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Unlike the juniper-heavy "piney" flavor that we typically associate with 'gin', Old Tom is modern gin's slightly sweet predecessor.
HISTORY: Our MINIONS Old Tom is a unique revival of a style of spirit prevalent during late 1800's and up until Prohibition, consisting of a base blend of our own malted barley and potato spirits. Nearly a dozen hand selected botanicals including juniper berries, coriander, and citrus peels are macerated as well as infused by distillation. These subtle yet complex flavors and aromas are well balanced and continually change throughout the tasting into a smooth and mild finish.
PHOTO BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
HOW TO ENJOY: Easy to enjoy, sipped simply over ice, or as an interesting twist in classic cocktails.
VISIT OUR DISTILLERY & TASTING ROOM: 414 4th Ave N • Downtown Fargo, ND
proofdistillers.com
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06
HAVING A BEER WITH JAY THOMAS
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CLASSIC BIKE NIGHT A PASSION FOR CLASSIC BIKES
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EL ZAGAL SHRINERS BEYOND THE FUN AND LAUGHS
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ON THE COVER - JUSTIN NUDELL TRADING ADDICTION FOR AWARDS
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MR FULL-TIME DAD STILL ALIVE ... ONE YEAR IN
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DRONE PHOTOGRAPHY TAKING PHOTOGRAPHY TO NEW HEIGHTS
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LOCAL HERO - JOE WALLEVAND TEACHER, SCIENTIST, POET, SOLDIER
PUBLISHED BY Urban Toad Media LLP www.urbantoadmedia.com
OWNER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dawn Siewert dawn@urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / PHOTOGRAPHER Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jessica Ballou Meghan Feir Alexandra Floersch Brittney Goodman Ben Hanson Krissy Ness
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BY: MEGHAN FEIR • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
After living in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, Denver, and Minneapolis, Jay Thomas made his way to Fargo 21 years ago. Now he’s permanently stuck here (read on). Known for “The Jay Thomas Show” on 970 WDAY, Thomas got his start in radio when his mom worked for a station in his hometown of Hibbing, Minn. From starring in commercials when he was a kid to filling in for DJs by 10th grade, Thomas knew he wanted his voice heard across the airwaves. As we enjoyed a brew and a less hoppy beverage called water at Drekker Brewing Co., I discovered some lesser-known facts about the radio host. Good Life: If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go? Jay Thomas: I’m not a person that travels. I just don’t. Every time I travel, something happens to my vehicle. It never fails.
GL: Do you think if you were traveling by plane— JT: No. I once decided to go down to the cities for a radio convention in July, and I said, “You know what? We’re going to fly down from Fargo to Minneapolis. I’m not messing around with vehicles.” So we flew down to the cities, tore it up, and had a blast. When we were about to fly back, something happened to the plane. We were stuck on the tarmac for almost 7 hours, and they didn’t give us anything to eat or drink. I told my wife, “See? This is why I don’t travel.” GL: Have you tried traveling by train? JT: Not even going to give it a shot because you know what will happen; off the tracks it’ll go. The bad luck started after I moved to Fargo. It has some curse on me. That’s why I never leave West Fargo. GL: Well, did anything happen when you were coming from West Fargo to Fargo today? JT: No. I usually have somebody drive me.
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GL: What would people be surprised to find out about you? JT: Probably that I’m a really good artist. I can do architectural drawings, and I have no training. I can make them look just like a picture. GL: If you could live in any era, which would you choose? JT: The ‘70s. I wish I would’ve been a little bit older in the ‘70s because I would’ve loved being a teenager back then. I love the clothes, the cars, the music. The whole attitude was just laid back, and unless you lived during that time, you can’t explain it. GL: If you had to choose between having a tarantula or a viper as a trained pet, which would you choose? JT: Definitely not the tarantula. I’m terrified of spiders. I will literally get sick to my stomach. GL: Like, when you see one or even just imagine one? JT: Doesn’t matter. GL: Oh… I’m sorry. Forget I brought them up.
“I'm terrified of spiders.”
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JT: Even a daddy long-legs. I’ll get sick to my stomach. If one gets on me, I have to go shower. GL: If Hollywood were to make a movie about your life, whom would you want to be cast as you? JT: Matthew McConaughey. He’s my man crush. GL: All right, all right, all right. JT: You know, speaking of Hollywood, I love the Lifetime Movie Network. I sit and watch those movies for hours. I want a part in one of those movies as a bad guy. I want one so bad. GL: How about Hallmark? JT: No. I can’t stand that. In Lifetime movies, there’s always dysfunctional crap. I just want a small, bad-guy part in one of those movies. GL: If aliens landed in front of you right now and offered you any position on their planet, which position would you choose? JT: What kind of question is that? I’m going to throw beer in your face. GL: Please, no. I’m allergic.
