The Good Life Men's Magazine - September/October 2018

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018

HAV I NG A B E E R WI TH THE FOUNDERS OF DR EK K ER B R E WI N G T H E U N TAM E D H E AR T AN D AR T O F CHAI NS AW DAV E FALL L AWN CAR E PR EPAR E F O R WI N TE R WI T H T H E SE 5 TI P S

LO CAL H E R O PAT R IOT A S SISTAN CE D O G S

Wil Dort

From Haiti to Haircuts

FREE TO A GOOD HOME

FATHERS | MR. FULL-TIME DAD

WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON

•

PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

We just wrapped up a three-day party for Macklin’s third birthday. About 20 people invaded our home, ate our food and left all of their garbage behind. We had a bounce house in the backyard, beautiful weather throughout, all of Mack’s favorite people… even the Blue Angels came to town to celebrate. It was a wild success.

on the other hand, has been developing a discerning palette since the day his first teeth started coming in. He already knows what venison tastes like, along with elk, shrimp, salmon, walleye, crab, scallops, antelope, pheasant, etc. I was in my mid-20s before I even knew what a scallop was, let alone how gross they are.

As expected, Mack raked in a pile of awesome gifts sure to hold his attention until the end of this sentence — fresh cans of Play-Doh, new bubbles, his first pair of rollerblades, some water toys, the obligatory new outfit from Grandma and a pedal-powered go-kart complete with roll cage and emergency brake. As I watched him climb in and take off down the sidewalk, I couldn’t help but envy him.

Junior Outdoorsman Mack was barely two months old when he experienced his first legitimate road trip (and still hadn’t celebrated a birthday before he spent his first night sleeping in a tent).

Now, by age 3, he’s an accomplished camper who loves to fish, hike, swim in the lake and touch everything he can reach without hint of fear. Come winter, it’ll be season two of riding his very own snowmobile across the frozen lake at Grandma and Grandpa’s. Before the end of this summer, we’re heading to the mountains of Colorado to not only see the Rockies, but also to bring Mack to his first live concert… yep, at Red Rocks. What a time to be a 3-year-old.

If it wasn’t Mack’s birthday weekend, I would struggle to answer the Monday morning question “What’d you do this weekend?” So, asking me what I was doing when I was 3 years old would be like asking my current 3-year-old to fix my currently broken water softener. Try as we might, it just isn’t going to happen.

What I can confidently say is I wasn’t driving around in my own go-kart at 3. I also don’t recall ever having my own private backyard carnival with the Blue Angels screaming overhead. No, I remember birthdays at McDonald’s (which was awesome… I still have my special birthday McDonald’s mug) and dreaming about go-karts.

Pondering my son’s charmed life as I snuck an extra-large piece of cake while safely out of view, a thought bubbled up in my mind… 3 is the new 23. At 23, I was just about a year into my first full-time job after graduating from college, which meant I finally had the means to indulge my own childhood fantasies. I didn’t buy myself a go-kart, but I definitely walked out of Best Buy with a new 42-inch plasma screen and signed up for the HD package with DVR as soon as that first paycheck cleared.

My son has never known life in standard def. He drives a gokart to the park. His favorite toy is also my favorite toy — an $800 iPad. You see, 3 is the new 23. After finishing my cake, I came up with a few more examples…

Baby Foodie Had it not been for my cousin, who now takes me elk hunting against his better judgement, the only red meat I would have known growing up would’ve been beef. Macklin, 2 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

Fitness Bro Mack’s latest favorite breakfast is a children’s protein shake. It’s true. The body shaming starts early nowadays.

Reading the ingredients, his shake is not that different than the ones I occasionally mix up after the gym. He’s not working on bulking up or optimizing his metabolism. He just likes doing whatever I do... and I’m guessing he likes the chocolate flavor and the fact that he gets to drink a “shake” for breakfast. After a rousing hour of Jazzercise in the basement on Saturday mornings, my mom would mix up a shake of some sort, but I don’t remember ever getting a taste. Mack has his own Blender Bottle.

Style If I were to die tomorrow, whoever gets stuck writing my eulogy won’t be reminiscing about my great wardrobe and natural style. Mack, on the other hand, rocks a hot pink speedo like some sort of tiny French fashionista confidently strutting down the Riviera. When he was 2, he had flowing curls long enough to put into a ponytail. He had a man bun before he was potty trained. Honestly, I think he currently owns more pairs of shoes than I do.

Sure, Mack has things like global warming, that new tax form and the potential of living through WWIII to worry about, too, but it’s hard not to be envious of the opportunities provided to him... as well as his natural instincts that must come from his mother’s side. •

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Contents

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2018 VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 2

2

FATHERS / MR. FULL-TIME DAD 3 IS THE NEW 23

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FARGO-MOORHEAD TRAILBUILDERS GETTING BACK INTO NATURE

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HAVING A BEER WITH THE FOUNDERS OF DREKKER BREWING COMPANY

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UNITING THE COMMUNITY VETERAN, MUSICIAN, ADVOCATE: TOM HILL

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ON THE COVER: WIL DORT FROM HAITI TO HAIRCUTS EX-CON TURNS LIFE AROUND TO OPEN SKILL CUTZ BARBERSHOP

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THE UNTAMED HEART AND ART OF CHAINSAW DAVE

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FALL LAWN CARE PREPARE FOR WINTER WITH THESE 5 FALL LAWN CARE TIPS

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LOCAL HERO PATRIOT ASSISTANCE DOGS OFFERS HOPE AND HELP FOR DOGS AND VETS

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PUBLISHED BY Urban Toad Media LLP www.urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / PHOTOGRAPHER Darren Losee darren@urbantoadmedia.com OWNER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER Dawn Siewert dawn@urbantoadmedia.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Meghan Feir Alexandra Floersch Brittney Goodman Ben Hanson Katie Jenison Krissy Ness Danielle Teigen CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER MJoy Photography ADVERTISING INQUIRIES Beth Reich / beth@urbantoadmedia.com READ A PAST ISSUE issuu.com/thegoodlifemensmag FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK facebook.com/urbantoadmedia FOLLOW US TWITTER @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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When riding these paths you can see the enjoyment on people's faces, and it is definitely a workout.

WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS PHOTOS BY: MJOY PHOTOGRAPHY

Since late 2009 members of the FargoMoorhead Trailbuilders have been successfully creating and maintaining mountain bike trails in the FM area. It became a nonprofit in early 2014 and is made up of avid bikers who volunteer their time to ensure safe and accessible trails. “There’s probably close to 10 people who are really active with the organization and at least another dozen to two dozen helping out and pitching in,” said Tom Heilman, Vice President of FM Trailbuilders.

After graduating college at NDSU and moving to Denver for his first job, Heilman picked up mountain biking and fell in love with it. After some time he moved back to Fargo and quickly realized there wasn’t a lot of access to riding.

“Through meeting some people in the community... we started coming up with some random ideas and one of the first spots was in North Moorhead, MB Johnson Park,” said Heilman. “It was a pretty rough trail and we went through and wacked some weeds and created a real hodgepodge trail, it was pretty self-serving and it just gave four or five of us access to go ride in a loop.”

After they found some success with this trail, it was decided that they should clear it with the city to be on the up and up and also with the community. “It was a growing sport. It still is. It is something people want to have access to,” said Heilman. “So, we got a little more serious formed a little organization and came up with a name, Fargo-Moorhead Trailbuilders, and came up with a logo through a friend who did some of that stuff. Then met with the director of park and recreation of Moorhead at the time and they were right on board with us from the get-go. They have been outstanding to work with.”

Since building a trail in MB Johnson they have added trails in Gooseberry Park and Horn Park in Moorhead, and on the Fargo side, there are formal trails at Iwen Park, totaling over 11 miles. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 7

It is just a great way to get out into nature and get some exercise at a faster pace than hiking or jogging.

If you hop over to their website, www. fmtrailbuilders.org, you will be able to do a multitude of things, from checking the trail conditions to donating money or time to help maintain the trails. They partner with Trailforks to give a detailed layout of every trail and the condition it is in on any given day. It also shows experience levels of each trail, which can be helpful, especially on days when the kids are with.

There is no age limit when it comes to riding these trails, but please remember to travel at your own speed and experience level. Also, making sure your bike is in working order and always wear a helmet.

When biking on these trails pay attention to the markers so you are aware of what direction you should be traveling, most of these trails are designed to be ridden counter-clockwise.

These trails are also seasonal, as long as you have the proper tires – Fat Tires, which are four to fiveinch tires made especially for winter biking. Through generous donation and donated times there is also a groomer that goes out and packs the trails down in the winter so these trails can be used all year.

Along with casual mountain biking, these trails also host events and races, though they are not directly connected to the FM Trailbuilders. This year 13 high school students have signed up to participate in a league, which is a great addition to activities that are being held in Fargo-Moorhead.

“FM Trailbuilders isn’t about racing, it is about building and developing trails, the racing and events are just things to get people out to have fun and celebrate the fact that we have some trails,” said Heilman. “It’s grown tremendously, we’ve got the right people in place; the right volunteers. This last three years it has been really impressive to see the number of people who have reached 8 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

out, not only to help, but the faces we are seeing out on the trails are almost always new.”

When riding these paths you can see the enjoyment on people’s faces, and it is definitely a workout. I would recommend this to any and all of my friends who are active in the community, it is just a great way to get out into nature and get some exercise at a faster pace than hiking or jogging.

“When this was all just beginning and it was a group of three or four guys and some sticks and a shovel, it was all people we knew, and now it is to the point where when I go out onto a trail it’s the other way around,” said Heilman.

How exciting it is to see something start so small and develop into a sport that so many people in Fargo were clearly looking for.

“The organization’s volunteers, board, and user base come from all types of backgrounds. Financial, legal, medical, engineering, construction, you name it. I think we have it represented, which is also a great indication that it’s not an exclusive activity. In fact, I think it’s probably the most open group of people in any sport I’ve ever been associated with,” said Heilman.

Everyone involved with FM Trailbuilders is a volunteer; no one is being paid, which shows the dedication to this sport and organization. If you enjoy the trails or want to donate your time to help maintain the trails hop over to their Facebook page or website and get signed up, every little bit helps.

“It is an activity people can do their whole life and it can be just for fun, it doesn’t have to be racing,” said Heilman. • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 9

HAVING A BEER WITH | DREKKER BREWING

WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR

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PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

HAVING A BEER WITH THE FOUNDERS OF

DREKKER BREWING COMPANY

What goes into a bottle (or a can) of beer? For the founding fathers of Drekker Brewing Company, all the risks and hard work has been worth it when they see the community they love come together over a brew.

These lifelong friends — Mark Bjornstad, Jesse Feigum, Mason Montplaisir and Darin Montplaisir — eventually shared the same affinity

for beer making. After brewing out of Bjornstad’s garage for a few years, their hobby soon transformed into something greater. Friends of friends became fans of their craft, and their desire to start a business grew along with their following.

