Generations (April 2024)

April 26, 2024

8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Willmar Civic Center

A place to belong

Willmar Senior Club has been providing community for nearly 60 years

BY SHELBY LINDRUD West Central Tribune

WILLMAR — The Willmar Senior Club has played an important role in the social lives of many senior citizens, providing not only weekly entertainment but also a community of which to be a part.

“I think it is important for people to get together, to socialize,” said Diana Frey, club president. “It is good fellowship.”

A chance to brighten lives

The history of the Willmar Senior Club goes back to 1967, when a dedicated group of citizens felt there was a need and got to work.

For several months, a steering committee met to iron out all the details, officially incorporating as the Willmar Senior Citizens Club in August 1967, according to the West Central Tribune archives. The grand opening of the Senior Club’s physical space,

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Ray Mitchell smiles while dancing with Ceil Millerbernd at the Willmar Community Center during a Friday Afternoon of Dancing event on Feb. 9, 2024. The Friday dances are one of the main weekly events held by the Willmar Senior Club, with people coming from all over the region. Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

in the basement of what was then The Lutheran Center at 414 W. Becker Ave., took place Sept. 13.

“There has been a great need in our community for such an organization,” read a column in the Sept. 16, 1967, edition of the West Central Tribune. It continued, reading “We wish to commend those who initiated this fine project and those in charge. It is launched to a fine start and one can only wish it even larger continued success.”

For many more years, the Senior Center on Becker Avenue continued to be a great gathering place, and the club was a force in Willmar society. During its first year, the club welcomed more than 500 members. The club provided not only a center where seniors could gather for social visits but also held events, took members on tours and put on entertainment such as musical guests, speakers and arts and crafts lessons.

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We Honor and Care for the Greatest Generation

A dive into the West Central Tribune archives uncovered many photos and stories about the Willmar Senior Citizens Club, including this photo of a group of women making arts and craft products in 1968 from the Tribune archives. West Central Tribune photos

“The club brightens the life of the retired citizen,” said Arthur Caine, president of the group, in a West Central Tribune story reporting on the club’s first birthday party on Sept. 11, 1968. “It fills a long-time need in our community, as in all communities, to give senior citizens a chance to meet and to get acquainted.”

In October 1970, the club held its first fall bazaar, a tradition that continues today. At the inaugural event, goods made by club members — such as

Christmas angels, Nativity scenes, floral arrangements and more — were sold to raise money for the club. The bazaar remains the club’s largest annual fundraiser, Frey said.

By its 10th anniversary in 1977, membership in the Senior Citizens Club had ballooned to nearly 1,300, according to a West Central Tribune story. The club held a great party for the special birthday for more than 300 people, including Lt. Gov. Alex Olson. Entertainment included

West Central Tribune coverage of the opening of the Willmar Senior Club and Community Center in February 1992, as found in the Tribune archives.

a senior citizens harmonica band, a men’s chorus and speeches by local dignitaries.

As the club neared its 20th anniversary in the mid-1980s, attention was turned to the club’s building. A fund was launched in 1986 to raise money for a project, but it would take years before the club would move into a new home.

Between 1986 and 1992, more than 51 different sites were considered.

Plans for the center shifted as the city of Willmar became interested in not only

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building a senior center, but a multi-purpose community center.

In May 1990 the Senior Club purchased 3.8 acres of land at 804 Willmar Ave. S.E. and planned to build a new center. A plan was then formed that the city would build the 10,000-square-foot facility on the site. That idea fell apart when financing became controversial and construction costs skyrocketed.

The Willmar Elks Club came to the rescue, selling its building located on North

Attendees listen to the KMS High School Jazz Ensemble at the Willmar Community Center on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. The Willmar Senior Club hosts a musical guest most Wednesday afternoons at the community center.

Central Tribune

Business 71 to the city of Willmar in December 1991.

The Willmar Senior Citizens Club was instrumental in turning the Elks Club building into the Willmar Senior Citizens and Community Center. According to stories in the West Central Tribune, the seniors volunteered their time, talent and money to fix up the building. They built a wheelchair ramp, laid carpet, repaired and replaced the floor and used more than 24 gallons of paint to brighten the space up. Their work probably saved the project thousands of dollars in labor costs.