JT: I’d want to be the guy in charge, their leader. GL: Would it be a democracy or a monarchy? JT: It’d be a democracy, and I’d be president. GL: How did you meet your wife? JT: I was working at 95X here in town, and about a week into it, I got a knock on my office door. In walks this beautiful blonde lady. To this day, I can remember what she was wearing. She had on a white sundress with polka-dots on it, and she said, “Hi, I’m Alex. I’m here to start working.” The guy that I’d taken over for had hired her. I was looking at her and the first thing I thought was, “Yeah, like I’m not going to give this lady a job. She has a great voice and she’s beautiful.” A few months after she was hired, we went down to the lakes area to do some promotions together and we just hit it off. We started dating and have been together ever since. We still have a blast together. GL: What does living “the good life” mean to you? JT: It just means having a nice home, a job you love, a wife you love, just a great family, and having a good time. That’s the good life. •
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A PASSION FOR CLASSIC BIKES BY: KRISSY NESS • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Classic Bike Night is back again for its second year. Last year this event was held at various businesses and bars around the Fargo-Moorhead area and the largest gathering had 55 bikes. This year, Blarney Stone’s parking lot will be the sole location for this boisterous event. Every second Tuesday from April until September you can race over and check out vintage, classic, and odd bikes you wouldn’t otherwise see in the area. People bring bikes from all over the world to share in this classic event.
Gentlemen’s Ride, which began in Australia and has been around for more than 5 years. This event is very unique in that you are required to wear a suit and tie when showing off your vintage bike, similar to what they wore in the 20s through the early 40s. On top of that, this event raises awareness for prostate cancer and male suicide prevention. Although there isn’t a dress code for Classic Bike Night there is an effort to help those in need; a portion of the food sales purchased by event attendees will be given to the Make-A-Wish North Dakota.
Jim Bolluyt, Mike Lacher and Joe Karvonen, who share a passion for odd and vintage bikes, put on this event. Collectively these men have been working on bikes for many years, the urge to restore bikes and share with each other on social media runs deep. Lacher is know for restoring bikes that are more likely to be forgotten, and he shares that hunger with enthusiasts alike.
I sat down and spoke with Jim Bolluyt about the creative efforts of Classic Bike Night and what they hope to bring to the community. “Our vision for Classic Bike Night is getting more people interested in classic and vintage motorcycles,” stated Bolluyt. “There are so many people in the community who share this passion for odd bikes, but they didn’t have the opportunity to share with the public.”
Bolluyt began tinkering with the idea for Classic Bike Night by being involved with The Distinguished
The amount of people who attended last year confirmed the passion and desire for an event like this. People from
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“We want to encourage anyone who has a unique motorcycle to come urbantoadmedia.com out.” — JIM BOLLOYT / THE GOOD LIFE / 11
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all ages showed up ranging from 16-70 years. These enthusiasts get together and discuss their passion for motorcycles, whether it be restoring them or just discussing the details and the fine-tuning that goes along with bikes. For some individuals there isn’t always an outlet for unique and odd bikes, and that is where Classic Bike Night comes in. “We want to encourage anyone who has a unique motorcycle to come out – the odder, the better, declared Bolluyt. “Some my not feel comfortable coming out because their bike doesn’t fit what is ‘popular’ today.” What is special about motorcycles is that you can have many different types and not break the bank; where as being a classic car collector can become an expensive endeavor real quick. “It is not a competition of paychecks, it’s more of a craft or passion for motorcycles that seems to bubble to the surface of this event,” said Bolluyt. This should be more of an encouragement for anyone to come out and show off their bikes or dive deeper into their passion for bikes. “There are enthusiasts and then there are bikers, I would definitely say the people who show up here are enthusiasts,” declared Bolluyt. It is very exciting to have an event like this held in the Fargo Moorhead area, it provides an opportunity for people to share their passions and also a place for people to learn about something they don’t know a lot about. You do not have to own a bike to partake in these events. There are so many people who want to share the hard work and memories that have gone into their bikes. Keeping the past in the future is very much alive in classic bikes. Do yourself a favor and get down to one of these events, whether you are bringing a bike or just coming to look, you will not be disappointed. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 13
BEYOND THE FUN AND LAUGHS BY: MEGHAN FEIR • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Fancy hats. Tiny cars. Candy. What do those three things have in common? Shriners. For much of the chapter’s 126-year history, the El Zagal Shriners have been putting on parades, circuses, benefits, and various other community events to support children battling serious health conditions, proving that a lot of good can come from having a lot of fun. The history and purpose behind the lodge men goes far beyond throwing a little candy on the street. Richard Pallay III, membership chairman for the El Zagal Shrine Temple, moved to Fargo six years ago. It didn’t take long for Pallay to recognize similarities between his new 14 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
