Catalyst for Change
Muse Women’s Conference Truth in Storytelling Food for the Heart
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Magazine Editor’s Note
Table of Contents Contributors .................................................................................... 4
In the Spotlight Catalyst for Change ...................................................................5
Bend’s Amanda Stuermer, founder of World Muse, has dedicated a good portion of her life to helping women and girls find their voices.
Truth in Storytelling ............................................................. 13 Best-selling writer Cheryl Strayed, author of “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,” will visit Bend as part of the Deschutes Public Library’s ‘Author! Author!’ series.
Food for the Heart .................................................................. 19 Make these five changes for delicious, heart-healthy meals.
Write Your Family Love Letter .............................................. 25 In the event of the unexpected, give your family the gift of information, inspiration and guidance.
Knowledge & Advice
Muse Women’s Conference ...................................................................8 Welcome Home: Fabric ........................................................................ 10 What We’re Reading ............................................................................. 11 Caring for Others: Honoring Our Parents .........................................12 Encouraging a Positive Self-Image...................................................... 16 To Your Health: Fixing the Leak ........................................................ 18 Healthy Hearts, Healthy Lives............................................................22 Back to the Dining Table .....................................................................24 At the Workplace: Hiring and Health Care .......................................28 Central Oregon Baby Book .............................................................29-31
U Magazine
is a product of The Bulletin’s Special Projects Division, P.O. Box 6020, Bend, OR 97708. All content is the property of The Bulletin/Western Communications Inc., and may not be reproduced without written permission. Printed by Northwest Web Press, www.northwestwebpress.com. Story ideas may be submitted to editor Ben Montgomery for consideration. Contact him at 541-383-0379 or bmontgomery@ bendbulletin.com. Published: Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014
All women wield the power to effect change in the world. That’s the message Amanda Stuermer, founder of World Muse, hopes to pass along to all who participate in an event or program through her organization, including the second annual Muse Women’s Conference. Like its inaugural event in 2013, MUSE Women’s Conference will feature panel discussions, live performances, workshops, a MUSE First Friday Art Walk and a trio of internationally recognized keynote speakers. The event will be held in various downtown Bend locations, including the Tower Theatre, from Friday through Sunday, March 7-9. “We are thrilled to bring these amazing change makers to Bend,” Stuermer said via press release of her 2013 keynote speakers. “We are equally excited to celebrate many of the incredible women inspiring change right here in our local community.” The staff here at U Magazine salutes these efforts. In each edition, we, too, strive to inspire as well as demonstrate how, with a little courage and conviction, women of every age, ability or status in life have the power within to leave a positive mark on the world. Within this first of six 2014 editions of U Magazine, we feature two of these women: the aforementioned Stuermer (see “Catalyst for Change” on page 5) and a New York Times best-selling author who wrote a novel based on the empowering experience of “finding herself” on the Pacific Crest Trail (see “Truth in Storytelling” on page 13). And of course, we provide you with a quick guide to the 2014 Muse Women’s Conference (see page 8), including information about this year’s keynote speakers, one of whom — Zainab Salbi — has been called one of the most inspirational women in the world. — Ben Montgomery, U Magazine Editor
Staff members for The Bulletin’s special projects division include: Martha Tiller, Special Projects Manager; Ben Montgomery, Special Projects Editor; Stacie Oberson, Special Projects Coordinator; and Kari Mauser, Special Projects Editorial Assistant. Cover photo by Kari Mauser / Model: Amanda Stuermer
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U Magazine CON TR IBUTORS ANNISSA ANDERSON, a freelance writer and public relations consultant, also studied culinary arts and worked as a pastry chef in another life. Though she’s lived in the Northwest for the past 20 years, she spent her childhood living abroad.
An avid crocheter and origamist, JOHN CAL worked as a baker, head chef, ukuleleist and Sno-Cat driver before settling into writing. He enjoys filling his time with yoga, postcard writing and collecting bowties. John also collects candy from around the world — he has a 100-plus specimen collection (and counting) — and lives in Sisters with his dog, Hank. Former Bulletin business reporter turned international teacher, JEFF MCDONALD, has returned to Oregon following a three-year sojourn in the Middle East. When he’s not traversing the globe, he enjoys the seasons, the laid-back culture, and the people of Central Oregon.
GREGG MORRIS is a local freelance writer and musician. You can find him around town finishing articles at the local tea shop, performing with his band Organic Music Farm or homeschooling his six year old daughter. Supposed free time is spent in the woods with his wife and daughter or skillfully executing his duties as a member of the Deschutes County Search and Rescue team. A former public affairs TV producer, for the ABC and NBC affiliates in Portland, KATHY OXBORROW is a writer and consultant who helps nonprofits tell compelling stories about their work. Kathy assists organizations with marketing, facilitation, planning and grant writing. She grew up on a Nevada cattle ranch and moved to Bend after stints in San Francisco and Portland. NATE PEDERSEN is a Community Librarian with Deschutes Public Library. He also moonlights as a freelance journalist. He lives in Bend with his author wife, April Tucholke, and their dogs. His website is natepedersen.com.
BUNNY THOMPSON is an internationally published writer living in Sisters. She cruised on a sailboat for six years and 40,000 miles where she wrote a novel and published travel and adventure articles in national and international magazines such as Sail, Cruising World, Southern Boating and Island Scene. 4 | U MAGAZINE
Bend’s Amanda Stuermer, founder of World Muse, has dedicated a good portion of her life to helping women and girls find their voices.
Catalyst for
CHANGE by Kathy Oxborrow, for The Bulletin Special Projects
You can still hear a little bit of the Louisiana Bayou in her speech when Amanda Stuermer talks about her experiences growing up in the South. Stuermer said women and girls weren’t necessarily supported and celebrated as leaders in her small Louisiana hometown. The youngest of four daughters, she received total support from her parents to be anything she wanted, even when she was determined to become a world-famous barrel racer.
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But that support was not enough to combat the outside environment. “Around middle school, I noticed that the guys were getting a whole lot more attention than the girls,” she said. “Football was everything; girls were given pom-poms or batons and relegated to the sidelines.” Stuermer said she began to feel like what she had to say wasn’t very important. “I was using my voice to
formed on the belief that women and girls can be catalysts for positive social change. World Muse has followed through on this belief by offering programs and events that inspire women and girls and provide them with tools for turning inspiration into action. It’s been quite a journey for the woman who froze during her first public speaking class in college, then ran out of the
Central Oregon. “That was a huge turning point in my life,” she said. “I was literally carrying my weight just like the guys in the group.” She fell in love with Oregon and transferred to Southern Oregon State University in Ashland. Upon graduation, she moved to Santa Fe, to work at Outside Magazine. “I moved to New Mexico without a job, but I was bound and
“I remember thinking, ‘How did this happen? Where did that sassy 7-yearold self go? I needed to dig deep and remember who I really was.”