“When you talk about the senior citizens of Willmar and looking for their own home for so many years, this is a very significant building for them to call their own,” said Willmar Mayor Richard Hoglund on Feb. 7, 1992.

The center was officially dedicated May 2, 1992, and within a year the Senior Club was paying to expand the space, adding a woodshop and an additional meeting space. It even won a Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Award of Excellence, which recognized all the volunteer work the seniors put into the project.

Three decades of fun later

For more than 30 years, what is now the Willmar Community Center has provided a good home for the Willmar Senior Club. It has continued to offer a fun place for seniors to meet both new friends and old while hosting weekly entertainment.

On Wednesdays, the club invites music groups from around the region to perform, from individual singers to the KMS Jazz Band. And on Fridays, the club hosts the weekly dance from 1 to 4 p.m. People have been known to come from two hours away to enjoy the music, dance and community at the Willmar Community Center.

“The guys do a nice job, the various music presenters,” said David Frey, assistant treasurer for the Willmar Senior Club. Music is a great way to engage people. This can be especially true for older adults, some who may be suffering from dementia or memory loss.

“For some it is a way to communicate,” Diana Frey said. “It is so much fun to watch them sing and tap their feet with the music. That is so rewarding.”

The Freys also said the club provides a sort of support group for its members, who may not have family around. Diana Frey often sends cards to those who are ill and gives people a call if she hasn’t seen them at a club event in a while.

“Kind of watching out for one another, taking care of one another,” Diana Frey said. “Let people know you’re welcome.”

Today’s membership sits at about 80 paid members, with yearly dues of $10. While membership is significantly lower than back in the early years of the club, the Freys are working hard to try and entice more people to sign up. They’re inviting a more diverse group of performers, and are open to suggestions for other events and activities.

Concerts at the Community Center

Live music performances by local musicians weekly!

The Willmar Senior club invite you to come enjoy some classic tunes with them!

Put on your toe tappin’ shoes for an afternoon of music!

Refreshments to follow

Wednesdays 2:00 PM

$2.00

•

We may be called the Senior Club, but you don’t have to be a senior to come. Our activities are open to everyone.

Shelby Lindrud / West Central Tribune Willmar Senior Club Assistant Treasurer David Frey, left, and President Diana Frey, along with other members of the club, are working hard to keep the club vibrant and active.

Macy Moore / West

“We are just trying so hard to get people out of the home and into a different environment,” Diana Frey said, adding COVID had a major impact on the club’s membership and they are still trying to bounce back.

The Freys also want people to know that you don’t have to be a senior to come and enjoy the music and dancing. You don’t even have to be a senior to join the club, though most are over the age of 55. “We may be called the Senior Club, but you don’t have to be a senior to come,” Diana Frey said. “Our activities are open to everyone.”

Probably the most important role the Senior Club is filling today is a voice for the seniors who use the community center as the city continues to discuss options for the building. Diana Frey said she and Community Center manager Britta Diem have been trying to spread

the word that the center isn’t just one thing, but a partnership.

“It is not just the community center, it is not just the senior club,” Diana Frey said. “We are one unit working together to keep it going.”

Moving forward, the Freys hope the city keeps the seniors in mind and thinks about what the Senior Club offers this segment of the population.

“That is why we are adamant the Senior Club not get shoved to the side and be lost,” Diana Frey said.

To help keep the Senior Club vibrant and active, seniors and others from around the Willmar Lakes Area are invited to attend a Senior Club event and see what it is all about.

“Just come once and we hope that first time is a fun time and will entice people back,” Diana Frey said.

The Willmar Senior Club offers community, activity and fellowship for members through its weekly entertainments, such as musical guests on Wednesdays.

Erica Dischino / West Central Tribune

6long-term care myths that could impact your retirement

Long-term care insurance is one way to make sure your care is supported as you age without overburdening those who love you.

STATEPOINT

When it comes to planning their retirement, most people will rely upon their savings, 401(k)s and other forms of income to provide the security they will need for that phase of life.

However, many don’t consider a crucial need for their later years: long-term care insurance.

In fact, a recent Forbes study revealed only about one-quarter of adults nearing retirement have seriously considered getting long-term care insurance or a savings account dedicated to long-term care expenses.

