The Good Life Men's Magazine - November/December 2017 by The Good Life Men's Magazine

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MATT CULLEN

Matt Cullen Returns Home to the Minnesota Wild with Family in Mind

CONTENTS

IN EVERY ISSUE Saint Nicholas Born in 270 AD in modern day Turkey, was a real person. He was known for donating money to the poor and other charitable acts such as gift giving.

An Interview with Santa Claus

From Fargo to L.A. Dan Glaser Directs His Third Film

ON THE COVER Matt Cullen, center for the Minnesota Wild, in the 2017-2018 season home opener at the Xcel Energy Center. Photo: Darren Losee / Urban Toad Media

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NOT IN MY FAMILY - Part Three Good Neighbor, Jeremy Kelly

CAR CARE Auto Check Up A Guide to a Healthy Car

MR. FULL-TIME DAD The Irrational Life of a Parent

HAVING A BEER WITH Erik Hatch

LOCAL HEROES The Salvation Army

PUBLISHED BY Urban Toad Media LLP www.urbantoadmedia.com

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TWEET @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.

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WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR

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PHOTOGRAPHY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

The Real Santa

Talking to a Nice Fraud

Steeped in a surprising list of legends is a man with a hundred names. From Kris Kringle to Pelznickel, Sinterklaas to Weihnachtsmann, the figure of St. Nicholas has played a part in countries’ holiday customs across the world. This humble bishop, who lived during the time of Constantine, often gave secret gifts to those in need from the inheritance his deceased parents left in his care. He faithfully lived out his Christian beliefs, defended the innocent, and helped others selflessly. For centuries, he has been one of the most notably kind, compassionate and generous figures in history. But the real life of St. Nicholas is now hardly known, a shadow behind the bedtime stories we tell of the Santa incorporated into our Christmas traditions.

A few weeks ago, I went undercover and pretended to be a writer for the Jolly Journal of the North Pole to gain access to the man in the red suit. This has proven to be my riskiest mission yet as I chance getting placed on the naughty list for mischievously impersonating an elf. If he sees this article, I can only hope he'll at least give me activated charcoal in my stocking. It's great for detoxing. One consolation is that he is an imposter, as well, carrying out a seemingly harmless lie as he hoodwinks millions of men, women and children. He may pretend to be the actual, centuries-old gift giver, but in reality, he’s one of the many honorable torchbearers that have carried out the yuletide mission. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to uncover what his name was before he took over Santa duties for Tim Allen.

t Our American version of Santa Claus was exhibited well during World War II when American troops dressed as Santa and distributed toys and food to children in Europe.

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Good Life: So, Santa — mind if I call you that, or would you prefer I call you St. Nick, Nick, Nicki, Big Nicki, Little Nicki — Santa Claus: Santa will be fine. GL: Okay, great. So, Little Nicki, how old are you these days? You're looking as young and old as ever. SC: Well, according to Wikipedia, I turn 1,747 this year. I'm not sure when my birthday is because my mother wanted to protect me from threatening time travelers. GL: I see you’ve considerably lost weight. How did you do it? SC: I went Paleo to fit under door cracks easier. Fireplaces aren’t as common as they once were, and storm windows make things more difficult, so I’ve had to become more creative in my methods of breaking and entering. All the broccoli I eat has made me pretty bloated, though, so I still have a bit of a belly. GL: How did you go from being a human to the immortal ruler of the northern elf district? SC: I’d rather not comment. GL: You’re also the CEO of the biggest toy manufacturer in the world, which has brought innumerable jobs to the elven population over the years. That must make you proud. SC: Knowing I’m helping a once struggling population is a gift in and of itself, and I’m ho-ho-honored to continue the legacy… of myself — of what I’ve been doing for ages…

Santa Facts

According to stnicholascenter.org, our American version of Santa Claus was exhibited well during World War II when American troops dressed as Santa and distributed toys and food to children in Europe. Many countries celebrate the giving of gifts on St. t Nicholas Day, which is actually December 6. In other places, Santa makes an appearance in mid-November.

Reindeer aren’t always the agreed-upon assistants t of Santa on his travels. In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas rides a white horse. In some areas of France, Belgium, and other European countries, he’s on a donkey. But the most terrifying tales of St. Nick’s sidekicks hail from Austrian, Czech and Slovak traditions where creatures like Krampus, a devil-like figure, are kept in line by an angel or the saint himself. •

GL: Why did you emotionally abuse Rudolph, or do you feel as though you weren't accurately represented in the 1964 biographical animated film of the same name? SC: Honestly, I'm still saddened by how I was portrayed, though I wasn’t as kind as I should have been to such a helpful misfit. I was as skinny then as I am now, and that always makes me less than jolly. GL: Does Mrs. Claus ever have a problem with all your admirers? SC: She’s usually a trooper and doesn’t get jealous, but the one song that’s always irritated her is “Santa Baby.” She wrote those lyrics for me as a poem, but they accidentally fell out of my pocket when I was delivering gifts. The people who found the note turned it into a song. She’s kind of had a thing against Eartha Kitt ever since, but I have more of a problem with Michael Bublé. GL: What does living the good life mean to you? SC: Oh, kicking back and cracking open a cold nog with the elves, sitting on the porch with Mrs. Claus, and driving the sleigh around for an afternoon ride with the top down. But the best life is when you’re focused on helping others, showing God’s compassion and love to everyone you come across. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 7