cheer on field goals rather than to state my goals,” she said. As she matured into adulthood, however, Stuermer began to discover she wasn’t wired to be the person who merely stood on the sidelines. It turns out she was right. Today, Stuermer, who lives in Bend, is known as the founder of World Muse. The 5-year-old nonprofit organization was 6 | U MAGAZINE
class in tears. “I remember thinking, ‘How did this happen? Where did that sassy 7-year-old self go?’” she said. “I needed to dig deep and remember who I really was,” she said. Soon after, Stuermer took up yoga as a way to reconnect to her self again. Next, she took an Outward Bound course in
determined to work at Outside Magazine,” she said. “I got told ‘no’ several times, and I just kept calling back.” Her persistence paid off. After landing her dream job as an editor at the magazine, Stuermer also started teaching creative writing in a juvenile detention facility. “What I realized was that working with youth fed my
soul a lot more than journalism,” she said. She spent the next 15 years working with various nonprofits. Five years ago, Stuermer decided it was time to launch her own, a vision that became World Muse. “I wanted to provide girls with tools to stay connected to their inner awesome and share it with the world,” she said, “Deep down I think I wanted to ensure that my then 5-yearold daughter would never lose touch with her sassy self like I had.” She piloted the curriculum at Cascade Academy. The content focuses on mindfulness practices, creative writing, and service work to promote selfawareness, self-expression, and self-worth — the approach Stuermer had used for her own personal growth. Demand for the classes led to after-school programs and summer camps for girls, and then special workshops and retreats for women. In 2010, Stuermer visited Uganda with Off The Mat Into The World, a nonprofit organization that bridges the yoga and social activism communities. “That trip expanded my sense of community,” she said. “I knew I wanted to find ways to support women and girls globally.” Bound and determined yet again, she decided to lead her own service trip back to Uganda the following year. Along with the trip, she created programs to connect students at local schools in Bend with students in Uganda. Stuermer is the mother of two Amanda Stuermer (right) poses for a photo with Tererai Trent, a keynote speaker at the 2013 Muse Women’s Conference in Bend.
Muse Women’s Conference - Keynote Speakers
Zainab Salbi
“Meet the Muse” reception will be held at Hot Box Betty. Later, a private Muse Dinner will be held at Joolz Restaurant for Conference All-Access Pass holders. Sunday’s Muse Women’s Conference events are reserved for in-depth workshops at Central Oregon Community College and Cascades Academy from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Muse Women’s Conference will also include spoken word and music performers, as well as feature a performance by 16-year-old dancer and Teen Muse alumnus, Ella Huggin. According to Schindler, Bend provides the ideal setting for this Muse World event. “There are a lot of people who move to Bend because it is so inspiring,” she said. “We live in the perfect, inspiration destination.” World Muse is made up of a core team of organizers that include founder, Amanda Stuermer, program strategists, Rene Mitchell and Cassondra Schindler, and program directors, Tracy Treu and Cynthis LaRoche. In 2013, their programs reached more than 3,000 women and girls from La Pine to Congo.
Amy Richards
In addition to the core Muse team, Schindler said it takes 29 volunteers hundreds of hours to produce the Muse Conference. In addition, sponsors, such as the Starview Foundation and the Cudd Foundation, help keep the ticket prices affordable for those wishing to attend.
About World Muse World Muse was born five years ago as an in-school program working with roughly 100 teen girls and a belief that women and girls can change the world. According to its website, Muse offers “programs that utilize yoga, art, service, community, and travel to connect, inspire, and empower women and girls in our local and global communities.” “Because we are a small start-up nonprofit with a small budget, we rely on social media to get the word out,” said Schindler. “We invite the community to get involved.” Besides the Muse Women’s Conference, World Muse offers programs year round. In late August, a three-day Muse Camp is held at camp Caldera — a women’s retreat that offers the opportunity to inspire
Lynne Twist
and incite action with local and global leaders. Another program, Muse Makers, strives to invest in women and girls through small seed grants and mentoring opportunities. Teen Muse involves in-school, afterschool, and summer camp programs to promote self-awareness, self-expression and self-esteem. The Muse Women’s Conference is expecting to fill the Tower Theatre to its capacity of 450 patrons. A Student Pass costs $45, the Conference Pass costs $75, and the All-Access Pass costs $125. Workshops will be priced separately. Scholarships are available for nonprofit organizations. More information can be found at www.museconference.org.
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WELCOME HOME
Fabric is more than just a basic supply staple attached to our interior furnishings. Fabric offers many opportunities to design our homes with purpose and intent, while adding comfort and depth to your space. Quality fabrics can add visual warmth to heat up the design, or visual coolness to calm it down. Everything from upholstery and slipcovers, to bedding, window treatments, table accessories, and throw pillows involve fabric.
Selecting the right fabric or combination of fabrics may seem like a daunting task. You can have confidence when selecting and working with fabrics. Knowing a
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few basic concepts will help you to expertly design your spaces and make good fabric choices for your home. Decide What Will Stay and What Will Go When planning a room’s style or theme, start with fabric. Look at the space, and decide first which pieces will stay and which will go. Of course, starting fresh with all new furnishings is ideal, offering many options for creating a completely fresh and exciting room, but more than likely you’ll
have at least one piece that you must keep, such as a sofa, chair, or draperies. This will be your starting place to decide on other fabrics and elements for the room.
If a piece must stay, it will become either a main fabric or an accent fabric. If you love the fabric, then find accent fabrics to compliment it. If not, then use the piece as an accent fabric and find another fabric to focus on, such as a solid, a subtle jacquard, or a textured chenille that blends well with that accent piece. Select Fabric First, Then Paint It is easier to match the paint to the fabric than the reverse, especially since paint is readily available in custom colors that can be mixed in just about any paint store. Most paint stores have an electronic “color eye” used to make a match from any swatch you bring in. You can select your fabrics, and then paint your walls while your furniture is being ordered or upholstered. Use Pattern, Color, and Texture Use about three or four patterns in a space, plus a variety of textures for visual interest. Save “artsy” and very bold or trendy fabrics for accent chairs, pillows, or throws. There is really no “wrong way” if you follow basic design principles and select colors and textures you love. We often tell clients to bring
in magazine tear outs or pictures of things they like. More often than not, it is completely unrelated to the space. Yet the elements and color within can be recreated in fabric. Many new styles and designs have already come out for the year. It appears blue is the new black in this years’ color trends. We encourage you to stop by the showroom for pillows, drapery, bedding, new upholstery or maybe that special item that needs to be re-upholstered. Our fabric library is very inspiring. We will help you add that element of surprise, comfort or texture to any space you need.
What We’re Reading
by Bunny Thompson, for The Bulletin Special Projects
Brief reviews of recent selections made by Central Oregon book clubs. “The Garden of Evening Mists” by Tan Twan Eng
Read, Wine and Bleu Book Group This book was voted the “Most Outstanding Read of 2013” by this book group. Malaya, 1951. Yun Ling Teoh, the scarred lone survivor of a brutal Japanese wartime camp, seeks solace among the jungle-fringed tea plantations of Cameron Highlands. There she discovers Yugiri, the only Japanese garden in Malaya, and its owner and creator, the enigmatic Aritomo, exiled former gardener of the emperor of Japan. The members of this group liked the unique perspective of Malaysia’s history from a Malaysian author. Their discussion included the clash of class and ethnicity and the dichotomy of memory versus forgetfulness.
“Defending Jacob” by William Landay Bend Book Worms
This book was named one of the best books of the year by the Boston Globe. This is a fast and compelling courtroom drama about a district attorney’s son who is accused of killing a classmate. As the father attempts to prove his son’s innocence, Landay explores uncomfortable territory: can a
tendency toward violence be inherited? Is the capacity for murder a genetic disposition? Landay is a former district attorney and he captures the essence of a trial and doesn’t reveal the details until the final pages. All of the book club members loved this book and highly recommend it to those who love murder mysteries. “We couldn’t put it down,” expressed one member.