residence and his larger hometown of Pasadena, Calif., one familiar presence being the Shriners. Interested in what the organization was truly about, Pallay decided to visit the Shriners hospital in Minneapolis. “It was incredible,” Pallay said. “I got to meet some of the kids, and I saw the care they got and the excitement on their faces. I just fell in love with this amazing organization. I was like, ‘Yep. Done. This is what I’m all about. This is what I want to be a part of.’ If you can get down to the hospital, that’ll really help you know what we’re all about.” After completing the process to become a Master Mason, the last of the three tiers in the Masonic process, Pallay joined El Zagal and their mission to help others with the same enthusiasm that was instilled in him as a child. “I have a passion for helping kids. My dad was a youth pastor for over 24 years, so we just always did stuff in church with homeless ministries and helped children,” Pallay said. “As an adult, that passion to help was still there, and I wanted to do something and put my time to good use. It’s been an incredible journey.” While the members continually see the value in their involvement, new memberships in fraternities across the country have declined. Pallay attributes the main cause of this enrollment drop to the set-in-their-ways stereotypes so often associated with traditional, menonly organizations. “We’re always trying to help bring new people in and get out of the ‘this is how things have been done’ older way of thinking. We’re shifting our focus and thinking bigger.” As one of the oldest, private organizations in the world, the secrecy often associated with Masonic lodges has led to hesitancy in trusting the group’s actions behind closed temple doors and has even led to conspiracy theories, notions Pallay brushed off with a laugh.
“I got to meet some of the kids, and I saw the care they got and the excitement on their faces. I just fell in love with this amazing organization.” — Richard Pallay III urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 15
“People will take a very small portion of a thing and run with it. There are definitely no weird animal sacrifices or anything like that,” Pallay said. “Even though you have to go through the process of becoming a Mason before you become a Shriner, I wouldn’t change it because learning what I did really helped me stay grounded and understand why we do certain things. If you just jumped right into the fun, you wouldn’t realize all the work that goes into getting there.” In 1985, El Zagal Potentate (president) Blake Wrigley went through that very Masonic process when he was 23 years old, following in his father’s footsteps of joining the Shrine. Due to a job that involved frequent traveling, Wrigley wasn’t able to get more involved with the organization until years later when he joined the board and eventually became the potentate of the organization. From his many years on the road, Wrigley understands the reality of having other commitments, but he encourages men to join, regardless.
“When people say to me, ‘As busy as your schedule is, there’s no way I can be that busy,’ I tell them they don’t have to be,” Wrigley said. “All you have to do is participate in what you can participate in. There’s no requirements, but the more you’re active, the more you’ll get out of it.” Comprised of different units, the temple utilizes the various interests and talents of its members, from making music to maneuvering motorized vehicles, planning to parading. The Shrine even has a group called YOSHI for young men to get together and bond. It’s for spring chickens 55 and younger. No matter your age, job, or faith, Wrigley stressed the importance El Zagal’s place on inclusion. “It’s unique because you’re coming from all different avenues,” Wrigley said. “You’ve got bankers, restaurant owners, marketers, retailers—everyone all comes together. Everybody’s got a different look on things, and it just kind of grows and takes off from there. Basically, it’s good fun and laughs. Everything is too serious in this world, and you have to have some fun.” For more information on the El Zagal Shriners, visit their website at www.elzagal.org.
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Richard Pallay III: “For me and for the organization, living the good life is keeping balance. The good life is having your time with the Shrine and having fun, but knowing when to go home and knowing how to take care of home. When you get out of balance with any of that stuff, it really takes a toll. You don’t recognize it right away, but it does happen. For me, living the good life means making sure I’m thinking of how I’m taking care of my 24 hours—well, more like 18 hours because I need to sleep—but making sure I’m living the best life I possibly can. •
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COVER
MOORHEAD TATTOO ARTIST SETTLES INTO THE GOOD LIFE
BY: ALEXANDRA FLOERSCH • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
Justin Nudell can tell you how many tattoos he has on his body, but he's given up trying to keep track of the number of awards his work has earned. In just the last three years, the Moorhead tattoo artist has raked in more than 40 honors – though it’s rare to hear the humble artist talk about them. He recently took home second and third place in "Best in Show" at the Chicago Tattoo Arts Convention, besting about 800 other artists. He's still drawn to compete, but has won enough to be able to simply enjoy the experience and appreciate the art. But how did he get here? And, seemingly, so quickly? You might expect the usual story—a blend of talent, practice and an artist's dedication to his craft. But Nudell's story isn't nearly that simple. His is a journey from one life-changing experience to another. From addiction to recovery, homelessness to security, failure to redemption, the recovering addict pushed himself in his work and, more recently, was able to show the world the depth of his talents.