Since October of 2014, Drekker has had a presence in downtown Fargo, but for our interview, we sat in the

bones of their latest endeavor: a beautiful monstrosity of a building just off 1st Avenue in Fargo that hasn’t been occupied since the ‘60s.

We talked about the friends’ history and even dug up some tidbits they didn’t know about each other, a feat none of them thought was possible.

Read on to discover more about some of Fargo’s most beloved hometown brewers.

DREKKER = a combination of Old Norse words: drekka - to drink / drykkr - a draft drink / drakkar - a Viking dragon ship 10 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

MARK BJORNSTAD

Hometown: Fargo Day job: Anesthetist at Sanford Position at Drekker: Captain of the Drekker Ship and Scientist Behind the Beer Good Life: Why Drekker? Where does the name come from?

Mark Bjornstad: We love this area, the Norse culture and Scandinavian heritage, so we wanted something that would echo that and tie into the fabric of this community, like the Hjemkomst ship. It’s a drakkar — a Viking dragon ship. It’s what they took into battle. A year after we opened we had a group come in from Iceland and they loved the brewery. They kept saying how cool the name was, and we were like, “Yeah, it’s the Viking ship and means ‘to drink.’” They were like, “No, it’s the Icelandic slang term to go out and share a pint and go out with your friends.” That’s really kind of kismet because we say our mission is that beer is our craft, but Drekker is a lot more than the contents of the glass. It’s about those glasses getting raised together.

GL: What is something even your Drekker family doesn’t know about you?

MB: One summer, when I was a kid, I made bolo ties and sold them.

GL: That was so much better of an answer than what I was expecting.

MB: My grandpa bought one.

GL: If you ever start that as a side business again, I will buy one for my boyfriend.

JESSE FEIGUM

Hometown: Barnesville Position at Drekker: Head of Nerdery (manages anything that beeps and boops), Logo Enlargement Specialist GL: How did you know you wanted to start Drekker and what was the process like?

JF: We kind of all got into brewing and became obsessed with that around the same time. It just seemed like the natural progression of things. We felt like if we didn’t do this, we’d kick ourselves for the rest of our lives.

GL: What is the secret to having a good beard?

JF: Don’t shave, no matter what others tell you.

GL: How about being a man?

JF: It helps, but it’s not entirely necessary. Don’t shave. Use conditioner — lots of it.

GL: Does the humidity affect it?

JF: Probably. Having a wife that likes it helps a lot. If you spend too much time worrying about your beard you’re going to overdo it. And go to a barber and get it trimmed every once in awhile.

GL: What is one thing your Drekker family doesn’t even know about you?

JF: I did not make bolo ties. When I was in second grade I wanted to start a business making rubber band guns. I made like 50 of them. They probably got thrown away. It was a short phase, but for about a week there, my plan to take over the world involved rubber band guns.

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HAVING A BEER WITH | DREKKER BREWING

DARIN MONTPLAISIR

Hometown: Moorhead Position at Drekker: Head Brewer, Yeast Wrangler and Master of Janitorial Arts Cousin: Mason GL: What’s the best combination of food and beer?

DM: A perfectly done steak with an IPA — but then again, the child in the back of my head is thinking of a chocolate ice cream paired with a stout at the end. That’s really all I’m looking for. Any of our chocolate-flavored beers paired with a dessert is the finale at the end and my favorite.

GL: What is your favorite kind of beer, though.

DM: Stop it.

GL: Sorry.

DM: I think the darker, wintrier beers. They can go in so many directions. They can be really thick, they can be big and chocolaty, and you can take the same beer and barrel age it and it turns into something completely different. I think I like those the best, the dessert-style beers.

GL: Was it freaky to break away from your old job and start this new venture?

DM: It still is. Every day is a wonderful combination of excitement and tons of fear. It’s this confused feeling. I walked away from something I was very confident in and good at into something I had to figure out on the fly. Every time we feel like we’re just getting comfortable, something else happens, like building this place. I have not felt comfortable for even a second, but I think that’s a good thing.

MASON MONTPLAISIR

Hometown: Moorhead Position at Drekker: Schmengineer, Chief of Hipster Relations Cousin: Darin GL: What’s a schmengineer?

MM: I graduated with an engineering degree and I was an engineer before this. Now I’m just a schmengineer. Jesse kept making it as a password for me and I could never spell it.

GL: Why do you like beer so much?

MM: It’s so versatile. You can do so many different things and reach so many people with beer. You can find a beer for anybody.

There are thousands of recipes, and you can add anything you can think of to beer. There will never be one beer that’s the same.

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GL: Do you have any unusual hobbies, like making beer-scented candles?

MM: We don’t have time for hobbies. I used to juggle really well. I honestly like to dance.

GL: What kind of dancing?

MM: Swing dance. Schwing dance. Schmengineering schwing dance.

GL: Other than schwing dancing, what other dances do you like?

MM: Is the worm a dance because I like to do the worm.

GL: It is. Any schalsa?

MM: The schwaltz.

What does living the good life mean to you?

• • • It’s going out and being able to share your crafts and being proud of what you do.

The best part of this for me is sharing what I love to do with people.

– Mason Montplaisir

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UNITING THE COMMUNITY Veteran, Musician, Advocate: Tom Hill

WRITTEN BY: BRITTNEY GOODMAN PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

Tom Hill, Director of Community Impact for United Way of Cass-Clay (UWCC) is a military veteran and musician who is living his calling of helping others and improving our community.

Hill grew up in Bismarck, where his parents still reside in his childhood home.

After high school, in 2000, Hill joined the Army, with basic training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri: “I joined the Army because I wanted to be a part of something bigger than me. I wanted adventure, travel and to have experiences I would otherwise not be able to have. I also liked the idea of duty and service.”