“The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Diaz Pine Meadow Book Group
The end of the year is a good time to reflect and this book group shared some of their special, and often personal, holiday memories. “This can only happen as we really get to know each other and have been together for a while,” said one member. “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” won the 2008 Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Oscar is a sweet but disastrously overweight ghetto nerd who, from the New Jersey home he shares with his old world mother and rebellious sister, dreams of becoming the Dominican J.R.R. Tolkien and, most of all, finding love. The book closely follows Dominican American history and opens our eyes to the capacity of some people to risk it all in the name of love. According to one member of this group, “I’ve never read a book with so many footnotes.”
“Fair and Tender Ladies” by Lee Smith Fair and Tender Ladies Book Group
More end-of-year reflection, 13 years ago this group chose to name their group after Lee Smith’s book “Fair and Tender Ladies,” first published in 1988. “Our group has morphed over the years, and to celebrate those wonderful additions to our group, we read ‘Fair and Tender Ladies’ again,” said one member. “We discuss books and also revel in each other’s company.” “Fair and Tender Ladies” is a novel consisting entirely of letter written by Ivy Rowe to many people she knew from her early childhood until her old age. The group agreed the Appalachian dialect can be challenging at the start, but it becomes so powerful that it’s hard to put the book down.
Poetry of William Stafford Bibliobabes
Continuing with their January ritual of devoting the discussion to a poet, this group chose five poems by former Poet Laureate, William Stafford. They rented a house in Fall River with a cozy fireplace, had a potluck dinner and discussed poetry. “We know this will become an annual event,” said one member. U MAGAZINE | 11
CARING FOR OTHERS
Honoring Our Parents: Decision Making for Aging Parents
At some point in our adult life, our roles may shift as our parents age and are less capable of caring for themselves. The challenge, even as adults is that we are faced with parenting our parents. How do we get our parents to let us make decisions for them? As an eldercare professional who is also involved with my own “parent care”, my challenge is to integrate 37 years of geriatric care management and expertise while advocating for the best possible end of life care for my parents. Unfortunately, my siblings and I are currently faced with the realization that our parents of 92 and 93 years of age are beginning to decline. How do we continue to respect and honor our parent’s wishes to remain at home? How much do we control and how much do our parents control? Many elderly parents are not ready to give up their independence and give control over decisions to their adult children. Understanding your parent’s fears, such as a decline in quality of life, while respecting their independence is key for a healthy relationship with aging parents.
Understanding your parent’s fears, such as a decline in quality of life, while respecting their independence is key for a healthy relationship with aging parents.
Following are some guidelines that may be helpful in getting parents to let you begin to make decisions for them: • Always include your parent in decision making as much as possible given their unique set of life experiences. This includes safety issues, cognitive functioning, physical conditions, economics and practicality. The more involved aging parents are, the better. Try to understand what is important to them and reassure them you are there for them. Taking control of decision making for your parents doesn’t mean they don’t have an opinion that should not be considered. Encourage your parents to make decisions and respect that it is their life. • Approach your parents openly and honestly about your concerns. Offer your help in decision making rather than insisting you take control. It may be easier for your parent to be receptive to your help
Nancy Webre, BS, MS CEO/Owner, Geriatric Care Manager Locally Owned & Operated Since 1982. State Licensed & RN Supervised 12 | U MAGAZINE
in the long run. Share your observations to plant the seed for future conversations. Offer assistance with decisions about finances, healthcare and daily responsibilities. Find ways for your parent to remain independent. If your parent can remain safely at home, try to maintain that as long as possible. • Decide together what responsibilities and decisions your parent can still control. For example, if eyesight effects their ability to pay bills, offer to assume that responsibility. • Conversations about decision making cannot happen at once. Several conversations may need to take place over time. Once the conversation has begun, parents often wish they had started it sooner. Be patient and give them time to think about their options. Stress what the benefits are to them and that they will have a choice in the decisions that need to be made. Honoring our aging parents is about maintaining their personhood. Sometimes honoring can be difficult due to how our parents parented us. Try to understand the situation from their perspective. Getting outside assistance from professionals may be one way to ensure your relationship is protected with your aging parent while honoring their wishes.
Best-selling writer Cheryl Strayed, author of ‘Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,’ will visit Bend as part of the Deschutes Public Library’s ‘Author! Author!’ series.
Truth
in Storytelling by John Cal, for The Bulletin Special Projects
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Cheryl Strayed, 26, poses in June of 1995 – just 10 days into her Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hike. Photo submitted.
I
catch Cheryl Strayed on what I understand is her one day off. The day before, she had returned to Portland from speaking at the Jaipur Literary Festival in Jaipur, India, and participating in cultural exchange work with the American Embassy. The day after our interview, she was off to speak at a women’s conference in St. Louis, Missouri. “It’s been a crazy time,” said Strayed, whose book, “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,” has been snowballing with awards and critical acclaim since its release in 2012. The book has reached No. 1 on the New York Times Best Seller list, was an Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 selection, earned an Indie Choice Award, and the list goes on. Artfully strewn through its paragraphs, Strayed shares the most intimate details of what she refers to as “reaching the bottom” of her life — the death of her mother, her marriage
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infidelities, her dabbling with heroin — truths that most of us shy away from telling. “We come to art to tell the truth, about what it’s like to be human,” Strayed said. Local fans of Strayed will have a chance to personally absorb some of these truths when Strayed visits Bend as part of Deschutes Public Library’s “Author! Author” series. On Sunday, March 16 at 4 p.m., Strayed will speak at the Bend High School Auditorium. Tickets are $20, with proceeds supporting the Deschutes Public Library Foundation. “I’m looking forward to being in Bend,” said Strayed, who recently spent some time in the area during the filming of “Wild,” which was adapted into a screenplay that will soon be featured on big screen. The movie stars Reese Witherspoon as Strayed. “The people of Central Oregon were so great to the cast and crew … It’s so beautiful there, the stunning natural landscape.”
“The Hallmark of my work throughout has been being real, revealing, honest, raw. You’re gonna see that as part of my writing. Writing is not about keeping secrets. It’s about telling stories.”
B
oth in book form and on film, “Wild” depicts Strayed on a journey through her mid-20s and how she chose to go through the cleansing adventure of hiking 1,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). A long-distance trail that cuts through the Cascade Range along the western edge of Central Oregon., the PCT winds
from the Mexican border in California through Oregon, ending at the Canadian border in Washington. At 26, with no experience or training, Strayed set out on the solo journey she describes as the most compulsive decision of her life. During the awesome though sometimes harrowing experience, she realizes levels of strength, healing and personal honesty that had previously been undiscovered in her life. “The Hallmark of my work throughout has been being real, revealing, honest, raw. You’re gonna see that as part of my writing,” said Strayed. “Writing is not about keeping secrets. It’s about telling stories, but it doesn’t mean I’ve written everything. That’s the magic of personal writing — I get to decide.” “Wild” is the second of three books written by Strayed. Her first, “Torched,” about two children dealing with the death of their mother, is based largely on her own experiences. It takes place in her home state of Minnesota. Her latest book, titled “Tiny Beautiful Things: Ad-
vice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar,” is a collection of advice columns she originally wrote for an online magazine called The Rumpus. Strayed is refreshingly upfront about her writing journey — about getting her first computer in her early 20s; about her constant journaling; about writing during the day and waitressing at night to make ends meet; that she always wanted to be a writer; that she wanted to create something that was able to touch people. “I used to go away for weeks and write, but now I have to find it in small doses — a day or an afternoon,” she said. “One thing I’ve decided is to give myself over to this right now . . . to learning how to be the ambassador of my life around the world. It’s thrilling, exciting, and I’m grateful for it. Right now my life is not about producing. Several writer friends have said don’t worry about having the time to write.” She talks about these friends like parents, mentors around the world — people like Rebecca Slook, Nick Hornby, and Elizabeth Gilbert of “Eat, Pray, Love.”
