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Sunday, April 29, 2018
Relax & unwind Mary Frisbee’s new noir novel Beach reads Cowboying, Hawaiian-style
2 | Sunday, April 29, 2018
THE GOOD LIFE | THE COURIER
Noir, noir Get to know mystery novelist and mixed media artist Mary Frisbee Johnson
M
MELODY PARKER
ary Frisbee Johnson is pretty certain about one thing: Her sisterin-law isn’t going to like reading Johnson’s new book, “Black Fin.” “She loves reading mysteries, and she’s told me she wants to read mine, but ‘Black Fin’ is dark. It’s not a cheerful, cozy mystery. This is noir mystery,” says Johnson, professor emeritus in drawing at the University of Northern Iowa. Noir crime fiction by writers like Raymond Chandler, James Ellroy and Ann Cleves, have entranced generations of audiences with their hard-boiled, alcohol-marinated characters, floozies, dames, moral ambiguity and reeking cynicism. Noir movies, particularly from the 1930s and ‘40s — “The Big Sleep,” “The Maltese Falcon,” “The Third Man,” “Double Indemnity,” and later, “Chinatown” and “L.A. Confidential” — are beloved by film buffs. Johnson’s book was chosen winner of North American Review’s Gas Station Pulp contest and is expected to be published within the next few months. The author is one of those people who has never let a parking ticket go unpaid – “I’m such a law-abiding person” – so she marvels a little at being able to write such an “unreliable narrator” as a lead character. In “Black Fin,” Olive Wiley is planning to end her life in a Pacific sea cave when a dead woman and living child are dumped in the flooding cave. Reluctantly, she helps the child and just may find some
redemption while fleeing a killer along the rugged Oregon coast. “Olive is a thief, a liar and computer hacker who has been brought to the brink. She’s such an interesting character and for me to write someone who is so totally opposite from me, to deal with such a dark side to her life, has been really intense.” Johnson had already electronically published three books before she entered — and won — the North American contest. “I was ecstatic. I had had so much difficulty trying to get my first three mystery novels published, so when they said ‘Black Fin’ was going to be published, I was thrilled.” She’s also working on her fifth book, but writing is just one of her interests. Johnson is also a mixed media artist who is widely exhibited throughout the U.S. and whose work is in the London’s British Museum. Her artwork includes one-ofa-kind narrative brooches fabricated in sterling silver, copper and brass combined with lithographed tin from advertising tins, product containers and toys manufactured over the past 130 years. Many of her pieces will be displayed in an invitational group exhibition in March, “La Frontera: Encounters Along the Border” in New York City, and a juried international exhibition, “By Hand: International Biennial Fine Craft Exhibition” in Sacramento, Calif. “I’ve made art since the early 1970s, and my works always seem to be narrative and tied to my love of reading and writing. Some of it is issue-oriented, and I can put
J. MARK MCILLWAIN PHOTOS
Sunday, April 29, 2018 | 3
THE COURIER | THE GOOD LIFE
my point of view across in my brooches,” she explains. Earlier in her career, Johnson made large-scale drawings, but a knee injury and botched surgery forced her to sit down. She taught herself metalsmithing and began working with sterling silver and haunted garage sales, auctions and second-hand stores, as well as searching eBay and etsy sites for materials. “Collecting is part of my life. The smallness of the work appeals to me – making a small sculpture and have it make an impact. I love the idea of brooches and wearable art. Wearing a pin is like a little billboard that silently says what you have to say.” She later had her knee repaired at Mayo Clinic while directing the art department at UNI. Not long after retiring from the University of Northern Iowa, where she was a professor of drawing and former art department head, Johnson and her husband Mark pulled up stakes and moved to the Oregon coast. “I loved Iowa. It’s a beautiful
place with wonderful people, but it’s not my beach.” Johnson, who grew up in Montana, had lived in coastal Oregon before graduate school, and then spent her professional career in the Midwest. “But my heart and soul is on the ocean. We bought a house on the beach 12 years ago, and we came out every summer for 12 years and my husband worked on renovating the house. Our plan was when we retired, we’d
live in this teeny house and look for a bigger place, but we feel like we’re home.” Now, with Tori at her side, a five-year-old dog she rescued from a shelter, Johnson walks along the beach every day. “It’s just the best. I thought for 42 years and waited so long and worked so hard to live by the ocean that it makes me so happy. It doesn’t matter if it is raining or blowing or nice, I’m happy to be on the beach with the dog.”
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4 | Sunday, April 29, 2018
THE GOOD LIFE | THE COURIER
The best beach reads for the summer
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eed some tasty reading for a lazy day spent poolside or on the beach? These reviews are from the Washington Post. “Giant: Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Edna Ferber, and the Mak-
ing of a Legendary American Film” by Don Graham, St. Martin’s. Ostensibly a study of director George Stevens’ classic American western “Giant,” Don Graham’s new book is also a chronicle of the 1950s. The film’s stars, locations and pro-
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duction shenanigans reflect the ducktail, fender-fin decade, which means opening the pages of this book is like breaking into a time capsule. Graham begins in May 1955, when Warner Bros. launched its film adaptation of Edna Ferber’s best-seller with a press event at its commissary, renamed that day as the Chuck Wagon. His account then moves to location shooting. During one of the final days of shooting, James Dean, died in a car crash. Before he died, Dean brought a classic ‘50s generational conflict to the production, with the young actor living out his eponymous role in “Rebel Without a Cause.” But Stevens saw beyond Dean’s crude, obstreperous behavior. Daily rushes caught the Method actor bringing a startling naturalism to his scenes, along with three other supporting actors, Dennis Hopper, Carroll Baker and Earl Holliman. Together, they represented a sea change in acting style that percolated throughout the decade. “Varina” by Charles Frazier, Ecco. Frazier’s first novel, “Cold Mountain,” was not only a massive best-seller about the Civil War, it was also a critical success. In the 20 years since that spectacular debut, Frazier has published sparingly. But now, with his superb new novel, “Varina,” he has circled back to the Civil War with a story about Varina Howell Davis, the wife of the only president of the Confederate States of America. Frazier’s historical research generally sits lightly on the story, almost always embedded gracefully in dialogue, a small telling incident or a sharp memory of kindness or brutality. His prose is both of the characters’ time and perfectly evocative. “Macbeth” by Jo Nesbo, Hogarth. The Norwegian novelist Jo Nesbo’s adaptation of
“Macbeth” is a variation on the known-outcome thriller. We come to the novel not only with an awareness of how the play turns out (not so hot for the title character), but also with a cauldron of memorable features bubbling in our brains— the soothsaying witches, the compulsive hand-washing, Banquo’s ghost and at least a smattering of the poetry. Here, the fun comes from watching a crack storyteller put his noir stamp on one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. The new “Macbeth” takes place circa 1970, not in a kingdom but in a nominal democracy with a tendency to elect strongmen. By eliminating rivals and superiors, Macbeth hopes to slay his way into the mayor’s office of the industrial city in which he lives, and then — well, to borrow from another Shakespeare play, perhaps there will be a tide in his affairs, taken at the flood.