NOT IN MY FAMILY // PART THREE

WRITTEN BY: BRITTNEY GOODMAN

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In this special series, we have examined how law enforcement is dealing with the opioid addiction problem, then a mother’s loss, and now we shift to a volunteer who is keeping people safe and saving lives. Jeremy Kelly is the founder and director of the F-M Good Neighbor Project which focuses on heroin and opioid addiction and helping the addict. This nonprofit, 501 C3, volunteer-run organization does community outreach. It also offers a drop-in center, naloxone training and distribution, a needle exchange and HIV and Hepatitis C rapid testing. The office is located at 1208 Center Avenue in Moorhead, and while the hours vary depending upon volunteer availability, Kelly can be reached by his phone whether the facility is open or not: “I drive all over town and get to everybody who calls me.” He currently directs the project on a volunteer basis but is on track to focus more time on it with upcoming donations and grants. Kelly’s contact number is 701-214-3083. A Fargo-Moorhead native, Kelly also works as an Advocate for the Gladys Ray Shelter and Veterans Drop-In Center, which provides services for homeless persons and any veterans in need.

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NOT IN MY FAMILY // PART THREE

Kelly felt compelled to act to deal with the increasing problem of heroin and opioid overdoses and deaths. He explained: “In the beginning, I didn’t have an office. I just went and bought a bulk quantity of syringes – a few cases – around 2,000 syringes. Then I went and got trained in how to deal with opiate overdoses. I then went and picked up about twenty naloxone kits and brought it all back. I started by doing trainings in my house and then doing home trainings and deliveries of naloxone and needles. A couple of months after that I rented the space and started getting volunteers.” Kelly writes the grants to keep the organization’s work going and when there is not enough funding, he said, “I provide it myself.” At times he is putting about half of his income into the project because: “It is the right thing to do. It is saving lives.” The organization accepts monetary donations via its web site. Kelly expressed gratitude for the many dedicated volunteers willing to work with what he calls “sensitive stuff: It’s not for everyone.” Many of his volunteers are in college and are studying to be in a health or social work career. A core service of the project is a needle exchange program. At its essence, this is a social service that allows injecting drug users to obtain clean, unused hypodermic needles at no cost. It is based on the philosophy of reducing harm and risk factors from sharing needles, such as HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis. While some see this service as controversial, a recent World Health Organization study found compelling evidence that these programs substantially reduce the spread of HIV among intravenous drug users. One of the large efforts of the project is training people to administer the life-saving naloxone, often known as the brand Narcan. Kelly called it “the opiate overdose reversal drug. It blocks the opiate receptors and binds to them so the opiate can’t enter or it will kick out the ones that already entered. It binds with the receptors.” Many police departments have naloxone with their officers. Kelly’s organization offers training for anyone in how to administer naloxone and save someone’s life during an overdose. As part of the naloxone training, he tells people the proper order for helping during an 10 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

overdose: “You need to pinch the person’s nose and give them breaths, then dial 911, then administer the naloxone. It works very quickly.” He described an opiate overdose: “For the most part the person is experiencing respiratory failure. They are groggy, nodding out, or they may be completely unconscious. They may turn blue in the face and lips – it looks like they are not getting oxygen. You may not be able to wake the person up.” Kelly emphasized the F-M Good Neighbor Project’s societal value: “When a portion of our community is suffering, it affects the entire community. And we are seeing this every day – many people who don’t seem to have a lot of hope: mothers and fathers losing their children, people losing their friends and loved ones.” Kelly asserted that for many people, addiction is “not a disease or a genetic abnormality or a defective brain” but it is a social problem and often situational and temporary. He explained: “The fact that many people do not feel connected to the community or to family or friends makes them need something to feel good. So they may find it in drugs and chemicals. The answer to this problem is the community – we are the cure. The more connected a person is to their loved ones, their city, their job, the better live he or she has, the more likely they are to recover from addiction.” “A strong community is the cure. We need to be strong for people.” Kelly asserted that FargoMoorhead is a community worth connecting to: “Fargo-Moorhead is a unique, awesome community. It really is. I’ve lived elsewhere, but I feel so different here. It is so good in so many ways.” In the next article in the series, we will focus on a family’s story and see what our local community is doing to combat the opioid problem. •

“A strong community is the cure. We need to be strong for people.” - Jeremy Kelly

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Auto Check Up A Guide to a Healthy Car WRITTEN BY: MATT LACHOWITZER

How often do you get a checkup? Once a year to visit your doctor for your yearly check-up, twice to the dentist to get your teeth cleaned? Maybe a few chiropractor visits for back pain. Just like we go in to get our health and body checked up by doctors, we should be doing the same with our vehicles. To the average person, a vehicle is the second largest purchase they make, so why not be proactive about the health of our vehicles instead of reactive? Just like preventative care for your body, your vehicle needs some preventative care also to ensure you’re getting the most out of your vehicle. Here’s a guide to what types of preventative care your vehicle will need to make sure you get the most out of your vehicle and to keep it healthy. State of Health Inspection (Annual Check-Up) You go to your doctor for your yearly physical, they go over your medical history, check your vitals, listen to your heart and perform other exams like checking your abdomen and reflexes. When you bring your vehicle in for an inspection, your automotive technician will go through similar inspecting and testing to ensure that they have a good understanding of your vehicle’s health. Testing (Blood Work) When you’re sick and you don’t know what’s going on, you go to the doctor and they typically will draw blood to perform testing and get an answer for you. Just like a doctor, automotive technicians will perform testing to determine why your vehicle is making that weird noise or why it’s not turning on when you turn the key. Your automotive service center will go through steps like scanning for codes, looking up bulletins, electrical tests, and many other steps to have a better understanding of the issues your vehicle is having and then be able to provide the best course of action to heal your vehicle. Coolant Flush (Flu Shot) Flu season is a constant and that’s why doctors recommend getting a flu shot to combat getting bitten by the flu bug. Just like a flu shot is to prevent you from getting the flu, a coolant flush is to prevent your engine from overheating and causing damage. It cleans out the cooling system and eliminates rust and fights against corrosion. Brake, Power Steering and Differential Fluid Exchange (Drinking water) When you drink a lot of water throughout your day, you feel hydrated, awake and your body works great. When you perform fluid exchanges on your vehicles systems such 12 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