Strayed poses two weeks before setting off along the PCT. Photo submitted.
But this hiatus doesn’t mean she isn’t writing. For Strayed, like so many writers, the act of crafting words into sentences is not merely work, but life, like breathing. It’s a way they open their eyes to see and experience the world around them. “I’m managing to write essays and am working on my next book, a novel, though it’s not formed enough to really talk about yet,” she said. “I have a couple of different things on file [on my computer] that I work at from time to time.”
T
he Cheryl we know in “Wild” is one who is working so hard through so many things, the emotional trials of her life set against the very real, very trying physical backdrop of the PCT. And so it feels fitting that she find a few moments to rest, to take a breath, to enjoy the view of her own success. “It’s chaotic in a totally different way,” laughed Strayed, who now, remarried and a mother of two living in Portland, describes her life as happy and content. “Family life is revealing and demanding.” “Did you find any personal time in India?” I asked, curious as to how she’s experiencing her newfound reason to travel. “No personal stuff. No sight seeing,” she said. “It was so intense, meeting so many writers and readers, though I did get a little time to shop. “I bought a couple of colorful kurtas,” she added, referring to the Indian tunics. “I’m wearing one right now. It’s so beautiful.” “What makes it so beautiful?” I asked over the phone, trying to imagine the festive Indian hues — shades of vermillion and turmeric. “It’s so damned comfortable!” she laughed. “That’s the secret right now. It’s all about comfort.” Page after page, step after step in her writing, we experience with
her. We feel the discomfort she’s in while she reveals the own secret pain in our lives by bravely sharing her own. But on the trail, it’s the moments between the steps, too, that give us inspiration — the split second when her grounded feet have to decide to pick themselves up again. At first glance, “Wild” seems like a book that’s so much about moving forward, about dealing with your life. But in those places, in the moments between decision and action, there is also great relishing of community and food, land and water, showers and sky. “So much about backpacking is about deprivation,” said Strayed. “It’s strangely the fun of it. It’s exquisitely painful. You keep denying yourself, telling yourself you can’t have it, feeling deprived. [But then] you come back [and] things you’ve taken for granted are special … precious.” But what she teaches us about hiking, writing and life is that we need both the going and stopping — the comfort and the discomfort. Each informs the other; each makes the other special and precious. “I’m reminded of it all when I get back to the trail. I can feel the spirit of the trail even during a day hike,” Strayed said. “When I hike, I reflect how lucky I was that I made the choice to hike for those three months, and how lucky I am today.”
Author! Author! As part of the Deschutes Public Library’s 2013-2014 Author! Author! literary series Cheryl Strayed, author of several books, including the critically acclaimed “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail” will speak at the Bend High School auditorium on Sunday, March 16 at 4 pm. “Wild remains as one of the most popular books circulating at the six Deschutes Public Libraries and has been discussed at hundreds of book clubs throughout Deschutes County,” said Chantal Stroebel, Project Director for Deschutes Public Libraries. General admission is currently available for $20 at www. dplfoundation.org. Call 541312-1027 or email admin@ dplfoundation.org with questions.
Natural Medicine as a Path to Better Health
A New Way To Age With Dr. Evelyn Brust an affiliated physician with Forever Health.
Suzanne Somers
National Spokesperson
Westside Family Clinic 1245 NW Galveston Ave. Bend · 541.383.3424 · www.westsidefamilyclinic.com
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Identify ways to help your teen build selfesteem and avoid hardships common with those who have a negative self- image.
encouraging
a Positive
SELF-IMAGE by Gregg Morris for The Bulletin Special Projects | Photos by Kari Mauser
Self-esteem levels affect personal comfort, the way you act and your willingness to take risks — to bet on yourself despite the onset of doubt. For many, it’s the life blood of personal fulfillment and the ability to see your own potential when others can’t. In this sense, then, helping their children maintain a positive self-image is a common goal of parents. It exists in the way they encourage their children and in the way they discipline. It’s there when they teach, when they play and when they explain the world to their kids. It’s there during busy days and sleepless nights. And it’s certainly there during puberty, a time when children in general and girls specifically are facing daily expectations from parents, friends, school and the
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mainstream media with a high level of uncertainty. According to Nancy Hoffman, a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) who practices in Central Oregon, puberty is a critical time in the development of a girl’s self-esteem. “That’s why it’s so important to help young girls develop an overall positive relationship with themselves,” said Hoffman said. “A girl’s typically negative self-talk inevitably leads to negative behavior.” Many influences shape who a child will become. The problem is those influences aren’t always positive. With kids spending an increasing amount of time connected with the media, often within the semi-unregulated confines of the Internet, they begin to have a skewed sense of what is “normal.” Thin models, stylized actresses who seem happy and confident … these images put pressure on young girls to mimic both looks and behavior. Additionally, a large percentage of girls’ clothing is geared toward
Building Self-Esteem In Central Oregon, many programs exist that are aimed at developing girls’ self-esteem and confidence. Many of these programs are based on national organizations and countless hours of research on the subject. Girls On the Run of Deschutes County, www.deschutescountygotr.org, is on a mission to “educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.” The Mother-Daughter Project, www. themother-daughterproject.com, has several groups in Central Oregon that help moms who want to stay connected with their adolescent daughters and help them thrive. World Muse Teen Programs, www. theworldmuse.org, “are intended to promote self-awareness, self-expression and self-worth.”
