The Vocella Graphic - March 14, 2024

No one can look at a pine tree in winter without knowing that spring will come again in due time.”

-Frank Bolles

In this issue

About Us

Vocella, Inc. (pronounced vō-chellä) is a multimedia company that aims to engage, excite, and empower people through compelling and entertaining products and services with a hyperlocal focus on community, business, arts, culture, and entertainment.

We are delighted to introduce the latest chapter in our journey: the Vocella Graphic. This newly designed newspaper boasts a sleek and modern aesthetic, featuring stunning artwork and informative articles. Crafting this visually captivating paper has been a labor of love, with our dedicated team painstakingly perfecting every aspect, from its appearance and tone to its expanded coverage area.

Furthermore, nestled inside, you will still find the trusted Community Shopper, complete with all the familiar content you’ve come to rely on. This includes classified ads featuring help wanted listings, rummage sales, and more, as well as business news, events, and community updates.

So, thank you for joining us as we continue to grow and do our very best to serve our communities.

Publishing & Sales Team

J.C. & Susan LaBar Owners/Publishers

Karolyn Moltzan General Manager/Lead Design

McKenna Layne Design/Social Media

Erica Kingston Editorial/Copy Editor

Christian Marshall Community Ambassador/Sales

KARY MOLTZAN, GM & Lead Design news@vocella.com

From the Designer: This Issue

Dear Valued Readers, Not everyone will like you.

As a recovering people-pleaser, this statement has been an incredibly tough one for me to swallow. And just when I think I’ve gotten it down and that it doesn’t matter to me anymore, it comes back to slap me in the face.

The truth is, it still hurts. But I’ve come to the realization that life isn’t always comfortable, and I have to decide which uncomfortable I’m willing to sit with: ‘being a people-pleaser to the point that I lose myself and become a doormat for others’ uncomfortable; or ‘that person doesn’t like me’ uncomfortable. Maybe wisdom really does come with age, because the older I get, the more I choose the latter.

It’s important to remember that everyone’s perception of you is filtered through their own experiences and biases. Their opinion of you may not even have much to do with you at all.

Most of all — we’re not meant to be everyone’s cup of tea. That’s why there are so many different flavors. Enjoy the liberation of knowing that not everyone likes you, and that’s okay. It means you are uniquely and authentically you. Embrace the diversity of human interaction and the richness different perspectives can give us.

Socials

honey, what other people think of you is none of your business

Cheers to being our OWN cups of tea!

Kary Moltzan

Find us on Facebook and Instagram: @thevocellagraphic and @thecommunityshopper

Web

Visit us online at www.vocellagraphic.com and www.communityshopper.com

Office

Profiles

Williston Concert Association rounds out season with Quartetto Gelato

2024-2025 CONCERT LINEUP LEADS UP TO 80TH ANNIVERSARY

The Williston Concert Association brought an array of performances to the community this year, ranging from swing music to tributes of singers past and classical piano.

Finishing off their 2023-2024 season, WCA is excited to bring Quartetto Gelato, an engaging quartet of violin, cello, accordion and woodwind, to the stage for the final concert of the year.

“We like to end our year on a positive and give a good bonus concert for new members,” WCA public relations and board member Jean Lindvig said. “They will be a very good stage presence with audience involvement and what a slew of different things that they do and variety of instruments. And who can resist an accordion? I just think it’s going to be a fantastic season.”

Quartetto Gelato will perform at the Bakken Auditorium at the Williston Middle School Central Campus on March 21 at 7 p.m. The group performs tango, gypsy and klezmer songs through their vocals and multi-instrumental performance that binds humor and music with passion. Quartetto Gelato is internationally known with an NPR performance, PBS broadcast and a song on the Hollywood movie “Only You” soundtrack. The WCA box office will open at 6:15 p.m. for tickets and memberships.

“(Quartetto Gelato is a) bonus concert to anyone who becomes a new member of the Williston Concert Association before or

on the night of the concert,” Lindvig said.

To appeal to (the next) generation … to help us carry on beyond our 80 years.