Paperbacks
Here are a half-dozen recent paperbacks worth a look: “Magpie Murders” by Anthony Horowitz (HarperCollins, $16.99). One of my favorite mysteries of last year, Horowitz’s book is part classic-English-village-whodunit and part sly satire of publishing. “A Separation” by Katie
Kitamura (Penguin, $16). In her review, Melinda Bargreen described Kitamura’s book, about a wife searching for her estranged husband in Greece, as “a taut little novel with … disquieting observations about secrets, lies, and the ways in which we all are impenetrable to each other.” “The Night Ocean” by Paul La Farge (Penguin, $17). Reviewer Michael Upchurch called this novel, which explores a labyrinthine, elusive chapter in the life of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft, “a heady masterpiece.” “House of Names” by Colm Tóibín (Scribner, $16). Tóibín draws from Greek myth to create this novel, providing, as reviewer David Wright wrote last year, “a stunning and intensely satisfying immersion in bloody vengeance that would do Aeschylus proud.” “No One Is Coming To Save Us“ by Stephanie Powell Watts (Ecco, $16.99). The inaugural pick for the American Library Association’s Book Club Central last year, Watts’ book is inspired by “The Great Gatsby,” but finds its own gentle Southern music. “The Force” by Don Winslow (HarperCollins, $16.99). Better read it soon, as that movie’s on the way: Oscar nominee Scott Frank (“Logan”) is at work on the screenplay.
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THE COURIER | THE GOOD LIFE
A view of the Parker ranch on the big island in Hawaii SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
Aloha, pardner: Riding the Hawaiian range JULIAN SMITH
Special to the Washington Post
C
oncho wants to gallop. I can tell. He’s a horse, after all, a headstrong one, and rippling green hills spread in every direction. Every so often, a break in the clouds reveals the barren summit of Mauna Kea to the south. But galloping is still a little ways outside my skill set, so with a twinge of guilt I pull the reins to keep my mount at a slow trot. He makes his disappointment clear with a snort and a toss of his head. The pace does make it easier to soak in the landscape of the 300-acre Dahana Ranch in the upcountry of Hawaii’s Big Island. Rocky outcroppings add a touch of Scottish cragginess to vivid, green slopes. The air is cool at 3,000 feet, and the sporadic kiss of rain makes the flashes of sun seem all the brighter. Longhorn cows linger near the ranch buildings where our four-person group saddled up an hour ago. Herschel Shermis and Ann Potter were childhood sweethearts who reconnected 40 years later and picked up right where they left off. He wanted to show her his favorite spots on her first visit to the Big Island. They were traveling for a week — “the shortest week of our lives,” she says — and rid-
ing at Dahana Ranch was on his must-do list. You could almost see the hearts in their eyes. Our guide, wrangler Jackie Henning, is young and enthusiastic, revealing her Chicago roots by peppering her instructions with “y’know.” After making sure each of us can operate the equine equivalent of brakes, gas and steering wheel, she leads us south toward the volcano. The term “Wild West” usually conjures up images of places with names such as Deadwood and Cheyenne, not Hilo or Waimea. But decades before cowboys roamed the American heartland, paniolos — Hawaiian cowboys — were herding cattle through the forests and across the beaches of Hawaii. In 1793, explorer George Vancouver arrived at Kawaihae, Hawaii, with a gift for King Kamehameha I: six longhorn cows and a bull. Horses followed soon after. Thanks to a royal decree that made killing them punishable by death, wild cattle proliferated wildly throughout the islands, tearing up taro patches and goring civilians. In the 1830s, King Kamehamea III brought over a handful of cowboys from Spanish Mexico to teach locals how to
herd on horseback. The result was the paniolo. (The word is a Hawaiianized version of “español.”) By 1900, ranches covered nearly a third of Hawaii, especially on the Big Island and Maui. At one point, the Big Island boasted the largest ranch under individual ownership in the United States: the 225,000-acre Parker Ranch, started with a two-acre land grant from King Kamehameha I in 1816. Although Hawaii’s cattle heyday is past, paniolos still work on a handful of ranches, and their lifestyle left an indelible mark on the islands’ landscape and culture — especially in the preservation of the Hawaiian language, which they spoke almost exclusively. At the Dahana Ranch, the Nakoa family and some two dozen horses keep watch over a herd of about 150 cross bred Brahman cattle. Ku’uipo Nakoa, 26, is of the fourth generation of her family to work here. After an hour, we’re at the far end of a wide, winding loop around the ranch property. It’s time to turn from mauka (heading inland) to makai (toward the coast). Soon, we’re looking over the Please see HAWAII, Page 6
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6 | Sunday, April 29, 2018
THE GOOD LIFE | THE COURIER
JULIAN SMITH PHOTOS, WASHINGTON POST
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ABOVE: Dahana Ranch is a working ranch, with a herd of about 150 crossbred Brahman cattle. ABOVE LEFT: Riding guests at Dahana Ranch on Hawaii’s Big Island can borrow cowboy boots.