BORN AN ARTIST
Nudell began drawing as a young child, winning awards since elementary school coloring contests. In high school, he took as many art classes as he could. He was different. He was never able to fit in and was quickly labeled a troublemaker. Yet, teachers gave him leeway of because of his artistic abilities. “My art teacher would pretty much let me do my thing,” Nudell said. “He’d make everyone else stick to the task, and I would just be creating whatever I was creating. He’d never say anything because I was making art, and he appreciated that.” 18 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
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COVER
He knew he wanted to pursue an art-related career, but didn’t know what. One day his future aspirations just clicked. “All of a sudden a light bulb went off,” he said. “I thought, ‘Man, I should be a tattoo artist.’ I felt like it fit me because I was getting in trouble a lot. And I kind of accepted I was going to be a trouble maker.”
COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES
As a junior in high school, he was ditching class and eventually got caught up in legal trouble. Originally from Pelican Rapids, Minn., Nudell decided to move and live with his dad in Colorado—an opportunity his probation officer hoped would instill discipline. But after a year of watching his son rebel, get into more trouble and stop coming home, Nudell’s father gave up. He told his son to quit school and get his GED with the thought his son would never finish school. Nudell moved back home to try to move on, though he quickly discovered it wasn’t quite that easy. Still, he cut back on partying and became focused enough to finish out his senior year at Pelican Rapids High School. After high school, Nudell followed in his peers footsteps, leaving home for college in Duluth. “It seemed like a good idea instead of staying in a small town,” he said. But partying was his only priority, and he quickly failed out of college his freshman year.
TRADING PASSION FOR POISON
Nudell’s big break came when his high school art teacher called to tell him about a tattoo artist looking for an apprentice. He went to work for a 65-year-old biker in the back woods of Litchville, N.D., who trained him until he was ready to begin tattooing. As instructed by his mentor, Nudell began practicing at a biker bar in Valley City, N.D. “(My boss) told me, ‘This is the best way to get over your anxiety of tattooing people. We’re just going to line ‘em up and you’re just going to start tattooing,’” Nudell recalled. “And that’s what we did.” 20 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Nudell quickly learned how to tattoo, but at a steep price. He found some bikers like to barter rather than pay, trading drugs for ink. In small-town N.D., Nudell couldn't resist. “That’s where it really started,” he said. “I was living in the middle of nowhere and feeling like life wasn’t working out. I needed to feel alive again.” With one hit of meth, Nudell was instantly addicted, and so he continued trading his work for substances rather than cash.
CHASING THE HIGH
Wanting to open his own shop, Nudell moved back home. Not knowing the details of his drug history, his family supported him and The Buzz was born in Erhard, Minn. But the venture didn’t last long. He wasn’t running the business responsibly. “Any money that came in I was partying with – and I would take my friends out and party with.” After just six months, the fun ended. “One morning I came to open my shop and the door was open,” he said. “Somebody had popped the door and stolen everything. It was probably a blessing in disguise because that place was going nowhere good.”
“It’s okay to not fit in because that originality or uniqueness is something you should embrace. To be like everybody else is kind of boring.”
Devastated by the hardship, he spent a month in his mom’s basement, refusing to see the light of day, before moving to Fargo to pursue other opportunities. After working for a couple shops and leaving on bad terms, he decided to again strike out on his own. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 21
COVER JUSTIN NUDELL WITH ANITA BURBECK
Nudell continued tattooing while remodeling his soon-to-be shop, which proved to be exhausting. To fight the hangovers and increase productivity, he got back into meth for the extra energy he needed to burn through those long days.
get out of this. And when I get out, I’m never coming back.’ But you don’t know if you’re ever going to get out.”
But after two years, the remodel wasn’t done. Nudell started tattooing out of his house and he moved onto opiates and heroin. At every turn, he continued to go against the grain, but eventually life caught up with him.
“I had lunch with my mom and said, ‘I need to get help. I need to change but I don’t know how to. I’m so stuck in this life.’”