as the brake, power steering or differential(s), your vehicle is working on that same level. They’re easy ways to ensure that your vehicle is performing at its best and by doing those fluid exchanges, it prevents larger or more costly repairs in the future. Oil Changes (Teeth Cleaning) You go to your dentist twice a year and they clean your teeth and get them back in tip-top shape. When you go in for an oil change, your vehicle gets new oil and oil filter, and you renew the protection of those vital parts of your engine, much like the fluoride your dentist applies to your teeth. These services are important to follow the schedule that your owner’s manual and service center set forth. Cabin Air filter (Congested) Imagine taking a deep breath and feeling congested or short of breath and in turn having to cough to try to get a good breath of air. Now imagine taking a deep breath in your car and having that same feeling. Each vehicle has a cabin air filter that are typically easy to have replaced. The cabin air filter like explained in the name, filters outside air coming into your vehicle. This preventative step can directly affect your health. A dirty or clogged air filter can cause you to feel sick and worsen allergies by letting musty odors and contaminants like pollen and dust into your vehicle. Changing your cabin air filter gives you and your health that sense of relief as well.

To the average person, a vehicle is the second largest purchase they make, so why not be proactive about the health of our vehicles instead of reactive? Alignment and Tire Rotations (Chiropractor Visit) Your back’s hurting and you make an appointment with your chiropractor to look and correct any issues. An alignment with your vehicle will work the same way. You bring your vehicle in for an alignment or tire rotation and that prevents and relieves uneven tread wear on your tires or your steering wheel being off center when driving straight. Just like your back needing to all be in order, your vehicle’s alignment and tires work the same way. Whether it’s your health or your vehicle, there are great steps to take to make sure everything is working in order. Remember, spending a little on your vehicle now, can save you more later. If you ever have any questions on what maintenance your vehicle needs and at what mileage to do it at, your owner’s manual and your trusted service center are your go-to resources. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 13

Fargo native, Dan Glaser, has released his third feature film as director, “Valley of Bones,” a selfdescribed “Midwestern noir.” But Glaser has been preparing since childhood: “I'd always played in the backyard or the living room, shooting short films on a clunky old Panasonic VHS camcorder and bossing my friends around. I guess I always was a director at heart; hopefully my technique has evolved beyond the bossing.” Glaser grew up in North Fargo and was active in Trollwood Performing Arts School: “I still consider my summers at Trollwood as the time where I learned the most about myself as an artist and as a person.” The film features Anna, a disgraced paleontologist pursuing a lucrative dig site in the Badlands. But to get at the valuable dinosaur fossil she must team up with a recovering meth addict with ties to a dangerous drug cartel. It was co-written by Glaser with frequent collaborator, Steven Molony, also a Fargo native. Prior to “Valley of Bones,” Glaser directed “Pinching Penny” and 14 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

“Oxenfree.” “Oxenfree” is currently out on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and Google Play. “The Good Life” caught up with Glaser on a recent visit to home and found out what’s next for this Fargo native gone Hollywood. Good Life: What are your favorite elements of “Valley of Bones?” Dan Glaser: “We had an incredible team we were blessed to work with. From the early days of Steven Molony and I working closely on the script with Jon Wanzek (producer/ executive producer) to being on location in the North Dakota Badlands with cinematographer Michael Alden Lloyd and our incredible cast, and all the way through post-production with our insanely talented composers Corey Wallace and Michael Kramer. Each step of the way it was a complete honor to work with these talented artists. Filmmaking is quite possibly the most collaborative art form that there is, and you simply cannot do it alone. You're a team, a family, artists-in-arms, and to this day my

favorite part of watching the film is seeing the work we did together take life on screen.”

“Filmmaking is quite possibly the most collaborative art form that there is, and you simply cannot do it alone. You're a team, a family, artists-in-arms…” – Dan Glaser

GL: Why North Dakota and the Midwest for locations? DG: “Steven and I shot ‘Pinching Penny’ in Fargo, ‘Oxenfree’ in Lake Cormorant, MN and in the woods of south Fargo and now ‘Valley of Bones’ in western North Dakota. It's been a little Midwest trilogy, of sorts, and I love being able to add a Midwestern voice to cinema that often goes unheard. It would have been very easy for Jon Wanzek to save money and shoot elsewhere: California, New Mexico or Canada. It was important for him that the film be shot in North Dakota.”