Hawaii From 5
edge of a steep slope lined with volcanic boulders. At Henning’s instruction, we let our horses pick their own way down. As a maybe-once-ayear rider, this is near the edge of my comfort level. Other ranches offer a range of rides for would-be paniolos of all levels. For novices, Paniolo Adventures has an hour-long “city slicker” ride on the 11,000-acre Ponoholo Ranch, at the foot of the Kohala Mountains at the north end of the Big Island. Experienced riders can get their gallop on during a fourhour Wrangler Open Range Ride. Those of us who fall somewhere in between can choose between morning or afternoon excursions, or even catch sunset
from 3,000 feet. On the southwest side of Maui, the Triple L Ranch takes visitors on ranch tours to check the cattle for anywhere from 90 minutes to more than six hours. Routes range from rocky beaches to ancient lava flows on Haleakala Crater, with guides pointing out archaeological sites along the way. For a more typically romantic Maui experience, Lahaina Stables does a sunset ride into the foothills of Launiupoko Valley, complete with champagne and chocolate-dipped fruit. Western Week in Honokaa, in late May, features line dancing, a paniolo parade and a Portuguese bean soup and sweetbread contest, among many other events. The Parker Ranch, still the ninth-largest cow-calf operation in the United States, hosts
a rodeo and horse races over the Fourth of July weekend. Come for the Cowboys Got Talent show, stay for Hula Mama’s Funnel Cakes and Aunty Peaches Onolicious Poi Balls. Even when the ranch buildings come back in sight, there’s no rush to finish. “Let’s not head straight back,” Henning says. “Don’t want to make the horses barn-sour,” or overeager to get back. At the barn, we’re greeted by a pair of fat, fuzzy Australian shepherd puppies and three or four Jack Russells; they move so fast, it’s hard to tell how many. Shermis and Potter are both glowing. His plan clearly worked. I’m thinking, next time, I’ll have to bring someone myself. Information: gohawaii.com/ islands/hawaii-big-island or paniolopreservation.org
Sunday, April 29, 2018 | 7
THE COURIER | THE GOOD LIFE
Medieval meets modern in charming Kilkenny, Ireland That 16th-century painting of a white-faced Queen Elizabeth I? Women used heavy white paste to cover the pock marks left from smallpox. A staircase led down to the pitch-roofed picture gallery, a portrait-filled wing that was built during the early 19th century.
ELLEN PERLMAN
Special to the Washington Post
O
n a sunny Friday afternoon in April, the sleepy city of Kilkenny, Ireland, began to wake up. Chattering students filled the sidewalks, their book bags slung across school uniforms, many of the boys carrying the short, hockeylike sticks used in hurling. Locals hurried through Butter Slip, a narrow passage between two streets where butter vendors set up stalls in medieval times. And shoppers ducked into the small stores that share a main street with a 17th-century merchant’s house and an 18th-century town hall building that was served as a customhouse. This bustle was different from the quietude I’d observed upon arriving alone a few days before. I was at the midpoint of a twoweek tour of the country with a rotating roster of companions, looking for somewhere to settle down for a few days—someplace not too far from Dublin, because I needed to return there afterward. I felt a pull toward Kilkenny after reading that it had both a medieval castle and a contemporary design center. Everything there, it seemed, had two sides. That first afternoon, I settled in at a table in the Ground Floor Cafe on High Street and studied its traditional menu of toasted sandwiches and brown baps (sandwiches on rolls), along with my maps and literature. An hour-and-a-half south of Dublin by train, Kilkenny — a town of 27,000 residents — is a blend of old and new with a thriving arts culture woven through it. The exit from Kilkenny Castle, which was built around 1195, leads to the Kilkenny Design Center, which is filled with modern crafts in addition to traditional patterned pillows, hand-knit hats and Irish linens. A cavernous pub in a former bank building sits half a block from a tiny tavern in Ireland’s oldest surviving townhouse. A 17th-century merchant’s house is a stone’s throw from a pres-
At night’s end, I found myself at the Hole in the Wall, a 16th-century tavern that is as small as its name suggests. The warm camaraderie of the tavern was the perfect coda to the evening, I thought, as I walked back through a city pulsing with energy.
ELLEN PERLMAN/WASHINGTON POST PHOTO
Rows of colorful pubs, restaurants and shops line Kilkenny’s Parliament Street. ent-day knickknack shop. In the evening, perhaps needing a break from the delicious, rich Irish beef stews I’d been eating for days, I ended up at an Italian restaurant. My waitress, an Irish woman married to the Italian chef, lit up when she learned I was in town on my own. She, too, likes her solitude sometimes, she told me: “It gives me time to breathe.” On the way back to my hotel, I stopped in at the vast Left Bank Pub, a former Bank of Ireland branch. Every window of the three story-building glowed like it was backlit by a roaring fire. In the morning, I headed down the impossibly picturesque High Street — dubbed the “Medieval Mile” — and took in the array of brightly colored pubs and shops. Many sported black-and-amber flags, scarves and other paraphernalia of the Kilkenny Cats, County Kilkenny’s highly successful hurling team. High on a hill in a neighborhood called Irishtown loomed the imposing, 13th-century St. Canice’s Cathedral and its Round Tower, which closely resembles a smokestack. They can be reached via a steep stone staircase. Trying to find the way in, I walked the road along the cathedral’s side and back. The only signs of life I came upon were an older gentleman, on a stroll, and a cat sunning itself.