- Jean Lindvig, WCA board member

Membership for a season is $150 for a family, $60 for an adult and $ 30 for students, which includes five concerts for the season as well as reciprocity to the Dickinson and Watford City concert series. Memberships can be purchased at the concert on March 21, by emailing WCA at willistonconcertassoc@gmail.com or calling them at 701-570-2688.

2024-2025 concert lineup

The WCA board has sifted through all the performance offerings that their vendor, Allied Concert Services, has to offer and has chosen a lineup for the upcoming season that they hope will entice membership growth to be able to fund bigger shows for their 80th anniversary year in 2025-2026.

“We try to go to the flavor and genre that we know people will enjoy,” Lindvig said. “And we try new things once in a while, with some of the younger generation artists, to appeal to that millennial generation to try to get them involved and help us carry on beyond our 80 years.”

The five 2024-2025 concert performances will vary from patriotic to country and pop, rock and roll to Americana, gospel

and hymns.

Street Corner Symphony

Street Corner Symphony will kick off the new season with high energy brought by this five-voice acapella ensemble. Through gospel, rock and pop, the group’s music will appeal to young and old alike.

Letters from Home

Letters from Home, a patriotic, USOstyle show, will perform around the time of Veteran’s Day, bringing music from the classics of Frank Sinatra, the Andrews Sisters and Creedence Clearwater Revival through singing and dancing.

Jason Coleman

Jason Coleman brings new life to the music of his grandfather, Floyd Cramer, with a piano concert of country and pop classics. Coleman incorporates multimedia aspects to share personal photos, stories and films of growing up with his “grandad.”

Jared Freiburg and the Vagabonds

Jared Freilburg celebrates the early years of rock and roll with songs from Elvis to Sinatra. Bringing rock and roll, blues, jazz and

ERICA KINGSTON ekingmediawriter@gmail.com

Erica is a freelance writer and copy editor. She is a wife and mother of four and loves road trips and being out on the prairies of North Dakota.

country hits from the 1950’s, Freiburg and the Vagabonds showcase classic hits through piano, bass, vocals, drums and sound tech.

Land of Hopes and Dreams - Ernie Haas and Signature Sound

Ernie Haas and Signature Sound will be returning to Williston after being a well-received performance in the past. A mixture of Americana and hymns, Haas is a veteran of the Gaithers that leads a quartet of singers accompanied by a pianist, bassist and drummer. Land of Hopes and Dreams will be a bonus concert for new members going into the 2025-2026 season.

“This will be a nice concert with an artist that we know is quality and people have received well (in the past,)” Lindvig said.

For more information on the Williston Concert Association, visit their website at concertassociation.net/willistonnd. Upcoming concert information and artist biographies can be found online as well as sponsorship and membership options. A Quartetto Gelato video can also be viewed as a preview to their upcoming concert. Come early to the box office on March 21 to discuss questions on memberships, the 2024-2025 season and to purchase concert tickets.

Williston Concert Association

QUARTETTO GELATO | SUBMITTED PHOTO: QUARTETTOGELATO.CA

Town Hall Meeting for Infrastructure Safety Action Plan March 20th

BY VOCELLA STAFF news@vocella.com

WILLISTON — The City of Williston, in collaboration with SRF Consulting and Interstate Engineering and funded by the Federal Highway Administration, is hosting a Town Hall meeting on March 20 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Williston Community Library.

The meeting aims to gather community input for the Infrastructure Safety Action Plan, which will prioritize transportation projects based on crash data and public feedback to enhance safety in the area. Attendees will have the opportunity to view data visualizations, provide comments and

prioritize safety strategies during the open house-style event, with a brief presentation scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Williston residents are urged to attend and contribute to the identification of safety concerns and preferred recommendations, especially focusing on reducing fatalities and injuries from vehicle crashes for all road users, including pedestrians, bicyclists and underserved segments of the population. The plan will encompass all transportation systems within the city limits and aims to improve safety for everyone.

For more information, scan the qr code to view the official City of Williston press release.

Game and Fish offers wildlife food plot seed

BY VOCELLA STAFF news@vocella.com

NORTH DAKOTA — The North Dakota

Game and Fish Department is offering free seed for the 2024 growing season to landowners keen on establishing wildlife food plots for pheasants. This initiative goes beyond traditional food plots, featuring a diverse seed mix that offers plant variety, including flowering plants to attract insects, crucial for pheasant chicks’ diet. The mix also provides essential cover during spring and summer, alongside serving as a winter food source.