Further, many consumers mistakenly think their health insurance or Medicaid will cover various aspects of long-term care services when that might not be the case. In a LIMRA study, 29% of respondents said they believe they own some form of stand-alone long-term care insurance coverage or combination life/long-term care insurance coverage. The data shows long-term care ownership is closer to 3.1%.

So why are Americans neglecting this aspect of financial planning? For many, common misconceptions are preventing them from being prepared. Here are six myths about longterm care and the truth you might not know from Bankers Life, a national life and health insurance brand.

PeopleImages / iStock via Getty Images Plus

MYTH #1

I won’t need long-term care.

Reality: Needing help with such daily activities as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting and continence, among others, may seem like an unlikely scenario. However, about 70% of people aged 65 and older will need some type of long-term care during their lifetime, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

MYTH #2

My family will take care of me.

Reality: Physical, financial and geographical limitations prevent many people from caring for their aging relatives, even if they intended to. That’s why it’s important to be prepared to pay for the long-term care you may need some day.

MYTH #3

Medicare will cover my long-term care.

Reality: Medicare is designed to cover acute care, or the care you need when you’re sick and will eventually recover from an illness. It doesn’t cover ongoing Activities of Daily Living services when those are the only care you need. Long-term care insurance is designed to help cover ongoing custodial care services, which includes assistance with dressing, bathing, eating or other Activities of Daily Living.

MYTH #4

I’ll use my Social Security benefits to pay for long-term care.

Reality: Long-term care is expensive, with homemaker services costing $163 per day on average and a semi-private room in a nursing home costing $260 per day on average, according to SeniorLiving.org. Even the maximum monthly Social Security benefit of $3,6275 won’t cover these amounts.

MYTH #5

Nursing homes are the only option.

Reality: When you hear “long-term care,” you may immediately think “nursing home,” but today there are a wide variety of services available that you may receive at a facility, in the community or in the comfort of your own home.

Owning long-term care insurance can help ensure you receive the care you need on your terms—where and how you want it.

MYTH #5

I will get long-term care insurance later, when I need it.

Reality: Qualifying for long-term care insurance coverage after you’re diagnosed with an illness is difficult. Applying for long-term care insurance at a younger age helps you qualify for coverage and lock in lower premiums. For this reason, many people purchase long-term care insurance in their 50s when they’re still in good health.

For more information on long-term care insurance, reach out to a Bankers Life agent, or visit bankerslife.com.

By incorporating long-term care insurance into your retirement plans, you can help prepare yourself for a comfortable future, come what may.

The Senior LinkAge Line is a free service, offered by the State of Minnesota, for older adults and their families to find community services or plan for their future.

Down the garden path

Mary Holm, who has hosted “Prairie Yard & Garden” on Pioneer PBS for 10 years, is the guest speaker at Life Connections this year. She and her husband, Tom, will be talking all about container gardening at the annual event.

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Prairie Yard & Garden’s Mary Holm showcasing her green thumb at Life Connections

BY SHELBY LINDRUD West Central Tribune

WILLMAR — As this year’s Life Connections guest speaker, Mary Holm will be sharing just a small bit of the horticulture knowledge she has gained over a lifetime of gardening. For the last 10 years, Holm has been taking viewers to some of the best gardens across Minnesota and the Dakotas as the host of “Prairie Yard & Garden” on Pioneer PBS.

But, her connection with gardening goes back much further than that. She grew up gardening, first as a child on the family farm in Strasburg, North Dakota.

“We mostly lived off what we could grow,” Holm said.

This project is made possibleinpar tunder the FederalOlderAmericansAct throughan awardfrom theMinnesotaRiverAreaAgenc yonAgingunderan Area Plan approved by theMinnesotaBoardonAging.

This project is made possible in part under the Federal Older Americans Act through an award from the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging under an Area Plan approved by the Minnesota BoardonAging.

•Caregivers •Dementia

Groupsare hostedatBethesdacampuses in: New London and Willmar.

Contributed Photos / Pioneer PBS

She then continued on down the garden path, attending North Dakota State University and earning a degree in agriculture and working for NSDU Extension for a few years. She and her husband, Tom, an agriculture educator, owned and operated Neche Greenhouse and Garden Center for more than 20 years, and Holm was also the executive director of the North Dakota Nursery, Greenhouse and Landscape Association for 19 years.