Retracing my steps, I walked around the other way and found the front entrance. I entered the dark cathedral to find high ceilings and impressive stained glass windows. I saw enough to be satisfied without paying a fee to enter the pews. Back on High Street, it was time for gift shopping. At “Gifts 4 U,” I picked up a couple of bags of fudge — Guinness and whiskey flavors. And I fell for some hopelessly corny coasters with cartoon black-faced sheep on them. (“Top o’ the Morning to Ewe.”) That evening, I went to the Watergate Theatre to see an American musical called “The Parade,” performed by the Kilkenny Musical Society. On Friday morning, I toured Kilkenny Castle. Sun filtered through the windows, brightening the period furnishings. It is thought that the site was chosen by Strongbow — the nickname of Richard de Clare, the Second Earl of Pembroke — shortly after the portion of the Norman invasion he led in the 1170s. An informative docent enthusiastically answered my questions about the second-floor paintings, fireplace equipment and furniture. What are those things in front of the castle’s fireplaces? They’re adjustable screens that protected women’s faces from the fire, she told me, because the heat would melt their wax-based makeup.
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8 | Sunday, April 29, 2018
THE GOOD LIFE | THE COURIER
Enjoy East African treasure trove of flavor
T
COURIER STAFF
he signature seasonings, BBQ marinades and sauces of East African cuisine of Tanzania and Ethiopia are being explored across the globe. Ethiopia’s most popular seasoning, the Berbere Spice Blend, contains an array of spices like paprika, allspice, coriander, cardamom, ginger, cinnamon and red pepper. McCormick Test Kitchen describes the flavor as hot, sweet and citrusy flavor, and says the blend lends richness whether rubbed on meats, stirred into soups and stews, or sprinkled onto lentils and veggies. Tanzanian BBQ are actually meat skewers called mishkaki, similar to shish kebabs. The traditional marinade blends lemon, tomatoes and green papaya to tenderize the meat, while curry, garlic, red pepper and ginger add bold flavor. Take a bite out of East Africa with these recipes from the McCormick Test Kitchen. East African Fresh Tomato & Cucumber Salad
East African Fresh Tomato & Cucumber Salad
1 cup chopped red onion 1 ¼ teaspoons McCormick Gourmet
Sicilian Sea Salt, divided
2 cups water ¼ cup lime juice 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon honey 2 teaspoons garlic powder ¼ teaspoon coarse ground pepper 2 cups chopped, seeded tomatoes 1 cup chopped cucumber ½ cup grated carrot 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Mix onion, 1 teaspoon sea salt and water in medium bowl. Let soak 10 minutes. Drain well. Whisk lime juice, oil, honey, garlic powder, pepper and remaining ¼ teaspoon sea salt in large bowl. Add drained onion, tomatoes, cucumber, carrot and cilantro; toss well. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve as an accompaniment to Tanzanian BBQ Skewers with Tomato Onion Sauce (see separate recipe). Makes 6 MCCORMICK PHOTO servings.
Tanzanian BBQ Skewers with Tomato Onion Sauce Spice Blend:
2 teaspoons curry powder 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Marinated Beef Skewers:
1 teaspoon ground red pepper 1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea Salt ½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ cup chopped plum toma-
¼ cup chopped green papaya 2 tablespoons vegetable oil toes 2 tablespoons lemon juice 2 pounds beef cubes Tomato Onion Sauce: 1 tablespoon vegetable oil ¼ cup water 1 tablespoon honey 1 cup chopped onion 3 tablespoons lemon juice ¼ teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea Salt 2 cups chopped plum toma 2 tablespoons tamarind contoes centrate (paste) For the spice blend, mix all ingredients until well blended. Reserve 1 teaspoon for the Tomato Onion Sauce. For the beef skewers, mix remaining Spice Blend, tomatoes, papaya, lemon juice and oil in food processor or blender. Process until smooth. Pour mixture into large resealable plastic bag. Add beef cubes; toss to coat well. Refrigerate 1 hour. Meanwhile, for the Tomato Onion Sauce, heat oil in medium saucepan on medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir 5 to 6 minutes or until softened. Add reserved Spice Blend and remaining ingredients; mix well. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Keep warm. Remove beef from marinade. Discard any remaining marinade. Thread beef onto skewers. Grill over medium-high heat 3 to 4 minutes per side or until desired doneness. Serve with Tomato Onion Sauce and warm naan bread. Makes 8 servings. Kitchen tips: — Tamarind concentrate or paste is a thick fruit pulp that is tart, slightly sweet and fruity. Look for it in the Asian or Mexican aisle of grocery stores or online. — Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 30 minutes. This prevents them from burning on the grill.
MCORMICK PHOTO
Tanzanian BBQ Skewers with Tomato Onion Sauce
Sunday, April 29, 2018 | 9
THE COURIER | THE GOOD LIFE
East African Chicken & Lentil Stew
3½ pounds bone-in chicken
roasted and chopped parts 1 can (14½ ounces) diced tomatoes, undraine 4 tablespoons Berbere Seasoning Blend, divided (see separate 5 teaspoons McCormick Basil recipe) Leaves 4 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet divided Organic Ground Cardamom 2 medium onions, finely chopped ½ teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea Salt ½ cup dried lentils 1 medium red bell pepper, 1 medium sweet potato, peeled Season chicken with 1 tablespoon Berbere Seasoning Blend. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken in batches; brown on both sides. Remove from pan; set aside. Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil to skillet. Add onions; cook 10 minutes or until browned and softened, stirring occasionally. Return chicken and juices to skillet. Add lentils, roasted bell pepper, tomatoes, basil, cardamom, sea salt and remaining 3 tablespoons Berbere Seasoning Blend. Add sweet potato and water. Stir and bring to a simmer; cover and simmer 40 to 50 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and sweet potato is tender. Remove cover during last 10 minutes of cooking.
