foundation that bears his name. "I want Miah and Skylar to realize, this is Brady's legacy – this is what it means and this is why we help veterans," Tracy says of her children. “The good life is a happy, healthy family and friends to surround you. It's finding something you believe in with all your heart and helping a better cause." For John, “the good life” means “living in a country that allows us to do the things we can do, protected by volunteers who go to the sound of gunfire,” John explains. "We do it so the next generation doesn't have to – that's what we do as parents, and that's what we do as warriors." Tracy often reflects on what Brady would say if he were here to see his legacy live on. "He wouldn't be the type to say, 'This is good. Now you can just relax.’ He would be like, 'What's next? Let’s go bigger,'" Tracy says. “We're going to help one more, then we're going to help one more and one more – all in his legacy." •
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 25
FATHERS | MR. FULL-TIME DAD
An Ode to Brown Bear WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON
Every kid has their favorite toy. Be it a blankie, a binkie, a stuffed animal or, in my case, your right thumb, these favorite items get imprinted early in life and often grow into an extra appendage that dangles squarely out the front of said kid’s mouth. That’s where you’d find my thumb most hours of the day, and where you’ll find Macklin’s go-to stink bomb of a favorite, as well. Before Mack was born, his mama and I (ok, mostly m a m a ) r e s e a r ch e d , hunted and shopped for different options we thought he might like. In hindsight, it was a total guessing game, and we were probably a bit arrogant in thinking we could predict what this tiny stranger would eventually latch onto. But we were first time parents, so of course we thought we knew everything!
26 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Would it be the small, stuffed moose or the plush teddy bear that he would choose to snuggle all night? Perhaps the soft, heirloom blanket we got at a shower? Or that other blanket? Or this other one? Or maybe that one? We got a lot of blankets. Apparently, people were worried that even after welcoming a baby into our home I’d still be too cheap to turn up the heat. They weren’t entirely wrong. But it didn’t take long before Mack asserted his proclivity for the finer things in life by claiming a Pottery Barn Bear Thumbie gifted by his God Mother as his transition
object — something kids bring everywhere that provides comfort and stability, much like grown-ups clutching our smartphones wherever we go. Brown Bear is there any time of day for Macklin, even when mom and dad aren’t. Even when we are, that smelly, well-worn square of brown fleece with a head no longer even resembling that of a bear isn’t far out of reach. Macklin can fall asleep in any new place as long as he’s got Brown Bear (aka Brownie, Brown B, Brommer, Browns or Mr. Browns) there to chew on. Brownie has logged some serious road trip miles with us, including a few frequent flyer miles. Despite multiple flights, Mack has only cried on an airplane once, and it lasted for less than 30 seconds over some dropped goldfish crackers, because Brown Bear was there to soak up his tears… and drool. After taking an extended gap-year with me to find ourselves (turns out we were just over at the nearby park), he transitioned with minimal fuss to daycare because Brown Bear accompanied him to his new class. New babysitter? No big deal. He’s got Brown Bear. Vaccinations? Flu shots? Dentist visits? The end of Game of Thrones? Mr. Browns is always there to soothe. In fact, Brommer is so good at soothing, he’s been forced to multiply. Early on, we made the choice to wean Mack off his pacifier. It worked great. He got over the nuk in
less than a week. Why? Because the soft head of Mr. Browns was right there, ready to take up the cause. So we now own multiple Brown Bears purely for the sake of frequent washings. I asked him about it recently, trying to understand how we could possibly help break this habit. Mack’s response: “Brown Bear likes it. It tickles him and he laughs.” Well then, as long as it’s good for Brown Bear… and certainly good for Mack’s future orthodontist. I don’t feel any competition for Mack’s affection towards Brown Bear. With each bump, scrape or perceived injustice, Macklin will still cry for mom or dad (whichever of us is not currently available, of course). He will be quickly scooped into a hug and this is where he will ask for Brown Bear, our closer. Mom and dad provide the initial comfort and safety, and Brown Bear is the icing on the cake to finish the job. And sometimes a cartoon band-aid, preferably PJ Masks if you have them. Macklin turns four this summer, which feels impossible, as I still vividly remember bringing his pudgy infant self home from the hospital not too long ago. At this rate, I’m already mentally planning to sneak a Brown Bear into his luggage when he leaves for college, tech school or whatever path lies ahead in the future. Maybe another gap year… this time without dear ol’ dad. Regardless, I’m glad we have extras because I’m going to need one, too, when the time comes. •
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 27
LOCAL BAND
28 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