ultra-thin body types, designed for a tight fit and bare midriff. Since these standards are impossible to live up to for most, the perceived “failure” can lead to a lower self-esteem. Over time, this can lead to negative behavior — eating disorders, for instance, which the National Association of Anorexia and Nervosa and Associated Disorders says affects 24 million people in the U.S. — and even depression. Parents should pay attention to the types of messages their kids are receiving about body image. “Child development and puberty play a big role as well,” said Hoffman. “Bodies developing at different rates leads to too many comparisons between girls.” Influences in the family can either enhance or combat these negative feelings, says Bethany Steiert, a local therapist and school counselor. For instance, girls who listen to their mothers obsess over weight and who see them exercise obsessively are more apt to become women who do the same. “Living a healthy lifestyle and staying active is fantastic and [it’s] what Central Oregon life is all about,” Steiert said. “The danger lies in
a family culture that obsesses over dieting, fashion and overall self-image.” As a whole, sports are a good way for girls to gain confidence, interact with friends and connect with their bodies. It is important to be leery with sports such as dancing, gymnastics and ice skating if you find that coaches link performance to appearance. Girls can easily succumb to pressure from coaches, peers and even themselves, ultimately affecting selfesteem. “It’s nice to have many different peer groups for your kids,” says Hoffman. “Clearly, we want them to be in positive situations. We need to make sure their role models, like teachers and coaches, are positive.” Fortunately, there are many different ways to play an active role in your children’s lives and teach them the benefits of positive selfesteem. It is important to talk with your kids about the health consequences, such as anorexia and bulimia, that result from unrealistic body expectations. Watching television and exploring the Internet with your kids is one way to initiate
discussions about body expectations. By exposing the magic of stylists, hairdressers, personal trainers and Photoshop, you can help your children become media critics and ensure they understand the unrealistic nature of the models’ and actresses’ appearances. Keeping an eye on your child’s television viewing, online activity and smart phone usage shows you care about what they think of themselves and gives you a chance to grow with them. “Staying connected with your children as they become teens is very important,” says Hoffman. Keeping the focus within your family on being healthy rather than on body weight, and staying active are great ways to build positive self-esteem. “Never criticize your child’s outward appearance,” says Steiert. “Although they may act like they don’t care, those comments will often stick with them for a lifetime.” If your teen is experiencing low self-esteem, help her learn to recognize that her body is her own, no matter what shape or size. Help her focus on how strong and healthy her body can be and the amazing things it can do. U MAGAZINE | 17
TO YOUR HEALTH
Urinary incontinence, defined as the involuntary loss of urine, affects 25 million American adults. Fear and embarrassment about your bladder problems can isolate you from work, friends and family. Dancing at your daughter’s wedding or taking a long trip might cause you stress and anxiety. Some people will limit their activities to avoid a situation that might result in leakage, and their embarrassment makes them feel that they can’t talk to anyone about this. Many people even feel uncomfortable discussing it with their doctor. Individuals will struggle with incontinence for 6 years on average before they bring it up with their physician. On the other end of the spectrum, some people feel that incontinence is a normal part of the aging process. Although incontinence is a common problem, it is not a normal part of aging, nor is it something you just have to live with.
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Fixing the leak.
Although all incontinence results in wetness, there are various types of incontinence. Stress incontinence is leakage that is associated with physical activity such as coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising. With urge incontinence, one will feel a strong urge to urinate that they can’t hold
back. This is sometimes associated with overactive bladder where an individual must urinate very frequently and often cannot delay a trip to the bathroom once the urge strikes. Other forms of incontinence include overflow incontinence, neurogenic incontinence, and asensate incontinence. When you see
your doctor, he or she will begin by asking you a lot of questions about your bladder habits as well as what factors might precipitate a leakage episode. You should also share your dietary habits, since the type and amount of fluids that you consume can directly impact your urinary pattern. By understanding what type of incontinence you might have, your doctor will be able to recommend appropriate treatment options that can be tailored to your specific issues. Doctors hope to diminish the social stigma associated with incontinence and to open a dialog between patients and their physicians. Once people can discuss a problem, we can take steps to solve it. If incontinence is keeping you from doing the activities that you enjoy talk to your doctor or the specialists at Bend Urology to discuss your options.
Make these five changes for delicious, heart-healthy meals.
Food for the
Heart
By Annissa Anderson for The Bulletin Special Projects Photos by Kari Mauser
During the coldest part of the winter, we tend to crave the most decadent foods. But the more sedentary months are exactly when we should be trying to avoid these foods, typically rich in saturated fats. In fact, February, American Heart Month, is a perfect time to reexamine ways to create rich, restaurant-quality foods at home, while keeping heart health at the forefront.
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Chicken Tikka Masala with Cashew “Cream” Create this restaurant-quality Indian dish at home using only the healthiest ingredients. Garam masala — if not already in your spice rack — is a blend of spices commonly used in Indian food. Find it at most grocery stores. If unsure you will use it again, look for spices sold in bulk and measure out only the amount called for.
Ingredients: 1 cup low-fat yogurt 1 1/4 cups grated onion Four 8-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breasts, pounded to an even thickness Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, for seasoning 1/4 cup raw cashews 1/2 cup boiling water 1 1/2 teaspoons grapeseed or canola oil 1 garlic clove, minced 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 1/2 jalapeño, minced 1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste One 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes 1 teaspoon sugar 1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro leaves
Method: 1. In a large, resealable plastic bag, combine the yogurt and 1/4 cup of the grated onion. Season the chicken generously with salt and pepper and add to the bag; seal and refrigerate for 1 hour. 2. In a small bowl, cover the cashews with the boiling water and let soak for at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours. 3. In a large skillet, combine the oil and remaining 1 cup grated onion and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until the onion softens, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, jalapeño, garam masala and tomato paste and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, sugar and salt and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to moderately low and
simmer gently for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the masala sauce cool, uncovered, for 10 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, preheat the broiler on high. Remove the chicken from the marinade, scraping off any excess, and arrange on a broiler pan or a wire rack fitted inside a baking sheet. Broil the chicken 4 to 6 inches from the heat for about 5 minutes, until slightly charred. Turn the chicken and broil for about 3 minutes longer, until the chicken is cooked through. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes, then dice. 5. In a blender, combine the cashews and their soaking water and puree until smooth. Carefully ladle the masala sauce into the blender and puree with the cashews, in batches if necessary, until completely combined and smooth. Return sauce to the skillet and fold in the diced chicken and cilantro leaves and cook over moderate heat until hot.
Knowing that the primary culprits of heart disease are unhealthy fats and cholesterol, it is important to understand how to identify their sources in our diet, and do our best to avoid them. Fats that can threaten heart health are saturated fats – mostly found in animal fats and tropical oils – which should be limited, and trans fats – found in partially hydrogenated oils – to be avoided completely. Some of the best tasting food is laden with butter, cheese and bacon, all chock full of saturated fats. But having a few nutritional tricks up your sleeve can help you replace some animal fats in a way that helps you forget you’re eating lean at all. By increasing your use of foods rich in monounsaturated (good) fats, lean proteins and fiber-rich grains, fruits and vegetables, you’ll be on your way to a healthier, yet equally delicious, way of cooking.
Avocado! Cheese and butter are instant boosts to the flavor and satisfaction of a meal, which is probably why they are added to so many dishes. But the price to pay for 20 | U MAGAZINE
(Serves 4)
this indulgence is an increase in saturated fats. A simple way to add creamy texture to some foods, without the butter or cheese, is with health-boosting avocado. Fiber-rich and full of nutrients, avocados actually work the opposite way of saturated fats. This fruit – considered a super food – is so high in healthy oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat, that it actually helps increase fat metabolism. These healthy fats can also help your body to better absorb nutrients from fresh fruits and vegetables, which is why avocados are often added to fresh salads. Blended, avocados can be added to salsas, smoothies and hummus, or even used in place of butter to create a rich takeoff on hollandaise sauce. Seasoned avocado purée makes a creamy base for tasty seared scallops or grilled seafood, replacing butter sauces. Sliced or chopped, avocado can be traded straight across the board for cheese in sandwiches, wraps, tacos, salads, omelets, and more. So next time you reach for the cheese, just ask: would avocado do the trick?