and cubed (or potato, carrot or chayote) 2½ cups water 1 naan bread, plus additional to serve ¼ cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves 4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and coarsely chopped (optional) 1 lemon, cut into wedges
Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325 F. Place naan on baking pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until very crisp. Cool then crumble into small pieces. Spoon sauce over chicken to serve. Sprinkle with crumbled naan, mint and egg, if desired. Squeeze lemon wedge over top. Serve with additional naan, if desired. Makes 8 servings. How to roast bell pepper: Place cleaned bell pepper halves on baking sheet, cut-side down. Broil or grill 5 to 7 minutes or until the skin has blistered and blackened over the entire surface. Transfer to a paper bag. Close bag. Let stand 15 minutes or until peppers are cool enough to handle. Peel off blackened skin. If desired, you can also use 3/4 cup chopped jarred roasted red pepper.
Berbere Seasoning Blend Berbere Spiced Roasted Vegetables & Pasta
3 tablespoons paprika1 table-
spoon McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea Salt 2 teaspoons ground allspice 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons McCormick Gourmet Organic Ground Coriander 2 teaspoons ground ginger 2 teaspoons onion powder 2 teaspoons onion powder 2 teaspoons ground red pepper 1 teaspoon ground black peppe 1/4 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Organic Ground Cardamom Mix all ingredients in medium bowl until well blended. Store in tightly covered jar in cool, dry place up to 1 month. Makes about 7 tablespoons or 84 (¼-teaspoon) servings.
2 cups fresh cauliflower florets 1 cup fresh carrots, cut into
½-inch dice
East African Chicken Stew
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon Berbere Seasoning
Blend (see separate recipe) pieces 1 teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea 1 medium red onion, cut into 1-inch pieces Salt 8 ounces spaghetti ½ cup crumbled feta cheese, plus additional for garnish 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, plus additional for garnish 1 medium lemon, cut into wedges Preheat oven to 450 F. Toss vegetables with 2 tablespoons oil in large bowl. Mix Berbere Seasoning Blend and sea salt. Sprinkle over vegetables; toss to coat evenly. Spread in single layer on foil-lined 15x10x1-inch baking pan. Roast 35 to 40 minutes or until vegetables are tender and slightly charred, stirring halfway through cook time. Meanwhile, cook pasta as directed on package. Drain well. Transfer to large bowl. Add feta, parsley and remaining 1 tablespoon oil; toss well. Place pasta in serving dish. Top with roasted vegetables. Garnish with lemon wedges and additional feta and parsley, if desired. Makes 8 (1-cup) servings. 1 cup fresh okra, cut into 1-inch
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10 | Sunday, April 29, 2018
THE GOOD LIFE | THE COURIER
Don’t like Chablis? Try the real thing MICHAEL AUSTIN
Chicago Tribune
I
t’s possible that you have consumed gallons of “Chablis” in your life but never really tasted Chablis, thanks to lots of misleading wine brands and labels. It is entirely possible that you have avoided the legendary wine style based solely on this false reputation. The “Chablis” that some people are familiar with, in mass-production jugs from California, lined the shelves of supermarkets in the 1970s. It was cheap white wine, often with a touch (or more) of sweetness. This is not an exact analogy, but buying that wine was kind of like buying knock-off Rolex watches and Louis Vuitton bags from sidewalk vendors. Just as those hawked accessories aren’t authentic, branded, from-thesource products, neither was a
lot of the wine that many people believed to be Chablis. True Chablis hails from the eponymous subregion of Burgundy, France. Chablis is not sickly sweet and is made from 100 percent chardonnay. (There is no such thing as the chablis grape.) It could not be more different from the oaky, buttery, thick-as-syrup chardonnay that comes from warmer New World climates like California. No, classic Chablis is clean, crisp and dry, an expression of chardonnay that goes perfectly with fresh oysters. It is also great on its own, as a way of arousing the palate with bright acidity, tangy lemon and lime flavors and aromas, and waves of minerality, including the wine style’s signature notes of what is often described as gunflint, metallic, sharp and stony. Stainless steel tanks are most
often used in the fermentation and maturation of Chablis, but some producers employ oak barrels in the process, particularly the Grand Cru and Premier Cru classifications. Even in those cases, though, the resulting wines are nowhere near what New World chardonnays offer. On the other hand, in certain expressions, Chablis can be so clean and crisp, so stylistically different from New World chardonnay that it can fool you into thinking you are tasting a steely, citrusy, mineral-laced sauvignon blanc. Within the Chablis appellation, which dates to the 1930s, there are four classifications. In terms of prestige (and often price, too) from highest to lowest, they are: Grand Cru, Premier Cru, Chablis and Petit Chablis. A Chablis Grand Cru bottle may carry the name of one of seven
Climats (a Burgundian name for top vineyard sites) on its label: Blanchot, Bougros, Grenouilles, Les Clos, Les Preuses, Valmur and Vaudesir. Chablis Premier Cru bottles also may include specific sites on their labels, such as Montee de Tonnerre and Montmains, among more than a dozen others. Below are notes from a recent tasting of Chablis, through all four classifications and in a wide range of prices. 2015 Bernard Defaix Petite Chablis. Chalky and full of minerality, this wine, aged in stainless steel tanks for eight months, offers lively acidity plus a whiff of fennel and citrus. 2015 Jean-Marc Brocard Sainte Claire Chablis. Pear and apple give way to lime, nutty character, lively acidity and a tangy lemon finish, with 12.5 percent alcohol.