THE NEEDLE RUNS DRY
In 2012, facing multiple drug charges after law enforcement broke down the door and raided his home, Nudell lost his shop. His house no longer had electricity or running water, and he eventually became homeless for nearly a year. He bounced from motel to motel just chasing the high. “I wouldn’t even talk to my family because I was so ashamed,” he said. “In the back of my mind I was thinking, ‘I’m going to 22 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
He knew he needed a change.
Finally, Homeland Security caught him on video surveillance at a local motel. “I was outside smoking a cigarette where some big drug dealer had a room,” he said. “Finally, they got me and I was so ready to be done. I got arrested and I was so devastated but also very relieved.” Relieved, yet handcuffed. It was a bittersweet end to his downward spiral... and the beginning of the next chapter in life. “You’re so exhausted. You’re wearing the same clothes every
day,” he said. “All your friends are just screwing you over. They’ll rob you and that’s just what it is. You’re around people that all want the same thing; it’s dark.”
PURSUING PERMANENT HAPPINESS
With seven felonies, Nudell could have easily gone to federal prison. Instead, he was offered the opportunity to go to drug court for a year and seek treatment for recovery. “I made a choice when I was homeless that if I ever got out of there, I was going to start over. I was going to fix this,” he said. “Life started getting better. I stuck with it and I didn’t relapse. I didn’t want to go back.” Along the way, Nudell’s identity as an artist gave him the motivation to soldier on through all the trials and tribulations. “I’ve always considered myself an artist, and I always brought that with me. When life hurts, it’s something that I turned to,” he said. “That was always my thing. When everything else sucked, at least I could draw.” Today, Nudell works at Golden Needle Tattoo Studio in Moorhead, thanks to owner Joe Garza who sought him out in recovery after hearing of his work and Anita Burbeck for her unwavering support. The award-winning artist has been sober for more than 3 years. During that time, he also became a father. With each day, he yearns to learn more. “I’m a dad now so I just want to keep growing,” he said. “I put the energy I used to put into finding drugs into my work.” Looking back, Nudell wishes someone would have told him early on that it’s okay to be different. “It’s okay to not fit in because that originality or uniqueness is something you should embrace,” he said. “To be like everybody else is kind of boring.” Nudell doesn’t know what the future holds, but he has found contentment in his art and his family. He’s found the good life, perhaps for the first time.
THE GOOD LIFE
“The good life to me is being able to look into people's eyes with confidence, create art for living and knowing that my babies are happy, safe and enjoying themselves,” he said. “It’s about having good relationships with friends, family, and artists and continuing to grow and learn each and every day.” • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 23
MR. FULL-TIME DAD
Still Alive ... One Year In BY: BEN HANSON • MR. FULL-TIME DAD
It was 12:20 a.m. on a Thursday morning
Ever since LinkedIn has been a thing, I’ve listed “freelance” as one of my jobs. Until this year, that was more or less a lie. I took on a writing or editing gig here and there, but it was sporadic at best. I never sought out work, which might explain the lack of work. But something changed soon after I quit my job, slipped on a pair of sweatpants and bid farewell to an electronic alarm clock.
As we sat and rocked in the old, creaky, twice-recovered recliner in his bedroom, I had all the time in the world to think back on a year that was never in my master plan. Some might call it a hiatus from my career, but the truth is I’ve never been more successful than I am right now. I don’t have a “career.” Never really did. Nor do I really aspire to go get one... and the past 12 months have only affirmed my unambitious instincts.
When I started writing (for fun, mind you... and for free) about my #dadventures on my blog, MrFullTimeDad. com, all of a sudden people took me seriously. They overlooked shameless plugs like the one I just effortlessly slipped in and came a callin’. I can’t explain it, other than maybe there’s some higher power that didn’t want my son to suffer on my account, at least not yet.
when it hit me — I’d been wide awake for over an hour, rocking my son, Macklin, to sleep in the midst of his worst-yet chest cold. I also realized I’ve been at this fulltime fatherhood thing for a year now. The early morning hours have a way of cutting through your mind clutter, allowing the important bits to float to the surface.
You’ll Never Work Again
A handful of friends and family warned me that should I quit my job to become a full-time dad, I’d have a hard time finding work again. That presumed I would ever want to find work again. It also presumed the world is chock full of people who know how to string words together into coherent, thought-provoking, action-inducing sentences. Neither have proven to be true. 24 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Honestly, quitting my job has been the best thing for my writing… eh, career, I guess. I won’t publicly humiliate any of my paying clients by naming them here, but the list is illustrious. I’m nowhere close to making up for my full-time income, however that’s proving to be much less of an issue than I first anticipated.