While most plots are part of the Private Land Open To Sportsmen program, this campaign doesn’t necessitate a contract. However, participating landowners are encouraged to allow reasonable public access

Williston Basin School District #7 invites public to learn more about the 2024 School Bond Referendum

BY VOCELLA STAFF news@vocella.com

WILLISTON — The Williston Basin School District #7 has set up a Bond Plan webpage that serves as a comprehensive resource for residents eager to learn about the upcoming school bond referendum. Detailed floor plans and a map outlining potential locations for the proposed new elementary school are available for exploration.

Central to the plan is the construction of a new elementary school, aimed at accommodating over 600 additional students. This move will facilitate the relocation of fifth grade back into elementary schools from Williston Middle School Central Campus. Furthermore, the initiative aims to ensure elementary facilities operate at or below the desired student-to-classroom ratio of 25:1 and gradually phase out non-permanent

modular classrooms as additional projects are approved.

The proposed school’s location will be determined by WBSD#7 by the end of March, with two potential areas under consideration: Williston Square (old airport) and the vicinity of 11th St W and 32nd Ave W. Each site is planned to feature off-street pick-up and drop-off areas, busing facilities as well as playgrounds and fields. The project carries a budget of $55 million, covering construction, site acquisition, design, furniture, equipment and site features. WBSD#7 is contributing 36.3% of the total project costs from the Building Fund, presenting a referendum ask of $35 million to the public.

The “BOND PLAN” webpage can be found by scanning the QR code with your smartphone.

CDL testing site added in Watford City

BY VOCELLA STAFF news@vocella.com

WATFORD CITY — The North Dakota Department of Transportation has announced the addition of six new communities, including Watford City, to offer commercial driver’s license testing, aiming to enhance accessibility for rural residents.

These new locations are expected to alleviate wait times and travel distances for potential truck or school bus drivers seeking certification tests. Despite lacking physical office locations in these newly added testing sites, the Department will deploy staff to meet drivers at their scheduled exam locations, effectively expanding testing availability.

With state test sites now totaling 14 communities, including Williston, the initiative aims to streamline the testing pro-

cess. Lawmakers allocated funds for two full-time employees to administer tests at the new sites, adding approximately 50 new exam slots monthly to expedite the testing timeline. This move not only benefits rural school bus drivers but also enhances opportunities in the freight industry, potentially attracting more workers due to quicker test scheduling.

Interested drivers can schedule appointments online or via phone, ensuring a smoother process facilitated by the Department’s online tools and appointment-based CDL road tests.

From ‘CDL testing added in 6 more North Dakota towns’ by Michael Achterling found at dakotamonitor.com. Read the full story by scanning the QR code with your smartphone.

for hunting purposes, without charging a fee. Interested landowners must sign up online by April 5, with seed distribution scheduled for April at Game and Fish offices across multiple locations, including Bismarck, Jamestown, Devils Lake, Harvey, Dickinson, Williston and Riverdale.

Game and Fish private land biologists are available to offer technical assistance on food plot location and site preparation, while those seeking further incentives can explore eligibility for the PLOTS program by contacting a private land biologist at any Game and Fish office statewide or emailing ndgf@nd.gov.

From the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. Find more information by scanning the QR code.

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Over $100 million in electric infrastructure in North Dakota

BY VOCELLA STAFF news@vocella.com

NORTH DAKOTA — USDA Rural Development State Director Erin Oban has announced nearly $150 million in electric infrastructure funding across North Dakota, part of efforts to enhance rural electric systems’ affordability, reliability and sustainability.

These funds, distributed through programs like the Electric Infrastructure Loan and Loan Guarantee program and the Powering Affordable Clean Energy program, aim to reduce electricity costs for families and businesses, prevent power outages and strengthen economic growth in remote communities. Prioritizing disadvantaged areas and emphasizing renewable energy systems and smart-grid technologies, the initiative supports over two million rural residents’ access to reliable electricity, fostering economic opportunities and improving quality of life.