2015 Domaine Servin Vieilles Vignes Selection Massale Chablis. The most lush of the tasting, this wine has stone fruit and tropical notes but was still light and refreshing. 2014 Domaine Denis Race Montmains Chablis Premier Cru. Bracing acidity gives way to a floral essence, with additional notes of gooseberry, lime, anise and stony minerality. $28 2014 Domaine Laroche Les Vaudevay Chablis Premier Cru. Apple, pear, honey, lemon and spice join signature notes of gunflint in this clean and delightful wine. 2015 Domaine Drouhin Vaudon Bougros Chablis Grand Cru. Elegant, with ripe lime and subtle notes of melon and tropical fruit, this wine has a nutty finish that also suggests warm bread crust.
THE COURIER | THE GOOD LIFE
SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2018 |
11
5 ways to jumpstart fitness goals
F
itness is central to your well-being and ability to enjoy life to the fullest, however it’s easy to get stuck in a rut. How do you find new interest and motivation so you’re ready to maximize the warm weather months? Dan Gaz, physical activity and assessment program manager at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program, says there are many things people can do to get a jump-start on their health and wellness. “Fitness doesn’t have to be complicated or boring,” says Gaz. Gaz suggests five simple ways to get a jump-start on summer fitness and energize your workout routine:
your health. “Trying something new helps keep your fitness plan fresh. Plan a visit to the local farmers market to pick up produce. Sign up for a 5k run, or look at your local community education or rec center class catalog and sign up for activities. The social dynamics of these types of events benefit mental as well as physical health.”
Bring friends
“It’s no secret when you work out with other people they tend to hold you accountable, but there’s also more benefit than just that,” says Gaz. “When you take an exercise class, join a running club or biking group, you may end up pushing yourself harder. The people next to you become your exercise advocates and suddenly, you’ll have the desire to keep up and do more. This can accelerate Get outside “Getting outdoors is reju- reaching your fitness goals.” venating,” Gaz says. “Taking a walk in nature is a nice change Rethink commuting of pace that is good for the body “Anything you can do to break and mind.” You can go for a walk, up the monotony of sitting is a run or take a stroll around a local good thing.” Try being creative in park. “Just being outdoors shakes commuting and how you travel things up and you may find higher throughout the day. “If possible, levels of energy as you breathe in walk or bike to work or the groTry something new the fresh air. Plus, getting a daily cery store. You can also take the Gaz says getting outside your dose of vitamin D from the sun bus, get off a couple blocks early comfort zone can be beneficial to does the body good.” and walk the rest of the way. A
little planning ahead of time can help you accomplish multiple things at once: You’re getting exercise, completing an errand and reducing your carbon footprint.”
Be purposeful
“You may only have a few minutes a day to dedicate to exercise, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a big impact,” says Gaz. “Being purposeful with your choices is important. For example, use intervals in your workout routine to maximize outcomes. If you enjoy walking, do a brisk 30 or 60 seconds, then walk slower for the same period of time before pushing yourself again. This type of interval training is simple, yet highly effective. It works similarly for other activities like swimming, biking and running.” — BRANDPOINT
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uiccu.org If you find a better advertised yield on a CD or IRA at a financial institution based in the counties we serve, the UICCU will beat it. Guarantee available for a limited time only. Applies only to CDs or IRAs with comparable terms and conditions. Does not apply in those cases where the credit union does not offer a comparable product. Not available to public organizations or other financial institutions. Maximums apply.
12 | Sunday, April 29, 2018
THE GOOD LIFE | THE COURIER
College Hill Arts Festival turns 40
T
CEDAR FALLS he 40th annual College Hill Arts Festival is June 15-16. The festival takes place from noon to 8 p.m. June 15 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 16 at College and Twenty-Third streets. There will be a drawing for 15 $40 gift certificates on June 15 and 25 $40 gift certificates June 16. College Hill Arts Festival artists are juried and accepted to exhibit based on their original artwork. Seventy five artists, chosen by a panel of three independent jurors, from across the country will exhibit a variety of original works including; ceramics, glass, jewelry, wood, paintings, baskets, photography, pastels, graphics, sculpture, and fiber. On the musical stage will be Josia Eden; Ally & The Gators; HMS Marimba Band; Karla
Ruth; Tim & The True Tones; UNI Suzuki School; The Enablers; The Ok Factor; and Orquesta Alto Maiz. There will be a hands-on creative activity for children sponsored by the Hearst Center for the Arts; an Instrument Petting Zoo sponsored by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony; face painting; balloon sculptures and the Young Art Collectors Gallery. Food and beverage vendors will be on the grounds. Each summer College Hill Arts Festival supporters can purchase the official poster designed by Cedar Falls artist and author Gary Kelley. Posters and festival t-shirts will be available for sale on-site during the Festival. There is no admission charge. For more information you can access the Web site at www. collegehillartsfestival.org.
STEVE KNAPP/Lockard Realty Steve, a lifelong resident, has been a real estate broker and manager since 1973. He uses his expertise to assist clients in real estate transactions in homes, commercial, and investment properties.
consistently a leading buyer and seller agent. He has served on several local boards of directors over the past 30 years, and as a WaterlooCedar Falls Board of Realtors officer and director.
Steve is managing broker of Lockard Realty and is
Contact Steve today to help with your Real Estate needs.
“Producing Successful Results”
“Steve would call with regular updates and would return our calls quickly. We called him because our son was so happy with him when he bought his home years ago. He’s the best!” - C.D.
(319) 493-4000 Steve Knapp - Managing Broker Steve.Knapp@ymail.com
4501 Prairie Parkway, Cedar Falls 50613
DIY projects
to aid your memory MELISSA RAYWORTH
Associated Press
For elderly people struggling with memory loss, one of the toughest things can be forgetting the details of their own lives. “This is people’s biggest fear, to lose their memory and to lose that sense of self,” says Dr. Gwynn Morris, associate professor of psychology at Meredith College. I reached out to Dr. Morris and to another expert on gerontology — Ann Norwich, director of the adult gerontology nurse practitioner program at York College of Pennsylvania — because my mother-in-law is finding it harder to remember details about her own, quite remarkable life. At 93, she has retained her memories longer than many people do. But as recall has become more difficult, I’ve been hunting for ways to help her hold onto the stories and details she once knew about herself. Morris and Norwich offered advice on how to jog an elderly person’s memories and help them retain the knowledge they still have. Here are two craft projects built from this research, easy and inexpensive to make.