Who Needs Money?
It’s Trump’s America now, so any concern I had about
health insurance or publicly funded arts and education programs to enjoy with my son have entirely vanished. (Oh, no politics? Got it.) The truth is, I was every bit as concerned about the finances as were those who offered me their gentle warnings. But again, we were all completely wrong. In reality, living with less means nothing to a family who already had way more than they needed. Between the three of us we have four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two living rooms, three sofas, two cars, a boat, a hot tub, a snowmobile and no debt aside from our mortgage. We also have a decent scotch collection and a town full of friends and family, so what the hell more I need out of this life I can’t really tell you. If you’re thinking, “sure, but I bet he doesn’t have secret agent good looks and a killer body,” you’re wrong. I have those, too. Fame and fortune would be nice, I suppose, but I really dislike having a lot on my schedule. If you ask me, I’m already overbooked between trips to the gym, outings at the park, walkabouts at the zoo and my enviable freelance… ahem, career. The only thing I truly miss from raking in all that full-time dough is seeing my 401k balance increase, but that rise was so slow and pathetic I’m almost over it by now.
Everyone Should be Doing This
Unless you’re some poor sap who enjoys vacations or savings accounts, I don’t know why you wouldn’t jump at the chance to stay home and raise your own child. I get that some people may be driven by some inner fire to succeed and make a difference in this world, but really... you could be eating corn dogs and playing in puddles all afternoon instead. Where are your priorities? When this grand adventure was started a year ago, my wife and I both kind of assumed it’d be a short-term situation. But this past year has been an unexpected blessing for all involved. I’m healthier and more content than I may have ever been. My wife is free to dominate her career and even return to school to explore a second. Mack’s grandparents have more time with him, because my schedule is his schedule. His favorite babysitter, even with the obnoxious car seat crammed into her two-door sports car, has become an invaluable, utterly reliable part of the family. And Macklin. Well, he’s kicking down milestone after milestone like he’s some sort of two-yearold. What I’m trying to say is if you have the means, go for it. If you’re blessed to even be able to consider the option of devoting your life to your children, do it. It doesn’t have to be forever. It won’t feel like forever, either. Trust me. You’ll come to in the middle of the night, as you soothe your coughing, sneezing kid back to sleep, and realize it’s the best damn thing you never intended to do in your life. •
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BY: JESSICA BALLOU • PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
TAKING PHOTOGRAPHY TO NEW HEIGHTS Ryan Johnson has always been interested in technology. As an engineer for the last 25 years, he’s fascinated by how technology is constantly changing and growing. He channeled that passion into a business he started last fall, Prairie Sky UAV. UAV stands for unmanned aerial vehicles, which are often used for aerial (drone) photography, a field that keeps exploding in popularity. “It’s gone from a novelty thing and something that people were doing as a hobby to now where it’s going to be a huge industry,” he said. “It already is, and it’s going to get so much bigger.” He said North Dakota has been on the forefront of this field, earning the moniker “the Silicon Valley of Drones.”
Rules and Regulations
Within the last year, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has gone through a period of transition, especially as the drone industry is growing at such a quick pace. They used to require people who 26 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
wanted to fly a drone for non-recreational purposes to have a Section 333 Exemption, which granted UAV pilots the ability to operate commercially in the national airspace. Now people need to apply and pass a test to obtain a Part 107 Certification, which is a commercial certification mainly for UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) pilots. Some people struggle with understanding the difference between being a hobbyist versus a commercial UAV pilot. The FAA views any kind of intent to use pictures or videos for commercial purposes or advertising (whether you are paid for them or not) as making you a commercial pilot. This even includes posting videos to YouTube because the site has advertising on it. People have gotten turned in for not having a license, faced thousands of dollars of fines for flying illegally and even gotten cease and desist orders in some cases. Even as a hobbyist, there are still many rules and regulations to follow. If you’re within 5 miles of Hector International Airport, for example, by law you need to call Air Traffic Control to notify them and abide by height limitations. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 27
“There’s a lot of risk involved if you’re not doing things the proper way,” he said.
As an engineer, Johnson appreciates the chance to get outside, move around and get a different perspective.
In some cases, it can take up to 90 days or more to get the proper certification and authorization to shoot photos or videos there. Even though that may seem like a long time, it’s better to wait for the authorization to come through than hire someone who doesn’t have the proper certifications because of the very hefty fines.
“It offers a perspective that you just can’t get [another way],” he said.