“For decades, USDA Rural Development has helped leaders of North Dakota’s rural electric cooperatives access the resources they need to build, improve, connect and deliver power to our rural friends and neighbors,” said Oban. “President Biden’s announcement today of federal investments

of more than $140 million in our state’s rural electric systems helps to maintain affordability and reliability, sustains our state’s economy and major industries, and supports the great quality of life offered in North Dakota’s most rural and remote communities.”

The investment in North Dakota includes projects such as improving transmission lines and expanding access to reliable electricity for rural residents. This funding signifies a significant step in rural electrification efforts, aligning with broader objectives to revitalize rural infrastructure, promote clean energy adoption and encourage equitable economic development.

To read the full press release from ND USDA, scan the QR code.

Corn planting hack

BY KARY MOLTZAN news@vocella.com

Corn needs to be spaced about ten inches apart. Rather than planting in rows with ten inches between them, Our Sanctuary Garden has a hack for maximizing space in the garden by staggering the pants in each row.

Using a 10-inch triangle as a guide, she maximizes the space, creating less distance between rows, but still ensuring a ten inch radius for each plant.

For more from Our Sanctuary Garden, follow the QR code by scanning with your smartphone to view the original reel on Instagram.

Companion planting

BY KARY MOLTZAN news@vocella.com

Last week I mentioned that now is a great time to get your seeds started indoors. But there can be a lot more to garden planning than just getting the seeds in the dirt.

Companion planting is an idea that has been on my list of “things to learn” for quite some time. It involves strategically planting different crops together to benefit one another in various ways. It’s a great way to efficiently use the space in your garden by planting vegetables and flowers together in arrangements that benefit both, and can even help protect your plants from insects.

Companion planting can be a highly effective way to save space in your garden by planting early, short-season crops in the same bed as later maturing crops. For example, you could plant lettuce and spinach in the early season, then after harvesting them, transplant your pepper or tomato plants that have already started into those now vacant areas. Something as simple as planting rows of carrots and radishes together in rows with less distance between can save space, rather than having all the rows of your garden equidistant apart, since they don’t need a large radius for growth.

Companion planting can also be beneficial to the health of the soil itself. According to the University of Minnesota Extension,

planting plants with different root structures near each other can help aerate the solid and allow them pull nutrients from different parts of the soil profile:

• Plants with taproots or tubers like carrots or potatoes can help to break up compaction in the soil.

• Deep-rooted crops like melons and tomatoes pull water and nutrients from deeper in the soil profile. Adding legumes like peas, beans and clover to your garden is another great way to maximize soil health.

• Legumes fix nitrogen from the atmosphere and reduce your total fertilizer needs.

• Legumes such as snap peas or green beans can be planted as a crop you plan to harvest, or you can sow a legume cover crop underneath your main crop, such as sowing cowpeas under sweet corn in a garden bed.

The very first time I’d ever heard of companion planting was in a Facebook post talking about the “Three Sisters” model, which first developed in Mesoamerica and has been used by many indigenous peoples, including Mandan tribes, for hundreds of years. It combines corn, beans and squash which physically support each other for optimal growth. Beans help fertilize the corn and squash by providing nitrogen. Corn gives the beans a solid stalk to climb. Squash provides groundcover that can help deter some weeds from growing under its large leaves, as well as

preventing animals like raccoons from eating the corn.

Other pest and insect management can be achieved from companion planting, also. Some plants can use smell to either repel insects away from the area, or attract insects to a different location. You can also use certain plants to attract predator insect species that will feed on the pests in your garden. There are numerous specific insect-plant combinations that can target certain problem areas, as well. Scan the QR code at the end to read more about those — there are just too many to describe here!

I, by nature, am a planner, so it’s surprising to me that I’ve never taken more time to plan out my garden before. We’ve always just gotten the seeds we want to eat and put them in rows! This year, I intend to take my time doing a bit of research on the specific vegetables we want, and how we can companion plant them with each other and/or flowers to maximize our harvest this fall.

Are you enjoying this content? Let us know! Drop us a line and let us know how we’re doing, or what kind of articles you’d like to see! Have an area of expertise you’d like to share - we’d love to print it! Email news@vocella.com today!

For more helpful information on companion planting visit the University of Minnesota Extension website by scanning the QR code!