“I love Fargo. It's a wonderful place to live, and was an inspiring place to grow up. I'm constantly in awe of the arts community. I don't think most people outside of North Dakota/Minnesota really believe me when I talk about the opportunities here." – Dan Glaser

GL: Talk about growing up in Fargo. DG: “I love Fargo. It's a wonderful place to live, and was an inspiring place to grow up. I'm constantly in awe of the arts community. I don't think most people outside of North Dakota/Minnesota really believe me when I talk about the opportunities here. I came up through Trollwood, which is actually where Steven Molony and I both became aware of one another. We've both come back to teach there for the past few years, and it's been amazingly rewarding to give back to the place that gave me so much. My family is ridiculously supportive. When it hit theaters, they went almost every night. They brought my grandfather a couple times as well, which really choked urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 15

filmmakers, he handed us a business card. Turns out he had started a film production company and was looking for fresh voices in filmmaking to work with. So Steven and I met up with Jon and we pitched ideas around. One of his passion projects was a story called ‘Valley of Bones.’ He had hired a writer initially and there was a draft, but after reading it Steven and I proposed starting from scratch and together with Jon we built the story from the ground up. It was a crazily serendipitous meeting.

me up, because I think the last time he went to the movies was about a decade ago when I took him to a western. It was moving to me that he was able to come out to see it. My family has always been there for me and my sister, who lives with me in L.A. and works full-time as an actress and singer. I absolutely would not be here without that support.” 16 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

GL: Your producer, Jon Wanzek, is from Fargo? DG: “Steven and I were in south Fargo preparing for the upcoming shoot of our second feature, ‘Oxenfree.’ We were canvassing the neighborhood around our intended shoot, alerting the homeowners. The last door we knocked on happened to be Jon's. When he realized we were

GL: Talk about living and working in LA. DG: “I think Los Angeles is a place that you either love or hate. I love it. I think of my friends that live out there, I may be one of the few who isn't there just because that's where the work is, but also because I genuinely adore the city, scars and all. Its scars are actually part of the charm for me. It goes back to noir: there's such a fascinating history, a lot of it stranger than fiction. It's where some of the best noir stories are set, Chandler's ‘The Big Sleep,’ Wilder's ‘Sunset Boulevard.’ It’s also the birthplace of cinema. There's something very alive about the arts there — a sort of electricity around L.A. Most everyone is there to pursue some grand dream. And you can feel that.”

“I'd always played in the backyard or the living room, shooting short films on a clunky old Panasonic VHS camcorder and bossing my friends around. I guess I always was a director at heart; hopefully my technique has evolved beyond the bossing.” – Dan Glaser

GL: Talk about the movie’s significant distribution. DG: “We were shocked by the release size. It isn't very often that your pipe dream is surpassed, but that's exactly what happened. A film this size — this homegrown and outside the industry — a 300 screen national release just doesn't happen. We feel incredibly blessed with the limited theatrical run. Look for a holiday home video / digital release from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.” GL: What’s next? DG: “We are writing another project for Jon, working on a script with Autumn Reeser, the star of ‘Valley of Bones’ and developing another project with our ‘Oxenfree’ screenwriter Timothy J. Meyer. The one closest to moving forward is a psychological Christmas horror film. I'm jazzed about that; we're hoping to go into production in the spring.” GL: What does ‘The Good Life’ mean to you? DG: “Sharing your life with family and friends is the most important thing. As an artist, I’m naturally happiest consuming and creating art and entertainment. Read a book, write a book; watch movies, make movies - it’s a cycle that I’m very lucky and honored to be a part of.” • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 17

COVER // MATT CULLEN

View more photos of Matt's day with the Cup View more photos from the Minnesota Wild Home Opener

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WRITTEN BY: ALEXANDRA FLOERSCH

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PHOTOGRAPHY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

Matt Cullen Returns Home to the Minnesota Wild with Family in Mind If there’s one thing Matt Cullen has learned in his career it’s that some things just can’t be planned. Ending the 2017 NHL season holding his third Stanley Cup, the Moorhead native didn’t know if he’d return to play hockey the following season. At 40 years old, Cullen had retirement in mind. But when the potential storybook ending to an already storied career presented itself, the family packed their bags and moved back to the Midwest where the hometown hero will lace up his skates a second time for the Minnesota Wild. "My first time here with the Wild I thought was pretty cool,” Cullen said. “I was really fortunate to have the chance to play in my home state. I understood how lucky I was to do that and I didn't really expect the opportunity would come up again or that I’d have a chance to finish my career at home.” But this time was different. Throughout his career, Cullen had fought his way to the top. Drafted by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1997, he bounced around during his

early years, playing for the Carolina Hurricanes, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators and other teams before signing with the Pittsburgh Penguins for the past two seasons.

Pittsburgh provided ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME experiences — TWO STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS in 2016 and 2017

While his time in Pittsburgh provided once-in-a-lifetime experiences — and two Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017 — Cullen thought it was time his three boys settled down and established a bit of normalcy, preferably back home in the land of 10,000 lakes.

you think about kids and everything that goes with that.”

"At this point — I'll be 41 here — the decision isn't only about you,” Cullen said of his birthday on Nov. 2. “Minnesota is good hockey-wise, but there's a lot more that goes into the decision now that didn't used to when

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COVER // MATT CULLEN

"It was a difficult decision because Pittsburgh had been so good to us, and obviously winning the (Stanley) Cup the last two years — you can't beat that,” he said. “The people of Pittsburgh have welcomed us like family and everything was just perfect but at a certain point, the kids need to put down some roots. The fact that we can be home and the kids can still play and be home is the best of both worlds."

A Power Play for Family

Back in Pittsburgh, the Cullen boys—Brooks (11), Wyatt (9) and Joey (7) — had access to a brand new facility where they could skate their little hearts out while a teacher worked with them 1-on-1 academically. Returning back to Minnesota this fall, the three began attending Calvin Christian — a small, private school in Edina, Minn. "When we came down here, we thought it was probably time to put them into a real school and start making that transition,” Cullen said. “We just had a really unique window in Pittsburgh where everything fell into place perfectly and we could do our own little academy.” When the season ramps up and dad begins traveling for games, Cullen’s kids and wife, Bridget, can make quick trips home to Moorhead for birthdays and holidays with family. 20 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

While the first years of their lives may have been busy, the Cullen boys have had their fair share of fun, spending time in the locker room and around other NHL players. "That's one of my favorite things about this,” Cullen said. “I can't really teach them much else so for me to be able to give them that opportunity — to have them at the rink, be a part of all this — is special. It makes me, as a dad, happy knowing these are experiences that will hopefully last them a lifetime."