People also need to license UAVs with the FAA, which will give the UAV an ID number, like a tail number on a regular airplane. If it does crash or someone finds it and calls the local FAA office, they’ll be able to tell who it was registered to.
Best Practices
Flying over crowds is another big issue within the UAV photography field. By law, you can’t fly over a concert, crowd or anything where people are shown who aren’t directly involved or signed off on being part of it without getting waiver. So far only one waiver has ever been issued, and that was to CNN. 28 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
This comes in especially handy when it comes to agriculture, the real estate market, construction and more to track progress and do calculations. While some people can hire a photographer in a plane, the cost savings of not having to pay for fuel prices, an air crew, etc., can really make a difference. “You can do it so much more cost effectively, and it’ll affect the bottom line for everything,” he said. Drone deliveries could be coming in the near future from Amazon and UPS, but the logistics may take a while to figure out as current laws state you need to maintain visual sight of the drone at all times. “The possibilities are endless for this,” he said.
Johnson said even when you’re doing things the right way and trying not to cut corners, some people still have a negative perception of drones being used to spy on neighbors and other similar things that just aren’t true. “Every time there’s a negative story out there, the industry takes a little bit of a hit in the public relations area,” he said. “We’re all stewards of the industry. It’s our job to put it in a positive light.” Johnson said those who practice UAV photography need to keep in mind a reasonable right of privacy for people, including in their backyards, with no spying on people or unauthorized surveillance of any kind. “A lot of it boils down to common sense for what you’re doing and your surroundings,” he said. “If people keep that in mind, it’s going to go a long way.” •
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LOCAL HERO : BRITTNEY 30 / THE GOOD LIFEB /Yurbantoadmedia.com
GOODMAN . PHOTOS: URBAN TOAD MEDIA
US Army Special Forces (Green Beret) veteran, Joe Wallevand served in the military for 21 years, taught in public schools for 19 years, and was a chemist for American Crystal Sugar for 24 years. In the Army Special Forces Wallevand served as a medic and also a trainer. When asked about any medical experience prior to the Army, he said: “I was a Boy Scout.” Wallevand has three years of active duty and then served 18 years in the North Dakota Army National Guard in three different companies: the 191st Military Police Guard Company, 634th Service Company at Hillsboro-Mayville, and the 815th Medical Clearing Company Fargo-Bismarck, eventually attaining the rank of first sergeant for that medical company. He achieved the E-8 level before retirement. Wallevand was drafted, then enlisted in the Army in April of 1965, completed basic training and then entered Special Forces Training, beginning with jump school in Oct of 1965 in Fort Benning, Georgia after completing his basic and engineering Advanced Individual Training. In his youth, Wallevand described himself as an “egg-head” with high skills in math and a long-held fascination with parachuting, the military, and guerrilla warfare. Thus, the Special Forces seemed a good fit for his talents and interests. Becoming a medic was a decision Wallevand made, at least partially, because of being
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LOCAL HERO
involved in an auto accident prior to the service, which left him with guilt about “not being able to give proper medical attention to the elderly gentleman who died later.” He underwent 47 weeks of training, including 16 at the Fort Sam Houston medical school, nine of on-the job-training at an Army hospital, 16 at the advanced medical lab in Fort Bragg and six weeks of Special Forces tactics and techniques. Wallevand explained that his Special Forces training involved map reading, irregular “guerrilla” warfare, infiltration, methods of instruction, defensive measures, land navigation, patrolling, raids and ambushes, sabotage, civic action projects, escape and evasion, and then the special skills training that Wallevand asserted that, “if I told you about that, I’d…,” which is a standard joke among service people. Wallevand got his orders to go to Vietnam on Valentine’s Day, 1967 and arrived in Vietnam March 31. He was assigned to the 5th Special Forces Group. In Vietnam, Wallevand was initially a junior A-team medic. He recalled being in Hà Tiên near the Gulf of Siam. He was told “don’t go too far down that road or else you will be in Cambodia and it will be an international incident.” One of his jobs was also to “go out to our airfield, toward Cambodia, and deliver any personnel or supplies back to our camp.” Wallevand was to train some Montagnard people whom he described as “some of the first inhabitants of Vietnam” and fairly primitive, with large piercings and some with “bones in their noses”. He was called upon to jumpmaster a training jump for them. Wallevand explained that jumpmasters normally jump last from the plane. However, due to the Asians’ lack of training and language, he had to jump first as an example. Wallevand recalled, right before he jumped, looking back at the Montagnard people: “Their eyes are normally almond-shaped. But when I turned around all of their eyes were as big and as round as mine. They were scared. It made me remember my first jump at Fort Benning, which was the first time I had flown in a plane.” 32 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Wallevand still has the Viet Cong flag that he retrieved. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 33