Better Baking Maintaining a heart-healthy diet does not necessarily mean that baked goods come off the menu. Rather, it just means that you need to be more conscious of what kinds of fats are in them. Instead of cakes, quick breads and cookies that include butter, look for those that use vegetable oils or other creative substitutions for saturated fat. For favorite recipes that currently use butter, you can make your own substitutions. If going this route, just remember to be prepared for some margin of error. Rather than replacing all of the butter at once, try swapping out just half the butter for a vegetable oil (or fruit puree) to start. At 7 grams of saturated fat per tablespoon of butter, just imagine the immediate benefit to your heart health! Egg yolks, often used in breads and cakes, are also high in cholesterol. If using more than 1 or 2, try replacing each yolk with two egg whites or with an egg replacer. Your heart will thank you.
Dress Lightly Cholesterol-laden mayonnaise was the cornerstone of salad dressings for decades. But this may be one of the easiest dietary changes that does not mean sacrificing flavor. Delicious vinaigrettes utilize the flavors of extra-virgin olive or canola oil – rich in monounsaturated fats – whisked into lemon or vinegar bases. Vinaigrettes are easy to flavor too; simply add chopped garlic or shallots, capers or olives, or fresh chopped herbs. Creamy renditions of salad dressings that do not include saturated fats are also easy to achieve. Favorite classic salad dressings, like ranch and blue cheese, can be lightened up by replacing regular mayonnaise with low-fat yogurt, light sour cream and vegan (egg-free) mayonnaise. Creamy puréed avocado adds healthy fats to salads too.
Mmm, Lean Cooking with lean meats, instead of fattier cuts, is a great way to reduce saturated fats in your diet. And with the right recipes or methods, it will not mean a loss of flavor. Lean meats, like skinless
chicken and turkey breasts, and lean cuts of beef, venison and buffalo can be just as satisfying as a juicy steak or burger if cooked correctly. For the most flavorful results, look for recipes that use marinades before highheat cooking like broiling or grilling. Vegetable oil-based vinaigrettes and low-fat yogurt are great tenderizing marinades for lean meats and poultry. Soy-based marinades are especially flavorful but can be very high in sodium, so be sure to use reduced-sodium soy sauce. Lean meats are also perfect for slow cooking in a well-developed sauce. Taking a little time to create a sauce or stew, then letting meat tenderize slowly in it, delivers excellent results. Flavor can also be added to lean meats by using creative blends of spices. This will also cut down on the amount of salt needed for seasoning. If the goal is a heart-healthy diet, reducing sodium is an important part of the equation.
Fiber-Rich Grains Another key factor in lowering arteryclogging cholesterol is eating a high-fiber diet. In addition to eating more fruits and vegetables, increasing fiber in your diet might mean replacing some of the white, starchy foods that are common side dishes with whole grain options. While white flour pasta, white rice and potato dishes may be satisfying at the time, they unfortunately do not provide the fiber content of whole grains. Switching out some of your standard sides is easier than you might imagine. Many whole grain side dishes require less time – and often less effort – to prepare than potatoes. Brown and wild rice and ancient grains like quinoa, farro and kamut can be cooked simply in water on the cooktop for an earthy, wholesome addition to the meal. For easy, added flavor, they can be simmered in chicken or vegetable stock with sautéed onion, leek or shallots to create a delicious pilaf. Try implementing some of these options and you may find that foods that contain healthy monounsaturated fats, more vitamins and fiber are actually just as tasty.
Avocado Hollandaise (Serves 4) Reinvent your favorite weekend breakfast with this heart-healthy riff on buttery hollandaise. Serve simply over a poached egg, or as a breakfast sandwich assembled over a whole wheat English muffin.
Ingredients: 1/2 very ripe medium Hass avocado, peeled and chopped 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt Freshly ground pepper Poached eggs, for serving
Method: In a blender, combine the avocado and lemon juice with 1/3 cup of hot water. Puree until smooth and light in texture, about 2 minutes, scraping down the side of the bowl occasionally. With the machine on, drizzle in the olive oil and puree until combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve over poached eggs.
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Maintaining a healthy heart for life can start with just a few simple steps that can easily be worked into your daily routine.
Healthy Hearts, Healthy Lives by Jeff McDonald, for The Bulletin Special Projects
We all know the old adage, eat an apple a day — keep the doctor away. But while apples are delicious, getting regular exercise, setting good habits and leading by example can improve your heart health and those around you. Here are 10 simple things that two local doctors say you can do to improve your family’s heart health:
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1.
Find an activity you like and do it often, said Dr. Bruce McLellan, interventional cardiologist at St. Charles Heart and Lung Center. “Walking is easy for most of us — it’s a good starting point,” McLellan said. But riding a bike, swimming, jogging — those are all good too, he said.
2.
Eat a Mediterraneanbased diet. You do not have to go to Italy to eat like an Italian, McLellan said. Rather, reduce the red meat in your diet while stocking up on low carbohydrate, moderate protein and moderate fiber food items including vegetables, fruits, legumes, fish, pork and chicken.
3.
Do not smoke. It goes without saying that smoking is the number one preventable cause of heart disease in the country. If you do it, stop. And don’t start.
4.
Eat fish twice per week. Fish are high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential acids, meaning that they have to be acquired from food or supplements.
5.
Read labels. “When I go down the aisle with my kids, we make it into a fun, healthy game, comparing labels on cereal boxes,” Dr. Koch said. This activity gives kids a healthy challenge and makes them better readers, he said. His kids were reading labels before they learned to read!
6.
Find activities that are calming. Reducing stress through yoga, music, art, and other calming activities create calm minds and reduce heart disease.
7.
Ditch the screen time and get outdoors. Increasing activity levels burns calories and creates better memory, raises endorphins and vitamin D.
8.
Eat dinner together. Families that dine together tend to set good habits and healthier dietary habits for their children, Koch said. This can help decrease obesity, diabetes and depression. (See page 24.)
9.
Lead by example. It goes without saying that setting a good example means taking care of yourself. Set time for exercise, eat well and get enough sleep. Children will soon realize, if it’s good for mom or dad, it’s good for them too!
10.
Wear a pedometer. Can you get to 10,000 steps in one day? Counting one’s steps also can be a good way to reach our fitness goals, said Dr. Rick Koch, a cardiologist at Bend Memorial Clinic. Koch recommends wearing a pedometer that keeps track of how many steps you take in a day. That is the target for walking about two miles, he said. Doing so will lower blood pressure, cholesterol and body density while maintaining lean body mass, Koch said.
We believe people deserve the highest quality care with dignity, respect and compassion. Do you have a concern about a loved one? Call Paul Battle Associates first to discuss how we can help your family get the best care for them. 877-867-1437 www.paulbattle.com ■ info@paulbattle.com The only Certified Geriatric Care Management firm in Central Oregon.
Call today for a FREE in-home fall risk assessment. U MAGAZINE | 23
Back to the Table By Annissa Anderson for The Bulletin Special Projects Childhood obesity, while no longer on the rise, is still a problem across the country, and here in Central Oregon. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly one in six children in the United States is obese, and more than one in three is overweight. Even for children who are not obese, poor eating habits can contribute to other health problems. And while it may be easy to blame fast-food or junk food consumption, nutrition experts agree that the heart of the matter lies within a family’s eating habits.