The Reality of NHL

Cullen is quick to admit his 20-year NHL career hasn’t been a cakewalk. The path to the NHL success isn’t exactly an easy wrist shot on an open net. “When you first start out, you're fighting so hard to establish yourself as an NHL player… there are so many ups and downs that come with that," he said, recalling earlier years. "You come into the league thinking of yourself as this kind of player but the NHL is really hard. You have to adapt and find a way to be an effective player and make the most of your talents.” But a little hard work never scared Cullen. Even in high school, when he was considered a little too slow, he worked harder instead of accepting defeat.

"It's all about putting everything you have into whatever your goal or dream is, whether it's hockey or something else," he said. "When other kids just plateaued, I kept improving. Coming from my own experience, I was given some talent but not much more than anybody else. I think the hard work that was instilled in me at a young age is what got me here.” While height, quickness and coordination might be genetic, work ethic and effort can be learned. "That's something that's within everybody's grasp,” Cullen said. “Not everybody's meant to play in the NHL, NFL or NBA, but there's no way in knowing how good you could be unless you put everything you have into it.” Great success came with no shortage of effort, work-life balance and a whole lot of teamwork on the home front. “As you get older, it's about trying to balance your family life and your hockey career," Cullen said. "The game asks a lot of you. You need to be training full-time in the off-season and then during the season, you're traveling and practicing a lot. It's very much a balancing act.” Cullen’s boys also play a part in their dad’s success, giving their best set of advice before each game. "They love being around the game,” he said. “They always have their little ideas on what you should do and different inputs on the game — it's kind of fun." urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 21

COVER // MATT CULLEN

“We feel like it's on us to give back and make a difference. Those are the things that last — more so than how many goals you score or how many Stanley Cups you win. I think it's what you do with what you've been given." – Matt Cullen Never taking ‘no’ for an answer, Cullen deked out every obstacle en route to his dreams. “Being on a team that won the Cup three different times — that's what'll go down as my very favorite memories," he said. "There are a lot of good players who played the game for a long time and never had the chance to play for the Stanley Cup. To experience that — go through that three different times with two different teams — is just more than I ever would have dreamed of, honestly. That's as good as it gets."

Sticks Down, Charity Up

In his (limited) free time, Cullen turns his focus to his Cullen’s Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization that raises money for children's healthcare in FargoMoorhead and the surrounding area. “Fargo-Moorhead is what we'll always consider home,” Cullen said of he and Bridget. “We felt like that was the place we really wanted to make an impact and make a difference.” The inspiration for the organization came from a 4-yearold boy with a cancerous brain tumor Matt and Bridget had met in Italy. The couple had known they wanted to start an organization, so when Jacopo came into their lives, their cause was clear. "That was one of those things that spurred us to really get going on it — take it from an idea to really moving on and making it into something," Cullen said. 22 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

Thanks to the foundation’s board members and Bridget, who takes over once hockey season starts, the organization is able to remain active throughout the winter. “She drives the engine on the whole thing,” Cullen said of his wife. “She takes over a lot of the load in the winter, along with raising the boys — school, hockey and all that comes with that. It enables us to continue to do what we do too in the winter, and get to the summer where we can really do more.” Cullen is thankful the community has gotten behind the organization as well. "It's become a big foundation and we've been able to impact a lot of different people and kids,” he said. “That's more than we could have ever hoped for going into it.” After taking a break the last handful of years — having funded $1 million for Cully’s Kids Cabin at Sanford — the team is ready to put some new ideas into play. "We're in the process of doing some exciting things that we think are really going to help the community and have a direct impact on people's lives," Cullen said. "(The foundation) is something that Bridget and I feel really strongly about. It'll be something that we support for the rest of our lives.” While the Cullen’s family schedule is already packed

full of travel, school, kids’ sports and other obligations, they continue giving back to the community.

or when I was really struggling. They were the perfect support system the whole way up.”

"Bridget and I talk a lot about it and we feel that we've been given more than we deserve in life,” Cullen said. “We feel like it's on us to give back and make a difference. Those are the things that last — more so than how many goals you score or how many Stanley Cups you win. I think it's what you do with what you've been given."

His brothers, Joe and Mark, both went on to play professional hockey as well, having just retired in the past few years.

At Full Strength, Many to Thank

Without his wife of 13 years — whom he credits much of his success to in balancing the workload — Cullen’s lifestyle wouldn’t be possible. “Bridget allows me to continue to play at age 41," he says. "She does so much for me, our family and the boys.” Though Cullen says it’s impossible to list all of his supporters, his parents and siblings have also played an instrumental role through it all. “My dad has always been a huge influence on my career,” he said of his dad, Terry Cullen, a longtime coach for Moorhead High School. “He coached me through high school and is a huge supporter. I bounce a lot of ideas off him and lean on him in tough times. I would definitely say he was a driving force in teaching us work ethic." His mother, Nancy, played a similar role to what Bridget does now, hauling his two brothers and sister around to their various sports activities.

"We spent every summer training together, so that was always such a huge influence having my two closest friends training with me every day,” Cullen said. “We could push each other and help each other."