More garden planning resources

For even more information on Three Sisters planting, companion planting charts and vegetable garden guides, another great resource is the Old Farmer’s Almanac online. At almanac. com you can find an online garden planner that helps you map out YOUR garden including the best layout, and can even tailor your plant and harvest dates to your climate using a database of over 5000 weather stations.

University extension programs are also great sources of information when it comes to gardening. The Williams County NDSU extension is a great contact for finding information specific to this growing zone. Call 701-577-4595 or email NDSU.

Williams.Extension@ndsu.edu.

Another free resource, as I’ve mentioned before, is Instagram. Just recently I found the account The Purposeful You (see QR code) who specializes in helping take the guesswork out of gardening. From how to plan your garden, soil type, what to plant and what to plant together and more, The Purposeful You is there to help you begin your garden, even if you don’t know where to start.

CARROTS AND RADISHES GROWN SIDE BY SIDE MAXIMIZES SPACE IN YOUR GARDEN.

| PHOTO: VITAMINGREEN, FLICKR

Culture

The Bookshelf Book review: “What Alice Forgot”

“What Alice Forgot” isn’t the type of book I’d usually pick up, but after reading the description, I couldn’t resist giving it a chance. It sat on my mom’s bookshelf for quite some time before I finally decided to dive in, and in hindsight, I wish I had opened it sooner. The experience was truly captivating.

Title: “What Alice Forgot”

Author: Liane Moriarty

Genre: Domestic fiction, psychological fiction

Summary

At twenty-nine, Alice Love is happily married and expecting her first child. However, her world shatters when she regains consciousness on a gym floor, only to learn that she’s now 39, in the midst of a divorce and a mother of three. As she grapples with the shock of a lost decade, Alice embarks on a journey to piece together the events that led to her altered reality. Along the way, she confronts strained family relationships, the mystery of her transformed appearance and the question of whether forgetting is a blessing or a curse. In her quest to start anew, Alice must navigate the complexities of reconstructing not only her memories but her entire life.

Review

I absolutely loved “What Alice Forgot.”

“WHAT ALICE FORGOT” BY LIANE MORIARTY

While I may not directly relate to Alice’s experiences, being not even twenty yet and far from having a family of my own, the book offered a fascinating perspective on life. For me, it keeps me thinking about who and what I want to be. It also sheds light on the effects of those around us on us.

Alice’s journey of rediscovering ten years of forgotten memories is both challenging and compelling, especially when faced with cautious and unhelpful surroundings. Transported back to her twenty-nine-year-old

self, Alice grapples with the stark contrast between her current life and the hopeful mentality of her younger self. The mystery surrounding “Gina” adds an intriguing layer. This name surfaces repeatedly, creating a puzzle for Alice to solve alongside recovering her memories.

What sets this book apart is its exploration of not only Alice’s reflections but also those of the people around her. Her resurfaced memories color her interactions, prompting those close to her to confront their own pasts and reflect on the changes of the past decade. The narrative unveils a transformation in Alice, from a somewhat distant and superior individual to a more uplifting character. Her newfound hopefulness improves relationships, especially with her children, and facilitates the repair of her bond with her sister.

Liane Moriarty’s unique writing style, featuring third-person narration interspersed with letters and journal entries from Alice’s sister, Elizabeth and adopted grandmother, Frannie, adds additional perspectives to the unfolding events.

In summary, “What Alice Forgot” is a well-crafted, emotionally rich and multifaceted narrative that seamlessly blends humor and sadness. It encourages deep contemplation and showcases Moriarty’s exceptional talent in delivering emotional dialogues and intricate storytelling. In the grand scheme of things, this book is downright brilliant, and

Reviewed by

MCKENNA WALTER mckenna@vocella.com

McKenna is a graphic designer for Vocella, Inc. In her spare time she is an avid reader and crocheter.

I’m willing to bet that if I revisit it in the future when I’m knee-deep in the chaos of family life, it’ll still dish out an utterly amazing perspective.

The benefits of audiobooks for book lovers

People who love to read often get lost in a good book. Reading is a beloved hobby across the globe. But even avid readers cannot be immersed in books all of the time, or can they?