Hill served as a combat engineer and his first duty station was at Camp Howze, a couple of miles south of the demilitarized zone in South Korea.

Hill joined the North Dakota National Guard in early 2003. As part of a humanitarian peacekeeping mission in Bosnia from July 2003 – April 2004, he monitored the clearing of minefields to ensure the application of humanitarian standards so that the cleared areas would be safe for civilian use.

“One of the coolest experiences in my life was with the Bosnian minefields. This minefield was as large as a football field, taped off into lanes. The people clearing it used a yardstick and went centimeter by centimeter to test for mines. We stood with them. After one minefield was cleared, I witnessed a farmer bringing his sheep onto the cleared, former minefield. Something that was created in hate and anger and now, a decade later, it is a farm. It was like the minefield was never there. The farmer had an occupation again.” He added, “Being able to see that and know I was a part of doing something good gave me a sense of pride.”

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"Volunteering, studying abroad and the military gave me an understanding of the differences in people, and what unites us. Being able to make a difference and form partnerships is important.� – Tom Hill

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"Our community is not too big, not too small. It is the right size. It is becoming more and more of a progressive community. I like seeing that and being a part of that."

– Tom Hill

After the military, Hill attended Minnesota State University Moorhead (MSUM) on the GI Bill, earning his bachelor’s in Communication Studies and Spanish in 2008. While at MSUM, he studied abroad in Mexico: “I love Latin American history and PreColumbian civilization. Mayan and Aztec history and their astronomy, engineering, and architecture fascinates me.”

Post-graduation, Hill volunteered for a study abroad 4-month experience to Peru. He taught English to children from 5 to 17 years of age. The poverty he witnessed touched and galvanized him to do more than teach English.

The lesson plan “went out the window” and Hill focused on being a caring and positive influence. They played soccer, went to the zoo and made and ate food together.

After Peru, he knew he wanted to work to help people. His new position at United Way of Cass-Clay in 2008 was a perfect fit. Starting out managing the School Supply Drive and Day of 16 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

Caring for senior citizens, Hill worked his way to the Director of Community Impact where he now manages external investment strategies: “the process of strategically investing the money we raise back in the community.”

Life experience prepared him to be effective in his work: “Volunteering, studying abroad and the military gave me an understanding of the differences in people, and what unites us. Being able to make a difference and form partnerships is important.”

At UWCC, Hill said, “we work to understand the greatest needs in our community. We examine local data and national trends in areas of need such as child care, homelessness, workforce development, mental health. etc. How do these trends apply here? Then we mobilize individuals – we get the right people at the table – to form a strategy to reach a solution to the problem. Then we measure to see if what we are doing is working, and invest resources to do more.”

Improving early childhood education is one passion: “There is a ton of research about the importance of early childhood education and quality child care. When someone thinks investing in children now won’t show an impact for twenty years, they are wrong. It makes a difference. Children from third grade on need to read in order to learn. What we invest in early childhood will make them better prepared socially, emotionally and academically. Studies show young children who receive quality education and child care are less involved with juvenile justice and incarcerations.

Child care is a fundamental thing that we all should care about.”

Hill used this metaphor for bettering young children: “When is the best time to plant a tree? 15 years ago. We need to plant the trees now.”

Hill is devoted to his wife Linny; their four-month-old son, Shepherd; and their dog, cats, chickens and soon, ducks. He loves Fargo-Moorhead: “Our community is not too big, not too

small. It is the right size. It is becoming more and more of a progressive community. I like seeing that and being a part of that.”

Hill also enjoys playing drums in the band, Go Murphy: “Some people play golf, I play in a band,” finding it “an honest way of conveying emotions.”

“The good life” means this to Hill: “It is my wife, my son, my pets, my band and my work. I love what I do and where I am at. I sometimes think I don’t deserve what I have. It is staying grounded – realizing what I have, being humble and using my talents to help others. I’m a lucky person with a lot of great people in my life. I’ve had love and support and if I can give some of that back, great.” •

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ON THE COVER | WIL DORT

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Wil Dort

From Haiti to Haircuts WRITTEN BY: ALEXANDRA FLOERSCH PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

It’s the story of a childhood right out of a TV commercial, pleading “Feed the children,” “Donate just 63 cents a day” or “You can shine bright in the toughest places to be a child.”

No electricity. A hilly, exhausting walk to school. And each day came without a guarantee of his next meal.

Wil Dort, 33, was born into this life in Haiti.

Now the co-owner of Skill Cutz in Fargo, Dort recalls his early years without the amenities of modern, American living. He and his siblings grew up living with his grandma in the countryside, because his mother moved to the city to start a business in hopes of supporting the family.

“My life, it was very different than what you see here,” Dort recalled.

At just 4 or 5 years old, he would wake up at 6 a.m. to check on and feed the chickens, cows and pigs and make himself a little breakfast – whatever he could find – all before going to school.

“If you’re blessed enough where they serve lunch that day, you’ll get a lunch,” he explained. “(Lunch) wasn’t every day. It could be breakfast to dinner. You’d be blessed to get a snack in between.”

Typically, the schools were funded through missionaries, but now and then the pantry would get robbed.

“Times get hard and people look for a way out,” Dort said.

“We got a small allowance – maybe 50 cents or $1 for the week at the most. I could never budget so I’d use that to eat Monday and Tuesday, then it was gone.”

Living a 45-minute walk away from the closest river, just getting drinking water came with its challenges.

“The same place the animals were drinking – that’s where we had to drink, too,” Dort said. His trek to school looked similar – two hours each way.