The Good Life’s at Home

When asked what it is about Fargo-Moorhead that keeps his family coming back for more after years of traveling, Cullen said "it's a number of things.” “First of all, it's a great place to raise your kids. It's a small-town feel. People are so nice and helpful,” he said. "It's hard to really put your finger on what separates it from other places. But when it's home, it's home and we love it.” For the Cullen family, the real home-ice advantage lies in Moorhead where they built their new home in April 2016. The plan is to eventually settle down there when he retires from the NHL. But as he’s learned so many times before, life has a funny way of rearranging your well thought out plans. While Cullen can’t predict what the future might hold, he’s sure of one thing: the good life. "The good life means friends, family and good health,” he said. “That's a short one for ya." •

"That is the unsung hero right there,” he said. “Those are the ones that don't get a lot of credit but they're the ones doing everything behind the scenes.” Even as kids, Cullen’s brothers challenged him to be better. "As soon as you think you're pretty good, your brother is doing something better and it can really motivate you,” he said. “They were always there to help push me when I thought I was pretty good urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 23

FATHERS // MR. FULL-TIME DAD

WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON

It’s 9:34 a.m. on a Monday — the day this article is due. “The Good Life” publishes every other month, which means I’ve had approximately 60 days to write this story, yet I’ve only just begun. You might say that’s wildly unprofessional, irresponsible and, at the very least, illogical. Why wait until the last minute to complete a project you had two months to work on? You could question the logic behind a lot of things I do… as a parent, that is. Upon closer examination of this still newish world I find myself in — and the things I find myself doing — I realized that unless you also live with kids and are simultaneously in charge of their well-being and your own sanity, you might confuse our normal behavior for lunacy. And you may not be wrong. Here are a few notable examples. Kids Songs Where do I begin? Can anyone tell me (without Googling it first) what the hell a Derry-O is? Do we really want to be teaching our kids that life is nothing but a dream? And why are we celebrating in song the collapse of a bridge in London? Very few kids songs make sense, and I suppose that’s to the benefit of their little imaginations. But that’s not my main beef. What I find completely unacceptable in 2017 is that there are so many different variations of the classics. Between Netflix, PBS, CDs from the library 24 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

and two grandmas, my son Macklin has yet to hear the same version of “The Wheels on the Bus” twice. And it’s not just different melodies, but the lyrics, too. There are fewer interpretations of the Old Testament than there are of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” If there was one song you’d think we would all agree on it would be the ABCs, but I swear to you I’ve got three different versions stuck in my head at any given moment. Road Trips… at Night Road trips are a cherished American family tradition. What better way to discover new places than piling into the station wagon with two week’s worth of rations and hitting the open road. Scenic byways, observation outlooks, historical markers — we plan our routes largely based on visual appeal… then we (parents) decide the best time to do the driving is in the middle of the pitch black night. Why? So the kids can sleep! Makes sense, unless… you know, you actually want to see the sights or include the journey as part of the experience. I understand the reasoning for the latenight embark, but I also see how it flies in the face of whole appeal of taking a road trip. “Hey kids, want to see the Badlands? Okay, better get to sleep then!”

Quoting “The Simpsons” I remember my parents telling me that if they ever caught me watching “The Simpsons” they’d cancel our cable subscription. Today, it’s probably rated as a family show, but in the ‘90s it was considered borderline obscene. So when my wife caught herself quoting lines from favorite episodes as teachable moments for our 2-year-old, it was a bit surreal. “The doctor said you wouldn’t have so many nosebleeds if you kept your finger outta there,” she said to Macklin. Then, after having “MAMA! MAMA!” shouted in my face about six times, I found myself announcing, “I’m not your mother, Ralph!” See, mom? “The Simpsons” DO have redeeming qualities! Hot Meals Served Cold Nobody but a parent digs out the cookbook, makes a grocery list and slaves over a hot stove only to immediately put that freshly prepared delicacy into the freezer in order to serve it cool to their starving son. Only in parenting land does this make absolute sense. Think about it: if you were at a dinner party and your host blew on your plate of spaghetti as he brought it to the table, you’d question everything for the remainder of the evening. If I were a single parent, Mack would be fed a steady diet of cold cuts, gazpacho and yogurt. The closest thing he’d get to a hot meal would be microwaved popcorn. Three Sets of Everything If I went to the store and bought myself three pairs of mittens, three sets of snowpants and three pairs of boots (all identical, mind you), I’d be diagnosable. For what, I’m not sure, but I know that spending pattern isn’t normal. Unless you’re shopping for a child who’s in daycare. In that case, it’s perfectly acceptable to buy multiples of everything, keeping one set at home, one at daycare and a third in the diaper bag along with every conceivable emergency backup item you can think of. I’m pretty sure there’s even a spare tire in there if you dig down deep enough. There, see? Me giving myself only hours to write — when I legitimately had months — almost seems practical when judged against the everyday reality of a parent. Maybe I’ll write a song about it… set to the tune of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” and 42 other songs. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 25

HAVING A BEER WITH // ERIK HATCH

WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR PHOTOGRAPHY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

"Living the good life is a life of abundance – an abundance of people, of laughter, of great food and drink, of opportunity, and of love. Notice I didn’t say an abundance of salad or an abundance of jogging." – Erik Hatch