THE KNOTTIES MORE THAN JUST THE FEELS
WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS
• PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
The Fargo music scene rolls out another phenomenal music group; this time we are taking a look at The Knotties. These guys tap into a unique yet timeless sound, mixing modern techniques that thrive off 70s psychedelic rock/blues. This is the kind of music that makes you want to move and let loose – which is encouraged by the band. The Knotties joined together almost three years ago and have been rocking our faces off ever since; with Channing Minnema on guitar and vocals, Michael Mooridian on bass and vocals, and Jonathan Hunter on drums and vocals. Between these guys, you can find explosive personalities and phenomenal talent. The drive they have to push one another absolutely shows in their music and they accept nothing less. There is no question as to why they are so popular. I had the opportunity to sit down with Hunter and Mooridian and boy was it a ride. In between talking about the band and all the hard work they put into becoming kickass I found out a few fun facts about this quirky yet ambitious band. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 29
LOCAL BAND
First and foremost, everyone in The Knotties believes in each other to perform at the best of their abilities and they cheer each other on every step of the way. “No matter who writes the song or who comes up with the music we all go along with it - with no confrontation,” said Mooridian. They are really good at editing one another without stifling each other’s creativity and there is something to be said about that kind of cohesiveness in a band. Second, they are an absolute blast to be around and the passion they have for music is beyond measurable. If you are looking for a good time then you need hit up one of their shows, hands down one of the best acts in town. 30 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
They perform together in a way that is hard to find these days - solid and precise. Third, did you know that not one but two members live in not so common housing? One lives in an old bank (Minnema) and the other a church (Hunter) – No, neither establishment is still running and yes, they are there legally. In fact, their last album was recorded in the church Hunter resides in. If that isn’t what rock and roll is all about – I don’t know what is. Finally, The Knotties were awarded a grant earlier this year through The Arts Partnership in cooperation with Jade Presents in which they used to master their
full-length album. “This is quite an honor,” says Mooridian, “we are so grateful to have been awarded this opportunity.” “Most people don’t go beyond Spotify, iTunes, or Apple music, so that is where you can find most of our music,” remarked Mooridian. Although you can find their CDs locally at Orange Records, Mothers Music, or The Electric Fetus in their Duluth location. They are also working towards getting their music pressed onto vinyl, which will match well with their 70s psych sounds and give listeners another platform to listen to their music. There is something unique about matching your personality with kind of music you perform – typically The Knotties don’t play cover music but they strive to perform their own original music and these guys are about as original as they come. Each member brings something to the table that can’t be matched or duplicated and it makes for stimulating conversation and even more interesting music. You can catch them playing in venues all over town like the Aquarium – which is located above Dempsey’s, The HoDo, and Sidestreet which are all located in downtown Fargo, ND. They have also toured around the country and plan to again when their self-titled vinyl is released. If you are looking for a new sound or fun shows to check out – this is your band – you won’t be disappointed. You can follow The Knotties on Instagram or Facebook to find out all their upcoming shows or to check out what the band is up to and of course on their Spotify page where you can also find music the band is listening to. The good life, according to The Knotties, is to play together as a band for as many people as possible not for the fame or fortune but for the feeling. To get out there and rock as hard as they can and turn around and do it again tomorrow. •
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 31
SCUBA DIVING IN THE UPPER MIDWEST NORTH DAKOTA AND MINNESOTA HOME TO AVID SCUBA DIVERS WRITTEN BY: KATIE JENISON
• PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
When you hear the term “scuba diving,” what do you think of? Chances are you’re picturing tropical fish, coral reefs, and ocean waves. Whatever you think of, it’s probably the exact opposite of the upper Midwest. So, what if I told you North Dakota and Minnesota are home to avid scuba diving fans? In fact, experts say these two unlikely states have some of the best scuba diving around.
Dive spots are generally chosen according to water conditions and what’s below the surface. Water conditions can vary from lake to lake depending on the time of year. In the summer, some lakes offer visibility up to 30 feet. However, as water temperatures rise smaller lakes tend to lose their visibility. In those cases, divers may be able to see only one or two feet around them at a time.