“It wasn’t flat. You have to cross like two rivers and climb a mountain. It was quite the journey,” he recalled, able to chuckle about it now. “We were considered better off and more fortunate than most. As a kid, you’d never experienced anything different. That was the norm.”

A Step Below Heaven

Early on, Dort recognized the common goal shared by all Haitians.

“There’s 10 million people over there and everyone’s hoping and dreaming to make it to America. Heaven is here,” he said, setting the bar with his hand. “And America is here – right below heaven.”

For Dort and his family, that dream would eventually become a reality.

His father made the trek in 1994. He couldn’t read or write, but he learned how to sign his name on the way to America.

Working for $5 to $6 an hour at Federal Beef in Fargo, little by little he’d send money home.

“Unfortunately, he got us here on November 5, 1997 and then he passed away the fall of 2000,” Dort said. “That really took a toll on all of us. If he didn’t make the sacrifice, we would have never made it here.”

Ex-Con Turns Life Around to Open Skill Cutz Barbershop

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ON THE COVER | WIL DORT

"The home i grew up in.

Family of six - makes me realize how blessed i am today." - Wil Dort PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: WIL DORT

Finding His Wings

After his father died, Dort began testing his boundaries. He attended Fargo North but flunked his senior year.

“I was rebelling against my mom who was trying to raise me as a man,” he said. “The things she was saying – I know now were good for me – I didn’t follow.”

At 18, he moved out and was introduced to temptations he couldn’t resist. What started with marijuana and alcohol eventually escalated.

“It was a crazy, out-of-control spin in my life – just using, abusing and selling drugs,” he said. “It wasn’t long after that I found myself on the streets. I was evicted and didn’t have a place to sleep.”

From 2004 to the winter of 2005, Dort lived on his buddy’s trailer floor until an informant eventually busted him for selling methamphetamine. In the middle of the chaos, something told him to go to New York where his stepbrother lived. He shoved his clothes into a black, plastic bag, left his apartment and car to a buddy and told his girlfriend he was moving.

After successfully quitting drugs cold turkey in New York, Dort bounced back to his old ways when he returned to North Dakota in 2006.

With the chill of winter came a shocking phone call from his brother, asking "What are you doing in Fargo's Most Wanted?”

PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: WIL DORT WIL AND HIS WIFE MBANG

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As it turns out, two years prior his roommate had taken his sister’s car, gotten drunk, crashed it and left the scene of the crime. Law enforcement traced it back to Dort’s mother’s house and caught his friend red-handed. Because of his previous record, the friend gave Dort’s name as his own.

For whatever reason, Dort allowed it, paid the fees, performed community service and went to alcohol evaluation. Just when he thought he had paid his (friend’s) dues, he was pulled over on his 20th birthday and arrested on a warrant for a hit and run – dating back to the original incident.

"I spent three to four days in jail,” Dort said. “Where was the friend who was supposed to bail me out? Nowhere to be found.”

Thankfully, his girlfriend at the time, Mb (short for Mbang), came to the rescue. His future bride knew he was struggling and living on the street, but she never knew the full extent of his story.

“I ended up telling her everything. I feel like God was preparing me by clearing the air of everything I did," he said.

"I think it helped me keep her. Because she didn't know the person that was about to come out.”

Pedaling Toward Success

Even in Haiti, Dort started cutting hair at just 8 or 9 years old, so when he was looking for change, Mb helped him take the next step.

"Man, she's an angel,” he said. “She got me into barber school.”

Throughout school, he was still attending court for his charges. One day, he left school and didn’t return.

Unbenounced to him, Dort’s lawyer showed up late to court to inform him of the plea deal he had accepted without Dort’s knowledge on his behalf. He was sentenced to nine months in jail and was booked that day.

Worse yet? As a convicted felon, his financial aid would be cut off. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 21

ON THE COVER | WIL DORT

Thankfully, during his sentence, Dort was introduced to a program called the Jail Chaplains Association. In Haiti, his dad was a voodoo priest and Dort attended church stubbornly in Fargo as a kid, but never really found his faith.

"I knew I wanted to change. I felt like (Mb) was an angel and I was a demon,” he said.

"I believe God put us together. The things that I put her through – to stick with me – I believe only in Christ you find that kind of love.”

By the grace of God, a man looking to open a barber shop asked Dort to work for him.

However, without his license, Dort wouldn’t have been qualified… that is, until the man offered to pay for his education.

"When you start doing the right things, the right things start to happen,” Dort said. “I had to put my faith into action and my life started changing.”

Thankfully, he was granted school release and able to continue his studies. But with no other means of transportation, Dort was forced to ride his cellmate’s daughter’s purple bike from Cass County Jail to Moler Barber College in downtown Fargo. Sidewalks full of snow, it wasn’t an easy ride.

"I kept telling myself, 'I'm riding toward success,’” Dort recalled.

And little by little, his dreams grew larger. "I remember telling my cellies, ‘I'm going to open a barbershop.'

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One guy said, 'Yeah, everybody in here has a plan to do something with their life when they get out,'" he said.

Released in July 2007, Dort graduated from barber school as the “First Black Barber in North Dakota.”

Chasing One More Dream

After a few years working for someone else, Dort and a friend decided to chase their dream and finally open a shop of their own. But with nothing in the bank, Dort didn’t know where to start. By another near miracle, his high school teacher offers to loan him the money to get started.

Starting with just a $2,500 investment, Dort and his crew have since grown and expanded Skill Cutz, opening Skill Cutz Barber College in September 2017.

Now, Dort and two other licensed instructors teach eight students from their mid-20s to mid-40s, having just celebrated the business’s 10th anniversary in August. Today, he and AJ co-own the barber shop and their older brother, Louima, has just enrolled in their barber college.