Amidst the throngs of beer at Drekker Brewing Company in Fargo, Erik Hatch and I had an energizing chat over a brew and a nonbrew. This motivational speaker and leader has a heart for playing a part in people’s lives. As the CEO and owner of Hatch Realty and Hatch Coaching and a partner in Abovo, he’s the mascot of his companies — the self-titled Colonel Sanders. The only differences are that his beard is still red, not white, he doesn’t wear spectacles, and I didn’t see him endorsing fried chicken. Hatch intended to move away years ago, but he said God had other plans for him. So far, staying in his hometown has proven to be far greater than he’d ever expected. Good Life: What instruments do you play? Do you sing? Erik Hatch: I have been gifted with a campfire voice — very loud and always slightly off key. I can play chords on the guitar, but I can’t necessarily play tabs. I was a worship leader for seven years, so I got to jam all the time. I was the guy who’d ask, “Hey, can I sing

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this part?” and they’d be like, “No, we got this.” I was the most organized, though, so they let me stay in the band. GL: What’s your favorite family tradition? EH: Every year for Christmas, my wife’s family has ribs, but not just ribs — the world’s greatest, most succulent ribs with the best possible sauce you’ve ever had. There’s usually a competition to see who can devour the most. GL: Do you win? EH: No! There are some young, strapping boys in the family. GL: How would you react if a large man in a red suit came barreling down your chimney late at night? EH: During Christmastime or not during Christmastime? GL: Ehh, the general Christmas time frame. EH: Even though I’m big and strong, I’m not very tough, so I’d probably cower behind my wife. I would

be flabbergasted, call the authorities, and squeal like a little girl, both in excitement and fear. GL: If you could become great at something you’re kind of bad at now, what would you choose — EH: Golf. Golf. Golf. GL: Okay. EH: I was golfing in a scramble with somebody I hadn’t met before, and he said, “So, how often do you golf?” I said once or twice a week and his jaw dropped. I’m not very good, but I’m good at buying people drinks, so they still invite me back. GL: On a scale of zero to utterly delicious, which would be a 10, how would you rate fruitcake? EH: I’m going to give it a blechhh. GL: So, like a zero? EH: No, that’s a two! It’s a blech, not a regurgitation. I can digest it, I would just choose not to. But there’s ne’er a food that I’m dared to eat and won’t. I’m always up for a challenge, even if it’s blech. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 27

HAVING A BEER WITH // ERIK HATCH

GL: So what would be a better use for fruitcake? Others have mentioned doorstops and paperweights. EH: I would imagine there are some spas in town that could use the kiwi to exfoliate and sponge some of the toxins out of your body. GL: Is there kiwi in fruitcake? There’s a lot of citron in the store-bought ones and stuff… EH: Kiwi is a citrus fruit — I think. GL: I mean, I don’t think there is traditionally, but there has to be a Hawaiian, tropical version. EH: Can I check my phone? GL: Yes, please. EH: “Easy Cooking: Kiwi Fruitcake.” Just because my family isn’t like yours, don’t judge me. What kind of jeans are those? Oh, judgey pants? Okay. GL: Yep, yep. But now I’ve mentally transitioned into sweatpants that are non-judgmental. EH: Thank you.

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GL: Do you think growing up as a redhead changed your personality and experiences at all? EH: My experiences, yes. I was always that safe friend to hang out with. I couldn’t go into the sun very directly, so there was safety in sunscreen. I wouldn’t say I had a robust dating life growing up. I’m not a full-blown ginger, I’m like a partial ginger. You’re fullblown. GL: Ehhh, I’m strawberry blonde, so I’m a half-breed. EH: Sure, whatever your mirror says to make you feel better. GL: Hey, it changes depending on the light. EH: But I really don’t know what to classify myself as. I never knew what to put on my driver’s license. I don’t think I’m red. I don’t think I’m brown. I don’t think I’m blond. I just want to know my place. “Outcast” is usually a word they place with us gingers. GL: And “judged.”

GL: To go in line with the slogan of a great brand of pizza, what do you want on your tombstone? EH: I want one simple statement. “Erik was a chapter in many books.” GL: That’s so good, especially considering I just asked that question without warning. EH: Isn’t that fun? I was having a conversation with Mark Anderson, the CEO of BlackRidgeBANK. He’s brilliant. I was telling him about how I want to live this big, audacious life and how I want to have an awesome autobiography written about me. He said, “You know, it sounds like it would make more sense for you if you were a chapter in everybody else’s book.” I’ve taken that and claimed it as my own. That’s the easiest way to summarize what I do and why I want to do it. GL: What does living the good life mean to you? EH: Living the good life is a life of abundance — an abundance of people, of laughter, of great food and drink, of opportunity, and of love. Notice I didn’t say an abundance of salad or an abundance of jogging. I ran a marathon and I’m never doing that again. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 29

LOCAL HERO // THE SALVATION ARMY

Local heroes

The Salvation Army WRITTEN BY: DANIELLE TEIGEN PHOTOGRAPHY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

It’s only natural that when you hear the words “Salvation Army,” you immediately think of the Yuletide tradition of bell ringing and red kettles. For nearly 130 years, the Salvation Army has ingrained that image into the minds of people the world over, but the organization is more than metal kettles and a cacophony of bells ringing into the frigid night air. The organization actually began as a church, one that embraced the most destitute and defeated; back in Victorian England, William Booth saw a need but his own church refused to support his unconventional idea of preaching to the people, so he and his wife left the church and set out on their own. Major Elaine Medlock can recite that story as though its her own personal story; she goes on to say that while the way the Salvation Army ministers has evolved over time, the organization still embraces the basic principles of soup, soap and salvation. “Because you can’t talk to someone about their soul when they’re hungry,” she explains. Medlock and her husband Byron are the officers of the Fargo Salvation Army, and they’ve been leading the organization for the past 5 years but have been officers for 32 years. The call to serve came early, likely from Medlock’s early experiences playing on the Salvation Army’s playground behind her house where she grew up in Wichita, Kansas. Her 30 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

Elaine and Byron Medlock family began attending church services there, but later found a different religious community. She returned when she was 16, though, because it felt like home; her parents returned a few years later.