Take time to choose the right topics. Once you have your topic (or topics) chosen, creating your puzzles is easy. There are many free puzzle-making sites online. Many are designed for teachers, but they’re open to the public. One that’s easy to use is crosswordlabs.com. You’re given a blank space to enter your list of words and their clues. The site then builds a printable crossword puzzle with that information. To print your puzzles, choose some heavy paper from a craft store in appealing colors and textures, and use a home printer. Or, Crossword puzzles to make the gift more substantial, Crossword puzzles aren’t quite give the collection of puzzles a tithe cure-all for aging brains that tle, and design a cover page with they’re sometimes touted as, the title and recipient’s name. Morris says. But keeping the mind active can help slow some Personalized playlists aspects of cognitive decline. And and songs practicing recall of important information regularly can help you Music can be especially valuretain it. able in triggering memories in Focus on valuable information, older people, Norwich says, so such as the names of grandchil- she suggests making personaldren and some details about ized playlists for elderly relatives. them, Norwich says. Elderly famHow does this work? As we ily members may be embarrassed age, “semantic memory,” which to be struggling over remember- includes historical facts and ing such information, so these other non-personal information, puzzles can be a gentle way to jog such as the lyrics to an old song, those memories. tends to be better preserved than
SHUTTERSTOCK
personal memories. But that semantic memory is useful in triggering the “episodic memory” that includes our personal stories. So old music can trigger different personal, episodic memories in each person who listens to it. To select songs with the most impact, consider the research into something called the “reminiscence bump.” Studies show that most people have particularly strong recall about events that happened in early adulthood, specifically throughout their 20s, says Morris. So pick a selection of songs that were popular when your loved one was between 20 and 30. You can save the playlist to an iPod, which you set up in a dock with a timer or alarm function. That way, the playlist can begin at a specific time each day, and the person won’t have to remember to turn it on. Once it’s ready, spend some time listening to the playlist together, and ask your relative what they remember about listening to these songs in the past and about the years when the songs were popular. You, and they, may be surprised what good memories surface.
Sunday, April 29, 2018 | 13
THE COURIER | THE GOOD LIFE
Nation’s heroes honored on Memorial Day JERRY NELSON
District Manager Social Security Waterloo Office
O
n Memorial Day, we honor service members who have given their lives for our nation. Social Security acknowledges the heroism and courage of our military service members, and we remember those who have given their lives to protect our country. Part of how we honor these heroes is the way we provide Social Security benefits. The loss of a family member is difficult for anyone. Social Security helps by providing benefits to protect service members’ dependents. Widows, widowers, and their dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits. You can learn more about Social Security survivors benefits at www. socialsecurity.gov/survivors. It’s also important to recognize those service members who are still with us, especially those who have been wounded. Just as they served us, we have the obligation to serve them. Social
Service members can receive Social Security in addition to military retirement benefits. The good news is that your military retirement benefit generally does not reduce your Social Security retirement benefit. SHUTTERSTOCK PHOTO
Security has benefits to protect veterans when an injury prevents them from returning to active duty or performing other work. Wounded military service members can also receive expedited processing of their Social Security disability claims. For example, Social Security will provide expedited processing of
disability claims filed by veterans who have a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Compensation rating of 100 percent Permanent & Total (P&T). The VA and Social Security each have disability programs. You may find that you qualify for disability benefits through one program but not the other, or that
5 steps to reach Social Security success JERRY NELSON
District Manager Social Security Waterloo Office
o matter how much you’ve N planned, there’s no better time than now to think about your future. We’d like to encourage you to take Five Steps toward Your Financial Security. Planning for the future may seem intimidating to many, but we’ve broken the task down into five easy steps: Step 1: Get to know your Social Security — You and Social Security are on a journey for life, but there is so much you may not know about the benefits and services we provide. Social Security delivers financial security to millions of children and adults before retirement; including the chronically ill, children of de-
ceased parents, and wounded culators.html. warriors. Learn more at www. socialsecurity.gov/agency. Step 4: Apply for benefits — You can apply for retirement, MediStep 2: Verify your earnings — care, or disability benefits online Your benefits are calculated us- through our easy-to-use, secure ing your employment records. online application that is conYou can use your personal my venient to navigate. Read more Social Security account to verify about benefits and apply now at that your earnings are recorded www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits. accurately. Access your account today at www.socialsecurity. Step 5: Manage your benefits — Social Security puts you in gov/myaccount. control by offering convenient Step 3: Estimate your benefits — and secure services that fit your With our Retirement Estimator, needs. Verify your payment inyou can estimate your future formation, change your address retirement or disability benefits or phone number, get a benefit based on your actual earnings verification letter, and even start record. This can be invaluable as or change direct deposit of your you plan for your future. View benefits. See all the things you our calculators at www.socialse- can do at www.socialsecurity. curity.gov/planners/benefitcal- gov/myaccount.
you qualify for both. Depending on the situation, some family members of military personnel, including dependent children and, in some cases, spouses, may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits. You can get answers to commonly asked questions and find useful information about the application
process at www.socialsecurity. gov/woundedwarriors. Service members can also receive Social Security in addition to military retirement benefits. The good news is that your military retirement benefit generally does not reduce your Social Security retirement benefit. Learn more about Social Security retirement benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/retirement. You may also want to visit the Military Service page of our Retirement Planner, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/retire/veterans.html. Service members are also eligible for Medicare at age 65. If you have health insurance from the VA or under the TRICARE or CHAMPVA programs, your health benefits may change, or end, when you become eligible for Medicare. Learn more about Medicare benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicare. In acknowledgment of those who died for our country, those who served, and those who serve today, we at Social Security honor and thank you.