"When you find your purpose in what you love to do, it makes (working) easier," he said. "Talking to and encouraging people, I find it fulfilling because you're changing a life – you're saving a life."

Rising Through the Smoke

Looking back at his trials and tribulations, Dort is thankful for the struggles.

"It's not impossible to get out,” he explained. “The room is like a smoke room. Where people are bouncing off the wall, there's a door. You gotta look for that door, and I believe my door is Christ. If you're looking for other things to get you out – drugs and all that stuff – it's only for a moment.”

For those who find themselves drowning in similar situations, Dort offers this advice: "Don't make hard impossible… it's hard. That's the story that's painted on a lot of ghetto streets or even in tough Haitian neighborhoods,” he said. "The world might make you do five push-ups. The world might make me do 10. But if I continue to do my 10 while the other person does their five, I'll be stronger.”

For Dort, the good life means “a Christcentered life with happiness and joy," he said. "No matter what the world says about you, where you've been or how you start, it's all about where you go.

It's about finding purpose and direction for your life." • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 23

IA

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TNE Y: BRIT IT TEN B

MAN

Y GOOD

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ED OAD M RBAN T U : Y B S PHOTO

“I made my first wood sculpture when I was 15.

I thought I could make a German Shepherd out of this log. I did it, although it probably looked more like a gargoyle, and I thought I had invented chainsaw sculpture!”

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The Good Life caught up with the lively, creative Dave Belling, “Chainsaw Dave,” to hear about his chainsaw wood and ice sculptures, his military service and philosophy of life.

This Fargo and Erie, ND native, has created many ice and wood sculptures around the region. And, yes, he literally creates them using his chainsaw.

A man with many stories, Belling’s trajectory moves from a North Dakota childhood to Marine Corps service in Afghanistan, to directing public works departments, and now, creating sculpture on his own terms.

Belling said, “I made my first wood sculpture when I was 15. I thought I could make a German shepherd out of this log. I did it, although it probably looked more like a gargoyle, and I thought I had invented chainsaw sculpture!”

Belling’s mother and father split when he was four years old: “I grew up between YMCA and The Ridge.”

He dropped out of high school when he was 16 and worked for his family’s tree service business.

Belling went into Marine Corps boot camp at San Diego, CA on August 27, 2007. Belling’s military service was in Afghanistan as a Corporal: “For the first six months, I was in a fire cell – fire support coordination center – where we would target individuals. The second six months we took the heartland from the Taliban.”

He received a Navy/Marine Corps medal for building a compound by himself. He also appeared in the Marine Corps magazine.

Belling then was a combat marksmanship coach at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at Parris Island SC, teaching young recruits how to shoot effectively: “It was one of the best things that I have ever done. I guarantee that I decreased combat fatalities from training those kids. I would also tell them that with power comes great responsibility.”

After returning from Afghanistan, he and his wife divorced: “I tore down my house and converted my garage into something like a camp.” Like many war veterans, he went into the woods for a “sense of security.” He continued, “I worked hard, and simply, then and sent all of my money to my ex-wife and daughter.”

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Belling now wants to use his influence “in a more positive way.” Belling sees much potential in our children: “Our current system is alarmingly failing our children. As adults, it is each and every one of our obligation to make a positive impact on our youth.

They are our future. ”

Of chainsaw art: “I had this undeniable magnetic pull to do it. But somehow, between my work, marriage and military, I always had to put it on the back burner.”

He added, “Chainsaw art has been my vent to help me through PTSD and suicidal thoughts which a lot of veterans experience.”

Belling wants to start a Chainsaw Dave’s Youth Camp to “put our energy into helping kids become good people: to let kids know they can be small business owners, they can be rock stars! Let me be your paradigm of hope. You do not have to follow the traditional path.” He envisions it as a 2-week boot camp and is looking for community partners or grants to help.

One of his favorite ice sculptures is one he created on the Veterans Memorial Bridge linking Fargo and Moorhead: “On one side there is a Marine struggling against a wall. And on the other side is a wife/mother and a child putting up a wall.” It reflected his personal experience.

He added, “I want people to know that although I fought in the war, I am an ambassador for peace.”

Belling also worked in two different North Dakota towns in Public Works for three years. As head of the public works department in Stanley, Belling said he quit due to a “good old boys network.” But after leaving: “I knew it was time to pursue my art.”

Before he left the position in Stanley, Belling had “promoted the eradication of Dutch Elm Disease by writing and receiving two $20,000 ‘America the Beautiful’ grants.” He described the second grant was “to replant flowering trees.” He added, “Sometime in the next ten years, I am going to go with daughter, Evelyn, on my chopper” and they will see the flowering trees that resulted from that planning.

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Another favorite was a guerrilla piece he did in front of Dempsey’s next to the painted bison. His friend, Brandon Yellowbird, modeled for an ice sculpture as a “proud Native American man two hundred years ago.”

Belling froze an ice arrow to the bison.

Belling is excited about his future. He and his partner are expecting twin boys this month – planning to name them Davidson Young Belling and Haakon Taylor Belling. Their nickname is already “The Beastie Boys”: “The future of the free world lies in Evelyn, Davidson and Haakon’s hands.”

As a next step, Belling wants to do a podcast “Confessions of a Chainsaw Artist: Chainsaw Dave Worldwide.”

Belling is open for commissions of ice and wood sculpture, including weddings and any other special occasions. He especially wants to tackle larger sculptures.