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"You can't talk to someone about their soul when they're hungry." — Major Elaine Medlock

Medlock says she never meant to become an officer for the Salvation Army – she wanted to work as a secretary, which she did. After getting married and having her children, though, she realized a higher purpose. “I felt that God had called me to be an officer,” she says. So, in 1984, she and husband moved to Chicago with their two little boys and enrolled at the College for Officer’s Training. They’ve been serving the Salvation Army since 1986, and while they primarily work as pastors and administrators, they do a little bit of everything. “Anything that needs to be done, we do,” she says. “We can’t ask anyone to do something we aren’t willing to do ourselves.” And just what the Salvation Army does goes far beyond

the red kettles. While the importance of that annual campaign cannot be emphasized enough — it provides the financial lifeblood that sustains the organization and its programs throughout the year — the Salvation Army offers a variety of services and programs aimed at serving the people in the community often most in need but least likely to be helped. Worship and Fellowship

Thanks to those original roots as a church, the Salvation Army offers a variety of spiritual services ranging from Sunday services at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. to Bible studies, youth programs and Sunday school. “The Salvation Army is a place where anybody can feel comfortable and welcome,” Medlock says. The organization offers individual ministries for men, women and children, all with the intent to serve their practical and spiritual needs. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 31

LOCAL HERO // THE SALVATION ARMY

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“(The Salvation Army is) just a wonderful place to volunteer. I get so much more out of it than I could ever hope to give.” — Volunteer Nancy Hagen

Feeding the Mind and Spirit In addition to serving hurting souls, the Salvation Army feeds those in need by offering free hot meals five days a week in its spacious cafeteria in its building, located at 304 Roberts Street North. The Emergency Disaster Services (EDS) team responds to local disasters by supporting first responders and anyone affected by the disaster by providing food, drinks and other items. Last year, the organization responded to more than 40 disasters and helped more than 2,000 people. In addition, its Mobile Outreach Meals (MOMS) program offers hot lunch to children throughout the summer at parks in neighborhoods in need. The Salvation Army also offers food baskets leading up to Thanksgiving and Christmas to help ensure families have a hearty holiday meal waiting for them.

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Cuts and Coats for Kids The Salvation Army also offers two other important annual programs. The organization partners with Josefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School of Hair Design for Cuts for Kids, a one-day event where professionals give haircuts to kids who are preparing to return to school. Every September, the Salvation Army holds a donation drive to collect hats, gloves, coats and boots to be distributed to children and families in need before winter hits. Coats for Kids & Families would not be possible without the communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generosity, and last year, more than 1,500 coats were distributed during the event. Handing Out Hope Pathway of Hope is a program for families to help connect parents and children to available resources. The Salvation Army team helps a family develop a plan, chart progress, work toward goals and celebrate success along the way.

Bryan Hagen Last year more than 1,500 coats were distributed during Coats for Kids urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 33

LOCAL HERO // THE SALVATION ARMY

Medlock says that’s the good life — serving people. “It’s the most important thing we do,” she says. “It’s both the easiest and often the hardest thing we do.”

Soap Then Salvation In 2016, the Fargo Salvation Army distributed more than 1,000 personal care kits of shampoo, soap, toilet paper and other hygiene items to people in need. Other aspects of the family services arm of the organization include offering transportation, prescription and housing assistance. No matter what program you think of when you hear “Salvation Army”, the work wouldn’t be possible without the army of nearly 10,000 volunteers powering them. “We couldn’t do all of this without them,” says Volunteer Coordinator Julie Rivenes. “These people keep us going. They are amazing.” Nancy Hagen and Sandi Swor are two such amazing volunteers. Swor took a quick break from serving breakfast to explain her dedication to the organization, which started more than 5 years ago. She’s volunteered with nearly every service and she does it all with a generous spirit. “It’s fun to meet these people,” she says. “I treat them all with respect.” Hagen was brought to the organization years ago through bell ringing with her church, but kept coming back to experience more volunteer opportunities. “It’s just a wonderful place to volunteer,” she says. “I get so much more out of it than I could ever hope to give.” 34 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

Julie Rivenes

Though she still helps ring bells, Hagen also assists with the Cuts and Coats events, food baskets, EDS, and serving breakfast once a week with her husband. “I just enjoy being here,” she says. “I enjoy wishing them a good day, because often they appreciate just a smile.” The smiles abound whenever the events involve kids, but it’s not just the children who appreciate the winter wear. “When the kids get a new jacket, they’re just so excited,” Hagen says. “Those things reward me.” She tells a story of a woman who came into get her child a coat but needed one herself, though she was skeptical one her size was available. Hagen found one, though, and the woman cried tears of joy. “She said she hadn’t had a winter coat in three years,” Hagen remembers. Serving that need — and the needs of so many others — is what has driven Medlock and her husband for more than three decades. But come June, they’ll hang up their Salvation Army uniforms for the civilian clothes of retirees while a new husband and wife duo settles in to lead the Fargo organization. “It’s not the job I ever dreamed of doing but I can’t imagine not doing it,” she says. Medlock says that’s the good life — serving people. “It’s the most important thing we do,” she says. “It’s both the easiest and often the hardest thing we do.” •

Like many nonprofit organizations, the Salvation Army relies on the generosity of people to donate many of the items used regularly. The items always of greatest need include toilet paper, diapers (size 5), and gloves and socks for adults.

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