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... for Healthier Kids
Lori Brizee, a registered dietitian and owner of Central Oregon Nutrition Consultants, is an advocate of families eating regular meals together at the dinner table. Sitting around the table as a family for meals, she says, doesn’t just offer a family the opportunity to check in, socialize and share stories of their day. It also promotes more thoughtful eating, which is the key to developing good eating habits in kids. In a book she co-authored, titled “Healthy Choices, Healthy Children: A Guide to Raising Fit, Happy Kids,” Brizee set about outlining a way for parents to take a more active role in teaching their children about healthy living and healthy eating. The first chapter of the book is telling: it is called “The Hows of Eating.” “How we eat really informs what
we eat,” said Brizee. She encourages parents and caregivers to provide three healthy meals throughout the day, as well as some wellplanned snacks. “When we have our kids sit down and eat regular meals, with some snacks in between, they end up eating healthier meals,” she said. The key words here are “sit down.” Although Brizee encourages snacking, she does not mean grazing. “When we graze all day long, we consume more calories than we really need,” said Brizee. Instead, she suggests offering kids a snack two to three hours before or after meals. Properly spaced, snacks can help curb hunger in between meals while still allowing a good appetite to develop for mealtime. It is important to be hungry at mealtime, said Brizee, because this is when the food offered is generally
more nutritious. “When you come to the table hungry and sit down, you tend to eat better,” said Brizee. This includes eating a broader variety of foods, an important part of a nutritious diet. Regular exposure to different foods at mealtime — when others are eating them — can also help pickier eaters to try them. “Don’t force kids to eat,” said Brizee, “but don’t let them leave the table without eating, then demand a snack moments later.” In addition to increasing nutrition, eating meals and snacks while sitting down together at the table also presents regular opportunities for positive parenting time, said Brizee. Getting kids to help with shopping, cooking and cleanup after meals is another great way to teach healthy eating habits while spending time together. “Just getting them (kids) involved in food procurement is nutrition education,” said Brizee. Getting kids in on the cooking process is another life lesson that encourages a healthy lifestyle. When children learn how to prepare healthy meals for themselves, they are better equipped for making healthy choices once they become adults. “Some parents don’t want their kids to miss out on any experiences,” said Brizee, “but the maintenance in life is an experience.”
write your
FAMILY LOVE LETTER
In the event of the unexpected, give your family the gift of information, inspiration and guidance. by Nate Pedersen for The Bulletin Special Projects John Strassman, a Bend financial planner, received the phone call one day that we all dread to hear: his brother had unexpectedly passed away. Strassman’s brother, Steve, was single without children, so John was expected to settle the estate. Strassman drove to Olympia, Washington, where his brother had lived, picked up the keys to his brother’s house from a neighbor, and walked into a mystery. “Just try to visualize if something happened to you and someone who doesn’t know you very well has to walk into your house and basically put your life together,” said Strassman. “It’s a big puzzle.”
Strassman looked around for a will or trust, but could not find anything. So he tried to start up his brother’s computer only to find out he did not know the password to login. And these obstacles were only the first of many. Did his brother want to be buried or cremated? Who would he have wanted invited — or not invited — to the service? Where did Steve conduct his banking? What were the passwords for Steve’s financial accounts? “It was a nightmare,” said Strassman. As he slowly waded through the process, Strassman thought, “I’ve dealt with hundreds, if not thousands of estates from the outside and I’m struggling here. What’s it like for the regular person?”
When Strassman returned to Bend he began looking for answers. While browsing online, he found out about a document called a Family Love Letter created by John Scroggin, an Atlanta-based estate-planning attorney. The comprehensive letter — complete with fill-inable forms covering all aspects of a person’s financial life and ethical values — is intended to be completed by someone before their death. Strassman was amazed at how useful the document would have been in his own situation. It contained the answers to all the questions Strassman asked throughout the process of settling his brother’s estate. So Strassman decided to bring the concept of the Family Love Letter to Bend. Strassman and
his business partner, Kevin Hanna, began to conduct local workshops on creating Family Love Letters. Hanna also was impressed by the Family Love Letter, as it contained “all the little stuff that you do on the daily basis to sustain the function of life.” And it’s those small details that can become major obstacles for your heirs in the event of your death. “Let’s say it takes 5 or 10 hours for you to fill out — but it will save 100 or 200 hours for someone else trying to piece it all together later,” said Hanna. The Family Love Letter is a living document containing all of the information necessary in the aftermath of someone’s death. Filled in by the person while they are still living, the Family Love Letter contains U MAGAZINE | 25
“Just try to visualize if something happened to you and someone who doesn’t know you very well has to walk into your house and basically put your life together. It’s a big puzzle.”
information on all of their financial accounts, real estate holdings, insurance policies, benefits information, Internet passwords, desires for their remains, and much more. But the “deeper meaning part” that excites Strassman the most about the Family Love Letter is the final section: the Ethical Will. In an Ethical Will, a person discusses their personal values and life philosophy in the hopes that those values will then pass on to the next generation. Strassman said that on average 70 percent of an inheritance is spent within three years of its receipt. He thinks this happens because “the wealth is passed on without the wisdom.” The Ethical Will, which includes sections on how the person wishes their money to be used, helps to transfer those important values to the next generation. To underscore the importance of a document like the Family Love Letter, Strassman related the story of Bend citizen Charliene Wackerbarth. Strassman was the financial planner for Charliene and her husband Ralph. One day, on a house call, Strassman introduced the idea of the Family 26 | U MAGAZINE
Love Letter to the Wackerbarths. Charliene said to Ralph during the meeting that she didn’t even know what he wanted done with his body when he died. Ralph replied in jest, “Put me in a coffee can and sprinkle me in Mirror Pond.” Soon after, Ralph came home from a Family Love Letter meeting with Strassman and told Charliene about a large stockpile of cash he had hidden in the house. A week later Ralph died. “I didn’t know what to do,” said Charliene. “I was left with all these things that I didn’t know, not the least of which was that he had
hidden a considerable amount of cash and he told me about it the Saturday before he died. I would never have known if he hadn’t told me.” Charliene wished there had been an opportunity for Ralph to complete a Family Love Letter. “It’s a marvelous tool for people to give information to those who come after us,” said Charliene. “It touches on everything that anyone in the family would need to know after you’ve gone.” Charliene’s husband died in March and she is “still involved with attorneys and accountants.” She said, “As soon as I can get John Strassman (left) and Kevin Hanna / Photos by Kari Mauser
the estate settled, I’ll finish [the Family Love Letter]. It’ll be a load off my mind that I’ve done that for our kids.” After all, as Strassman always says at the end of his workshops: “Wouldn’t you rather leave a love letter than a mystery novel?”
Interested in creating your own Family Love Letter? Keep an eye on Strassman & Hanna’s website for details about upcoming workshops: http:// www.yourlegacymatters.com. If you aren’t able to attend a workshop, you can also try to create your own Family Love Letter. Sit down and start thinking about all of the different aspects of your life. Record the information your heirs might need to bring your affairs to a close if you should suddenly pass away. Store that information in a safe place – but be sure to tell someone where it is.
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While completing a Family Love Letter is a substantial task, your heirs will be incredibly thankful to have clear instructions about your wishes in the midst of their grief over your passing.