Join us for the
College Hill Arts Festi Festival Cedar Falls, Iowa | West 23rd and College
June 15-16, 2018
Friday Noon - 8 pm and Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
collegehillartsfestival.org | 75 Juried Artists | Live Music | Kid’s Activities Free Admission | Free Parking
14 | Sunday, April 29, 2018
THE GOOD LIFE | THE COURIER
Facts to know about enrolling in Medicare
U
nderstanding Medicare isn’t as difficult as you might think. It’s a benefit most working Americans can count on. Here are some facts you might not know about the program.
Can I still get Medicare at 65? Yes, you’re still eligible for Medicare starting at 65, no matter what year you were born. If you or your spouse worked and paid Medicare taxes for at least 10 years, you’re eligible for Part A (hospital insurance) at age 65 for free. Part A helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility following a hospital stay. It also pays for some home health care and hospice care. You’re also eligible for Part B (medical insurance) if you choose to get it and pay a monthly premium. Part B helps pay for services from doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment, and some preventative services. If you are receiving Social Security benefits already, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts
A and B at age 65. Because you must pay a premium for Part B, you can choose to turn it down. However, if you don’t enroll in Part B when you’re first eligible for it, and choose to enroll later, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. If you’re not receiving Social Security benefits, you have a seven-month period (your Initial Enrollment Period) to sign up for Part B. Generally, your initial enrollment period begins three months before your 65th birthday, includes the month you turn age 65, and ends three months after your birth month. If you are covered under an employer group health plan, you may have a special enrollment period for Part B. If you are 65 or older and covered under a group health plan, either from your own or your spouse’s current employment, you may have a special enrollment period during which you can sign up for Medicare Part B. This means that you may delay enrolling in Part B without having to wait for a general enrollment period and without paying the lifetime penalty for late enrollment. Additional rules
and limits apply, so if you think a special enrollment period may apply to you, read our Medicare publication at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/, and visit the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services at Medicare.gov for more information. To avoid a tax penalty, you should stop contributing to your Health Savings Account (HSA) at least six months before you apply for Medicare. If you have an HSA when you sign up for Medicare, you can’t contribute to your HSA after you your Medicare coverage begins or you may have to pay a tax penalty. Premium-free Part A coverage begins six months before the date you apply for Medicare, but no earlier than the first month you were eligible for Medicare. To avoid an unwanted tax penalty, you should stop contributing to your HSA six months before you apply for Medicare. You can withdraw money from your HSA after you enroll in Medicare to help pay for medical expenses like deductibles, premiums, coinsurance, or copayments. If you’d like to continue contributing to your HSA, you shouldn’t apply for Medicare or Social Security benefits.
You can learn more about Social Security and Medicare at www. socialsecurity.gov/benefits/medicare.
How much does Part B coverage cost? You are responsible for the Part B premium each month. Most people will pay the standard premium amount, which is $134 in 2018 if you sign up for Part
B when you’re first eligible. This amount can change every year. You can find up-to-date premium amounts on Medicare.gov. You can learn more about Social Security and Medicare at www.socialsecurity.gov/benefits/medicare.
Meet Carrie I’m a designer, a project manager and an estimator. Yes, I do everything for your project except actually build it. I see your project from start to finish; from drawing your ideas and consulting on product choices to scheduling and coordinating our carpenters and installers. You can count on me to get your job done, and done right!
319.266.0807
www.kochconstruction.org
THE GOOD LIFE
Sunday, April 29, 2018 | 15
Your ‘best story’ is yet to happen. Have More Fun From Your Life Everyday Choose your activities and activity level at Friendship Village Retirement Communities. Curl up with a book, walk a marathon, join in a game of billiards, or take an overnight vacation excursion. You’ll have more new stories to share with friends and family. You’ll love it – and they will too!
Landmark Commons
Friendship Village Campus
Distinctive retirement living awaits. Enjoy some of the best that the Cedar Valley can offer with spacious apartments, pool and spa, workout center, woodshop, underground parking, 4-star cuisine and amenities you expect. Many of our family members are fully retired, but others (over 55) simply enjoy the lifestyle Landmark Commons gives.
Waterloo’s leader in retirement living has plans to get even better. New redevelopment plans are in the works. Sign up for the “First Friends Club” waiting list – and be among the first to learn about the new Independent living apartments. 50 years celebration May 1st – Mayor will be there – pancake breakfast.
319.296.7100
319.486.1680
www.FriendshipVillageIowa.com
16 | Sunday, April 29, 2018
THE GOOD LIFE
Act fast: fewer than five homes remain available at Prairie Wind! Live with freedom
Welcome home
• Maintenance, yard work and shoveling • Bi-weekly housekeeping • Daily continental breakfast • Flexible spending account for meals and more • Transportation to events, shopping, appointments • Secure heated underground garage Live in style
• Floor plans from 1,110 to 1,450 square feet • Open concept living • Two or three bedroom models • Washer/dryer in residence • Full size kitchens and appliances • Private patio or balcony Live it up
• Connected to extensive Cedar Valley trails • Attached to Jorgensen Plaza for Well-Being Cafe fast casual restaurant • Caraway 1912 fine dining • Table Pub • Gilmore’s • Diamond Event Center Don’t delay. worship • Weekly Call Maria at pool • Swimming • Walking track (319) 859-9311 Exercise classes • Outpatient therapy to arrange • Salon Iris, an Aveda your tour! • concept salon WesternHomeCommunities.org/PrairieWind