What does “The Good Life” mean to Belling? He unabashedly answered, “I did my fair share of trying to conform in school, the military, and more… trying to do things the way I was told. While I am thankful for those experiences, I know now that you need to follow your heart.

There is a compass inside of you. I feel like a cowboy. When I travel, I camp in people’s backyards and create sculptures.

There is much beauty in this life. Then I get to come back home to my ‘Beastie Boys’ sons and my daughter. I now listen to my heart.” • urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 27

fall Prepare for Winter with These 5 Fall Lawn Care Tips

LAWN CARE TIPS

WRITTEN BY: KATIE JENISON

Summer is coming to a close and soon sunny days at the lake will be replaced with cozy nights by the fire. Fall jackets will be pulled from storage, leaves will shift from green to vibrant shades of red and orange, and pumpkin spice everything will take over. Before you know it, it will be time to dust off your trusty shovel in anticipation of the first snowfall. Until then, it’s time to take advantage of the cool weather and get a head start on ensuring your lawn is healthy for the coming spring.

Taking care of your lawn doesn’t have to be a lengthy or stressful process. By implementing these five simple tips, your lawn will be in excellent condition when the weather turns warm again. •

1

keep mowing As the weather cools and the grass stops its rapid growth, it might be tempting to put away the lawn mower for good.

It may be surprising, but experts suggest continuing to mow throughout the fall. As fall draws to a close, drop the mower blade to its lowest setting for the final two mows.

This will allow more sunlight to penetrate the crown of the grass and reduce the amount of grass that turns brown.

2

weed control

Fall is when plants go into energy absorption mode, which makes it the perfect time to take a whack at weed control. By using weed killer in the mid-tolate fall, you can prevent weeds from returning in the spring. Most weed killers suggest using them while the temperature is still above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, so be sure to check the directions when selecting a weed killer.

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reseed Fall is also a wonderful time to fill any bare spots that may have accumulated over the summer. Most home and garden stores sell premixed bags

of grass seed, fertilizer, and mulch which takes the guesswork out of the process. Simply loosen the soil in the bare patch and spread an even layer of the mix on top. Lightly compact the soil to keep it from blowing away and give it a healthy amount of water. Keep watering every other day for two weeks to allow the grass seed to lay down roots.

fertilize

4

Fertilizing the lawn goes hand in hand with treating weeds in the fall. While the grass blades grow slower, the roots continue to grow rapidly, making the fall the optimal time to fertilize!

Applying a dry fertilizer in the mid-to-late fall allows the nutrients to penetrate more deeply and will give your lawn a healthy head start come spring.

rake the leaves

5

Raking leaves can seem like an endless task each fall but taking the time to clean them up is going to benefit your lawn in the long run. Leaving a blanket of leaves on the ground causes them to become heavy and wet due to rain and morning dew. Not only does this make it harder to clean them up later, it can also suffocate the grass and cause fungal diseases that are detrimental to your lawn. To make the task easier rake leaves as they fall rather than waiting for a large pile to accumulate. •

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LOCAL HERO | PATRIOT ASSISTANCE DOGS

A LIFE OF SERVICE PATRIOT ASSISTANCE DOGS OFFERS HOPE AND HELP FOR DOGS AND VETS

H

Had it not been for her daughter’s idea for a 4H project, Linda Wiedewitsch may never have ended up in the profession of training dogs to serve others.

Twenty years ago, her daughter Laura wanted to raise a puppy to become a service dog for the blind. Soon after, her other daughter Jess decided to raise a service dog as well, and just like that, Wiedewitsch was “hopelessly hooked”, and the seeds for Patriot Assistance Dogs were planted.

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But she didn’t start right away.

Wiedewitsch, who’s originally from Detroit Lakes, spent 31 years in law enforcement in Minnesota. After retiring in 2006, she decided to turn a hobby into a retirement job and opened Lucky Dog Boarding and Training Center.

“I just love dogs, and I enjoy helping people learn about their dogs and how to handle their dogs,” she said.

After opening the kennel, she received a request to assist with training a seizure alert dog. Then another request. Then another. One request involved training a service dog to assist a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) patient. She’s also assisted in training dogs for hearing, for children on the autism spectrum, mobility.

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WRITTEN BY: DANIELLE TEIGEN

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PHOTOS BY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA

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“This organization is about rescuing dogs, training dogs and letting the dogs rescue the veterans.”

Then, requests came in for dogs trained to assist veterans.

And Wiedewitsch realized that despite all the great agencies she’d built relationships with over the years, she had no contacts for that purpose.

“I knew of no one to refer them to, but veterans certainly deserve our help,” she said.

“They fought for us and helped guarantee our freedom.”

After doing some research, Wiedewitsch realized she was perfectly suited for the role. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 31

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LOCAL HERO | PATRIOT ASSISTANCE DOGS

“I already knew the public access portion and the training,” she said. “It’s just a matter of teaching the dogs and giving them permission to respond to things they are already sensing.”

manager in Detroit Lakes, screens unclaimed animals to ascertain if they’d be a good fit for PAD. “She’s very good at scouting dogs for us,” she says.

In 2011, Patriot Assistance Dogs placed its first two dogs in December, with them earning their official service dog certification by the spring of 2012.

PAD officially earned its 501(c)3 status in 2013. Since then, Patriot Assistance Dogs has trained 154 certified teams, which include the dog and its handler.

Another contact in Nebraska with Second Chance Pups keeps an eye out for ideal dogs for PAD. “We’ve had a dozen or more dogs from that (Nebraska) program,” she says.