LOCAL HERO
An advertisement that intrigued Wallevand into joining the military. As part of a civic action, Wallevand handed out manual tools to the Vietnamese people – shovels, picks, and spades, to be used in the rice patties. He explained that “winning the hearts and the minds of the people” was one of the goals of the war. He remembered that the Vietnamese said, “Thank you, doctor.” To them, he was considered a doctor because of his medical training. Later, however, during the Tet Offensive, they had taken these same implements and built bunkers inside their huts. Wallevand explained the “most successful” operation of his A-team, a month and a half before he was to return home: “We went into an area (restricted to us) to raid a small group of Viet Cong.” His team collected a number of documents, weapons, and propaganda. Wallevand said “we did not lose anybody and killed eleven VC.” Wallevand retrieved and still has a Viet Cong flag and some propaganda. Wallevand returned home from Vietnam in 1968: “I did not get spit on when I came back. A lot of my friends had very bad encounters.” Several years later, a colleague called him “a baby killer.” Wallevand explained: “At the time, I didn’t like hearing that and feel the same now. It is coming on my 50 year anniversary of going to Vietnam.” Wallevand has been married for 47 years to fellow teacher, and fellow Concordia graduate, Linda. They are proud of their successful, creative children. Mike works for Thompson-Reuters Find Law; Steve for Media Productions; Deb for Old Hat Creative managing promotions for NCAA sports teams. Linda described her husband as “a real renaissance man” with talents in music, writing, arts, science and teaching. They are both musicians. Linda has been a piano teacher for 40 years, while Wallevand sings in the local Master Chorale. Wallevand has an uncanny ability to figure things out: “In our little school system – he was the first computer teacher,” and Wallevand chimed in: “They just dropped a computer in front of me one day, and I just figured it out. I used to describe myself as a full service science teacher.” 34 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com
Linda described their first date, while at Concordia: “It was in January and it was 20 below. We were walking on campus and I was freezing. Joe was pointing out the constellations for me.” Wallevand is an amateur astronomer and the couple has travelled to Canada to witness and celebrate two solar eclipses and they will soon be going to their third event. Wallevand currently does public speaking of many types and is active in talking with local students. When asked, “What does ‘the good life’ mean to you,’ Wallevand responded: “The good life means peace and being with the people you love.” Wallevand is reluctant to accept the title of “hero”: “You want to talk about heroes? My big brother was my hero. But there are guys who aren’t here anymore - their names are on the Wall. There are the guys who came back from the war with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) who don’t know what to do with their lives so they end them. Then there are the Agent Orange victims.” He goes on to describe local Vietnam War Medal of Honor winner, Loren
D. Hagen, whom the new West Fargo American Legion is named after, a member of a special unit of Special Forces called the MACV-SOG. These soldiers engaged in extremely dangerous missions without any identification – no dog tags. Loren died serving his country on one such mission. Wallevand explained: “I’m sure I have PTSD. I don’t know if you could go through and see all the things I have, that anyone could, and not have it.” A common problem for veterans of wars is “survivor guilt” - a term Wallevand described as “the feeling of not doing your part, of not giving, as Lincoln said in ‘The Gettysburg Address,’ the ‘last full measure of devotion’” – that gnawing question of “why did you make it while others did not?” Wallevand continues: “If people want to call me a hero, I guess that’s fine. I did put myself in harm’s way for a greater good. But when you think of those guys on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, for the rest of us – the survivors – it is almost embarrassing to be called a hero.” • To reflect on survivor guilt, Wallevand wrote a poem based upon Percy Bysshe Shelley’s 1818 “Ozymandias.” He wrote it after returning from a visit to the Vietnam Memorial Wall. He read it as part of his 2016 Memorial Day speech at our local Veteran’s Memorial Bridge: “Survivor Guilt” by: Joe Wallevand 2016 Along a watery pathway, Meeting in the middle: Two bold, black blocks of granite Stretch long upon the green, grassy earth. And upon them written names — Seemingly endless list of names — Many the names I know — Chiseled in solemn relief. I look for my name; I search the span of when I served. I am not on the Wall — Where is my name? Surely my name is in the mix; I was there, as were they, But surely as we all were there, My name surely should be here. Had there been a million names Without mine on it; Had there been a wall with no names at all; Mine could have been on it. What did they do to deserve to be listed? What did I do to deserve being left off? But my name IS written… written deep within me… Just not on the Wall.
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