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At the Workplace
by Connie Worrell-Druliner, for The Bulletin
Hiring & Health Care Health care’s impact on hiring decisions into the future remains uncertain. For almost six years, health care has been one of the most highly debated topics among politicians, the news media and the general public. Even after the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed by President Obama in 2010, the debate raged on as some people trumpeted its positives, some highlighted its negatives, and many felt uncertain of its real impact. Employers, especially those with small businesses, generally fell into the uncertain category as they waited to see the ACA’s effects. Now that we’ve entered 2014 and seen many of the act’s elements implemented, there’s still a general feeling of confusion among small businesses that make up more than 99 percent of U.S. employers. One thing is clear, however: health care reform is impacting how small businesses think about and approach hiring. A study from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Harris Interactive found that 75 percent of the small business executives surveyed said the ACA “would make them less likely to hire employees.”
Staff Size Matters The primary reason for this is that many parts of the health care law are tied to the number of employees a company has. The most common breakdowns, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, are 24 and fewer employees, 25 to 49 employees, and 50-plus employees. Of all the aspects of health care reform that are linked to staff size, small business owners need to be especially aware of two specific areas.
age that were highlighted on heathcare.gov’s small business page. Insurance companies can no longer deny your business coverage due to the health status or pre-existing conditions of any of your employees or their dependents. They also cannot raise premiums for employees with higher-than-average medical costs or those who are women. These two new rules do not apply, however, to grandfathered plans.
Health Care Tax Credit Employee Health Coverage Employers who have 49 or fewer full-time employees are not required to offer health insurance. However, those who do want to offer their staff health coverage can do so through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). Currently, the SHOP Marketplace is only available for businesses with up to 49 employees, but in 2016 it will be opened to companies with up to 100 employees. Due to some program difficulties, the federally run SHOP exchange, which was slated to have already been opened, has been delayed a year. According to the Huffington Post, small businesses that planned to acquire their insurance through the marketplace can instead sign up through an insurance broker or health insurance company. And while small business employees were originally going to be able to choose from any plan available on the exchange, for 2014, the employer will have to select the coverage for everyone. Beginning in 2014, there are two additional changes to employer-provided health cover-
Employers who fall below the 25-employee mark, with employees making an average of $50,000 a year or less, and provide health insurance to their staff, may be eligible for a small business health care tax credit. Beginning this year, small businesses could be reimbursed for as much as 50 percent of their contributions toward employee premiums. The health coverage must be through the SHOP Marketplace, but there are salary restrictions. Because of the delay of the SHOP exchange, businesses that want to apply for the credit can submit their application when they file their taxes for 2014. As small business owners plan for the future and create a strategy to grow their businesses, employee count is a key factor to consider. And, due to increasing connections between health care coverage requirements and company size, this factor will require even more scrutiny this year and in the years to come. Whether businesses will choose to slow their growth, accept more health coverage responsibilities or utilize temporary/contract workers who aren’t factored into their employee counts remain to be seen.
Connie Worrell-Druliner is the founder of a locally owned business, Express Employment Professionals, offering human resource solutions. Express can help your organization, by finding qualified workers, solving your retention needs, and providing knowledge based training to your workforce.
Presenting the newest arrivals to Central Oregon in 2013
BABY BOOK 2014
Jessica Montgomery 9/17/13 Parents: Ben & Jenn Montgomery Grandparents: Tom & Marge Montgomery, Steve & Peg Cizek, Denise Cizek
Aubrelyn Michelle Walker 11/9/13 Parents: Kyle & Marissa Walker Grandmothers: Devin Campbell, Michelle Walker
Liam Robert LaDuke 3/19/13 Parents: Robert LaDuke & Jessica Perez Grandparents: Robert & Kelly LaDuke, Brenda LaDuke, Rodolfo Perez & Jodie McDonald
Hadley Rae Colburn 9/30/13 Parents: Neal & Jessica Colburn Grandparents: Kevin & Sherri Williams, Paul & Patti Jo Colburn
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Andrew Ray Mears 10/24/13 Parents: Travis Mears & Rachel Mercer Grandparents: Dave & Kelley Mears, Katherine & Ray Mercer
Ayvah Jane Moore 6/1/13 Parents: Kayleigh Crowson & Shawn Moore Grandparents: Lynn & Steve Crowson, Julie Meadows
Trinity 6/25/13 Parents: Michael & Candace
Bridger Johnson 10/14/13 Parents: Kim Sumners & John Johnson Grandparents: Judy & the late Jerry Sumners, Jeff & Sandy Johnson
Gray Kevin Kowalski 10/23/13 Parents: Steve & Michon Kowalski Grandparents: Gordon & Leeanna Nielson, Nancy Kowalski
Isaac & Elijah Meyer 6/26/13 Parents: Joel & Tawnya Meyer Grandparents: David & Dorothy Ipack, Tom & Melanie Meyer
Clayton Joseph Mueller 4/2/13 Parents: David & Sarah Mueller Grandparents: Michael & Donna Reuter, Robert & Patsey Mueller
Zane Winton Ward 7/17/13 Parents: Justin & Amy Ward Grandparents: Winton Platt, Patty Begin, Kim & Sally Ward
Carson Henry Zizilas 7/20/13 Parents: Brad & Alyson Zizilas Grandparents: Neil & Stella Mackey, Henry & Vicky Hachler
Taytem Jean Cowell 10/10/13 Parents: Jeff & K.C. Cowell Grandparents: Chris & Ronda Wilson, Dennis Cowell, Debi Connelly
Bennett William DuVal 3/25/13 Parents: Stephen & Katie DuVal Grandparents: Mike & Tracie DuVal, Bob & Pat Klena
Toby James Jones 7/16/13 Parents: Kevin & Stacey Jones
30 | U MAGAZINE
Rose Lynn Therien 7/16/13 Parents: Hank Therien & Courtney Biss Grandparents: Craig & Peggy Biss, Bicker & Kathy Therien, Tami & Craig Ellingson
Stella Rose Endicott-Hook 4/24/13 Parents: Dallas Endicott, Dustin Hook Grandparents: James & Fay Endicott, Ron & Becky Cholin
Axton Tiras Zamir Webber 6/12/13 Parents: Christopher (Bonn) & Alysia Webber Grandparents: Lauri Bonn, Dorothy Webber & the late Dr. & Mrs Avery Webber
Margaret Grace Merritt 3/8/13 Parents: Jeanne & Rusty Merritt Grandparents: Bonnie & Al Merritt, Adele & Rodger Castleberry
Madelyn Douglass 3/25/13 Parents: Ryan & Amy Douglass Grandparents: Renee, Lindene, Maury Douglass, Doug & Joanne Saathoff
David Ronald Moore 8/21/13 Parents: Justin & Taieh Moore Grandparents: Mike Kennedy, Kim Moore-Kennedy, Tiffany Maesner
Allister Treadwell 8/15/13 Parents: Adam & Ronee Treadwell Grandparents: Ronee Stone, Dan & Kim Blackwell
Emma Elizabeth White 3/16/13 Parents: Robert & Julie White Grandparents: Kathie Conley & Steve Nash
Brand new babies to fill our lives & hearts Liam James Fountain 10/18/13 Parents: James & Kimberly Fountain Grandparents: Sheryl Neff, Tom & Mary Neff, Barbara Fountain, Dennis Fountain
MacKenna Jay McLain 11/15/13 Parents: Clay & April McLain Grandparents: Bonnie Staley, Michael & Janet McLain
Chester Ross Cottingham 4/5/13 Parents: Ashley & Carroll Cottingham Grandparents: Ed & Marilee Carson U MAGAZINE | 31
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