A second chance

Wiedewitsch explained that the PAD program offers dogs a second chance at a better life. Her kennel rents space to The Marshmallow Foundation which has pound contracts with several local cities. Cassi Ohman, the pound 32 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

In addition, she works with the Marshmallow Foundation for the same reason - well behaved dogs that could live a better life.

“That’s part of the magic of Patriot Assistance Dogs -- between 70 and 80 percent of dogs we use as service dogs come from city pounds, reservation roundups, and surrenders.”

Wiedewitsch says the remaining dogs come from reputable breeders.

Training and temperament

Wiedewitsch said the ideal dog for the program is about a year old – puppies take too long to mature.

Dogs older than four or five years can be set in some bad habits and won’t be able to serve quite as long.

Once a dog is a program prospect, a complete medical workup evaluates the animal’s overall health. More important than its medical history is the dog’s temperament.

“Many of the dogs that come through a rescue organization realize this is my chance at a better life; they don’t like scavenging or sleeping outside,” she explained. “We look for dogs that would rather be with people than

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LINDA WIEDEWITSCH

“I just love dogs, and I enjoy helping people learn about their dogs and how to handle their dogs.” – Linda Wiedewitsch, Patriot Assistance Dogs trainer

other dogs. When we look for those characteristics, things have turned out well.”

In addition, the dog has to learn to be obedient in public and be tolerant of all the chaos associated with it. Wiedewitsch says part of the program involves training the dogs with firefighters, EMS personnel, ambulances, bus trips, and community events; it’s all part of understanding how the dog will behave when serving its human.

Once the dog passes the medical and temperament test, the animal trains 6 to 9 months before meeting a veteran. urbantoadmedia.com / THE GOOD LIFE / 33

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LOCAL HERO | PATRIOT ASSISTANCE DOGS

Down to business

Training dogs to serve humans is a serious business, and every dog has to pass the Canine Good Citizen test, the final check in a 10-step program developed by the American Kennel Club.

The dog also has to demonstrate its ability to perform the three tasks that will help mitigate the symptoms the veteran experience. Both evaluations are conducted by someone outside of PAD. Once the team has trained, the veteran and dog return home and spend a minimum of six weeks and a maximum of six months living together and acclimating to the new life.

A practical process

For veterans seeking a service dog, the process starts with a basic application and an inquiry about the top three things a dog would need to do or help the person with. In order to comply with the American Disabilities Act, Wiedewitsch says the dog must be able to perform specific tasks to mitigate symptoms. For example, a dog can be trained to wake a veteran who experiences anxious dreams, she says.

The dog is then trained to respond to its natural sensing of heart rate or respiration changes. Dogs can even sense adrenaline and blood pressure changes.

“They sense these changes before we as people are even aware they are happening,” Wiedewitsch says. They can calm the veteran before a panic or anxiety attack actually occurs.

Prior to acceptance, veterans have to provide information regarding their branch of service, dates of service and the terms of their separation from service, plus proof of treatment for mental health.

“A dog is not the silver bullet,” she says. “A dog won’t cure everything.”

That’s why the veteran has to supply 34 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

information about mental health treatment, and the provider needs to detail the diagnosis and how a service dog would be a good component of the treatment.

Veterans also need to supply information about a veterinarian that would treat the dog. “We’re very particular about the care of dogs,” she says. “We require that the dog be maintained at a healthy weight, be checked regularly, vaccinated properly.

This is the dog’s second shot at a good life for them, and it’s our responsibility to make sure the veteran will provide that.”

“Basically, we’re looking for whether the dog does at home what we have trained it to do,” she says.

If the dog does, the team returns to perform a public access and skills test conducted by a master dog trainer PAD hires to certify the dog. After that, the team is on a two-year probation to make sure the dog remains healthy, a check possible due to the veterinarian submitting records of annual checkups. Only after those two years and no infractions does the veteran take full ownership of the dog.

A life spent serving

Finally, the veteran provides a sponsor, a friend or relative who will check in regularly on the person and the animal. A sponsor agrees to keep PAD informed if unusual circumstances arise.

PAD wants to serve veterans, and the demand for trained service dogs is high. When the organization was first founded, it accepted veterans nationwide. Soon after, PAD shrunk its service footprint to make sure it could adequately serve the teams it was matching and training.

Once in, a veteran undergoes a weeklong training class to determine which dog is the best fit. Trainers may think they know which dog is right for a veteran, but often the dog identifies its own veteran.

Applications roll in consistently, and if the wait for an available class exceeds 12 months, the organization will suspend processing applications to make sure veterans don’t have to wait too long to receive a service dog.

“We as trainers have to sit back because the dogs don’t get it wrong,” she says.

PAD is a lean organization, with no full-time employees and only four part-

time employees who train, manage administrative tasks and track finances. The board of directors serves as a source of expertise and manpower, as the individuals often serve the organization during various training classes and events. Around 15 to 20 individuals regularly volunteer for PAD. When it comes to needs, like any nonprofit, PAD tries to maximize its budget as best as it can to continue serving veterans who need help from a trained animal. A qualified, experienced grant writer is needed, Wiedewitsch says, to seek other sources of funding for the organization.

“This organization is about rescuing dogs, training dogs and letting the dogs rescue the veterans,” Wiedewitsch says. “It’s not about making money; it’s about rescuing dogs and rescuing veterans.”

That’s what the good life is to Wiedewitsch - it’s giving a dog a new life, so it can, in return, give life back to a veteran.

“We take these dogs who want to work and make sure they are medically sound and give them to veterans who came back to a society they protected and that they want to be a part of.”

In addition to the daughters who initially inspired Wiedewitsch’s love of service dogs, she also cites her husband, Archie, as a major source of support and love.

“I couldn’t do it without him,” she says. •

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