Reading while driving or engaging in other tasks is challenging or even dangerous, but audiobooks provide a way to enjoy a good story even when you're otherwise engaged. Though dedicated readers may feel like they're "cheating" by turning to audiobooks, these alternatives to traditional books can be beneficial in various applications, particularly among learning-disabled individuals or second-language learners.

Audiobooks have grown in popularity. Data from the Audio Publishers Association indicates that audiobook sales reached $1.2 billion in 2019. That figure supports the notion that audiobooks can provide a host of benefits to people who can't wait to begin their next page turner.

• Improve punctuation and fluency: Au-

diobooks tend to be read by professional narrators or even well known actors and actresses. Listening to audiobooks can help people learn proper pronunciation of words, how to read with punctuation in mind and also to take notice of speed, stresses and pauses that are important in developing reading fluency.

• Introduce new material: Reading Rockets, a resource for teaching reading, says audiobooks may introduce readers to books above their reading levels or to subjects they may not normally delve into.

• Expand vocabulary: Listening to audiobooks can introduce readers to new words and teach readers how to pronounce unfamiliar dialects or old literary styles.

• Experience vivid images: Audiobooks may evoke feelings of what it was to be read to as a child. According to Psychology Today, listeners can use the narrator's words and

form mental pictures of characters and the plot.

• Escapism: Rather than listening to music while commuting, exercising or doing work that doesn't require much concentration, people can use audiobooks to stimulate their minds.

• Relax and relieve stress: Audiobooks can help people feel happy, thus improving their overall health. Relaxing voices and vivid scene descriptions can soothe a person and even help them get ready to sleep.

• Manage time more effectively: A notable benefit of audiobooks is that they can be utilized as people perform other tasks, helping to free up time throughout the rest of the day while still ensuring people get to enjoy a good story.

Wellness Wednesday

National

Living Well Month:

Social, emotional and spiritual wellness

The National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences proudly celebrates National Living Well month every year in March. Living well involves all eight areas of wellness: physical, emotional, spiritual, financial, environmental, occupational, social and intellectual. You can think of these eight areas as a wellness wheel. We want to strive for balanced wellness wheels. If we are doing well in most areas, but not very good in a few, our wheel won’t be round and it won’t roll right. Take time this month to address any areas needing improvement in your wellness wheel.

Let’s take a deeper look into social, emotional and spiritual wellness. These areas are just as important as physical wellness. When they are taken care of, we feel more happy, fulfilled and life is full of meaning. When they are not taken care of, it can bring us down and cause both mental and physical illnesses.

Social wellness involves having healthy relationships with friends, family and community, as well as caring about the needs of others. You should have contact with

a supportive person in your life each day. Supportive people are encouraging, kind, allow you to be yourself and make you feel fulfilled and happy. Find the time to laugh and enjoy spending time together as this improves overall wellness.

Emotional wellness is the ability to express feelings, adjust to emotional challenges and cope with life stressors. To improve emotional wellness you can reflect on emotions daily to acknowledge your feelings and learn about your strengths and weaknesses. Allow time for self-care, as this will keep your spirits and emotions up. This can be social by visiting with friends or a group; physical in the form of yoga, meditation or sports league; or mental with positive affirmations or taking a break.

Spiritual wellness is our deepest sense of purpose and meaning in life. It can be unique for everyone as it is our beliefs, values and morals that help give us guidance and direction in life. Spiritual wellness can only be improved through taking the time for meditation, prayer or reflection to gain a deeper understanding of oneself.

If you are not sure how well you are in

these areas, consider these questions:

Are you okay with spending time alone or time to retreat? This is part of being spiritually well.

Do you know what your stressors are and how to cope? This is a sign of emotional maturity.

Do you care about others and others care about you? This is an act of being socially well..

Do you talk positively and supportively to yourself and others? This is part of being socially and emotionally well.

Do you see challenges as opportunities for growth? This is a sign of an emotionally well person.

I hope you are able to find time this month to reflect on the eight areas of wellness and discover how well balanced your wellness wheel is. Checkout last week’s topic of Physical Wellness if you missed it and stay tuned for next week’s areas of Financial and Occupational Wellness. Until next time, continue extending knowledge and changing lives with NDSU Extension.