Part of what makes scuba diving in North Dakota and Minnesota so special is the wide range of locations to choose from. Minnesota alone has over 12,000 lakes for divers to explore as well as the Iron Range’s many mine pits. Though there are plenty of rivers in the area, they tend to be less popular with divers because of low depths and poor visibility. Those that do dive in rivers are often looking for old antiques left behind by barge traffic.
Another element unique to scuba diving in the Midwest is the thermocline. A thermocline occurs in large bodies of water and is a thin layer where divers experience abrupt temperature changes. The first thermocline can be found between 24 and 30 feet down. At that point, the water temperature may drop by as much as 10 degrees in just a foot of water. Thermoclines aren’t the only chilly temperature some scuba divers experience, though.
32 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Despite winter’s freezing temperatures, die-hard divers can’t be deterred. Rather than sticking to the unofficial scuba season between Memorial Day and Labor Day, they dive well into the winter. All they need is the right equipment. As temperatures drop, divers will don thicker wetsuits to keep them warm while exploring the icy depths of area lakes. Some may even swap their wetsuit out for a drysuit, which is completely waterproof. Doing so offers divers better protection against frigid water temperatures. Popular Locations to Scuba Dive Regardless of the time of year, both North Dakota and Minnesota offer plenty of great locations for diving. From the area’s many lakes to old iron ore pits, there’s a whole other world under the water. Whether enjoying up-close views of aquatic wildlife or exploring sunken boats, there’s no shortage of things to discover.
“From the area’s many
lakes to old iron ore pits,
there’s a whole other world under the water. Whether enjoying up-close views of
aquatic wildlife or exploring sunken boats, there’s
no shortage of things to discover.”
Lake Sakakawea State Park Minnesota may be the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but North Dakota’s Lake Sakakawea is perfect for scuba diving. At a max depth of 200 feet, divers are treated views of paddlefish, rainbow trout, turtles, and frogs in the bay’s aquatic grass. Other exciting
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 33
finds include petrified rock formations and fossils typically found in deeper parts of the lake. Long Lake Near Itasca State Park, Long Lake features unusually clear water. Once used as a holding area for area logging companies, divers can expect to see submerged logs near the southeast end of the lake. Divers will also enjoy exploring the lake’s scuttled boats and countless other treasures. Portsmouth Pit While Lake Superior is technically the deepest lake in Minnesota at 700 feet, Portsmouth Pit is the deepest lying solely inside Minnesota. Located in Crosby, Minnesota, Portsmouth Pit spans 121 acres and has a depth of about 450 feet. The depth is just one reason it’s a spot many divers frequent Portsmouth Pit. Under the water is an eerily beautiful underwater forest of trees and a diverse variety of fish. Louise Mine Pit The Louise Mine Pit is another prominent diving location in Crosby, Minnesota. The eclectic props hidden in the
“Minnesota alone has over 12,000 lakes for
divers to explore as well as the Iron Range’s many mine pits.”
34 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
water have divers flocking to the state-owned mine. A favorite is the emaciated figure of Friday the 13th character, Jason Voorhees, trapped below the surface. Other notable displays include a mermaid, a submerged lawnmower, and a skeleton man fixing an electrical box. Becoming a Certified Scuba Diver Interested in discovering the many great diving opportunities in North Dakota and Minnesota for yourself? You just need to become a certified scuba diver! To do so, you’ll need to complete the Open Water Diver course as taught by a Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) certified instructor. The first phase of training is done in the classroom with students reading from the PADI Open Water Diver Manual and completing an exam. Divers will then take part in confined dives in a swimming pool to practice basic scuba skills with their instructor. Finally, divers will participate in four supervised open water dives. Completion of the course will certify divers down to 60 feet, but you can continue to advance with further training. Once you’re certified, all that’s left is to start exploring! •
urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 35
DONATION VALUE 5¢ PER BOTTLE DONATION VALUE
for MILLER HIGH LIFE and MILLER HIGH LIFE LIGHT.
RECYCLE Empty and unbroken MILLER HIGH LIFE and MILLER HIGH LIFE LIGHT bottles only. Return in recyclable original carriers, cartons or boxes.
DONATIONS Donations go to: Fargo/Moorhead, Detroit Lakes CASS/CLAY VETERANS ASSISTANCE FUND and VFW COLOR GUARD FUND or any of the other registered organizations at: minnkotarecycling.com
OTHER OPTIONS
You can also donate the value of aluminum cans, magazines, newspapers and #1 and #2 plastic bottles.
minnkotarecycling.com