When a job opportunity arose for Tom Holm at the University of Minnesota West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris, the couple headed to central Minnesota. Tom Holm helped with the gardens at the center, while Holm took a job at Morning Sky Greenery, a native plant nursery.

“That was a new experience for me,” Holm said. “I learned about natives.”

In 2014, an exciting new gardening gig fell into Holm’s lap. She had been friends with Mike Cihak, producer of the long-running “Prairie Yard & Garden” show on Pioneer PBS, for some time. At a meeting with Cihak around the time the show was changing hosts, Holm had mentioned to Cihak she thought that would be a fun job.

Mary Holm, left, has been able to visit gardens across the upper Midwest as host of “Prairie Yard & Garden.”

“A month later, he called me,” Holm said.

The new host that had been hired was dealing with some health issues, and Cihak asked if Holm would be interested in filling in. She ended up hosting 10 episodes that first season and never looked back. Holm celebrates her 10th year as host in 2024, and also the show’s 38th year.

“I have the best job in the world,” Holm said. “I get to meet the most wonderful people and see such great things.”

The show’s main goal is to showcase the great work gardeners, researchers, farmers and other horticulture professionals and hobbyists are doing in the Upper Midwest while at the same time educating viewers.

“We provide good information about horticulture in the Upper Midwest, because we are different up here than the rest of the United States,” Holm said, adding she has learned a great deal about gardening from guests on the show.

It is difficult for Holm to choose just one favorite location or shoot. There was the time a mouse nearly caused her to lose her cool during an interview, or when a goat butted producer Cihak. She has visited unique gardens — including a Shakespeare garden in Wessington Springs, South Dakota — and was honored to interview three sets of parents who planted memorial gardens in honor of their children who had died.

“You had these people talking about their children and the pain they were

going through, but having these memorial gardens, using that as a way to remember their children,” Holm said. “It was hard but really awesome to do that show.”

Holm has also seen how gardening has changed over the last decade. Gardeners have become more mindful of pollinators, and are now planting polliantor-friendly plants, taking more care when using pesticides and herbicides and are watching how they clean up in the fall and spring so as not to disturb potential habitat.

“People are gardening more intentionally,” Holm said.

Children are also getting involved, both in their family gardens and at school. Holm has spoken with many students who are managing school greenhouses full of technology or growing lettuce in hydroponic gardens. Holm is a big believer in letting kids get their hands dirty and help with the garden. She thinks they are more likely to try and consume vegetables if they have a hand in growing them.

“It is so great to see the kids involved like this,” Holm said.

One way of gardening that has really grown in popularity is by using containers or raised beds. This allows those with limited space to still grow flowers and vegetables, even if it is just from a small apartment balcony. Holm’s talk at Life Connections will focus on container gardening, specifically with flowers.

There are many unique gardening, horticulture and agriculture businesses across the region, and “Prairie Yard & Garden” host Mary Holm has enjoyed spreading their stories. Pictured here, Holm, right, interviews Karla Overland, owner of Cherrywood in Baxter. The company specializes in hand-dyed fabric.

Activities That Enrich Your Lifestyle * Banking That Saves You Money

The Good Neighbor Club has several outings planned and would like you to join us on some of them:

Upcoming activities to look forward to:

May 9th The Fabulous Lipitones

May 15th Mystic Lake Casino

May 20th Gertens Plant Shopping and time for lunch at Eden Prairie Mall

June 5th Beautiful – Chanhassen Dinner Theatre

June 13th Come From Away – Ordway Center

June 29th Minnesota Twins vs, Tampa Bay Rays

July 15th-22nd Limited Space is available for our Colorado Rail adventure

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A great fall Trip is planned September 22nd-28th California Kaleidoscope: Just as a kaleidoscope provides ever-changing views of patterns and colors so does this incredible journey through spectacular northern California. The graceful, red lines of the Golden Gate Bridge that sweeps over the brilliant shimmering blue of San Francisco Bay is just the beginning of your adventure. Stroll through the natural beauty of redwood forests and drink in the vibrant colors of Napa Valley while sipping delicious wines. Travel by rail through the Sierra Nevada Mountains to see some of North American’s most spectacular scenery and cruise on Lake Tahoe, one of the world’s most scenic Alpine lakes.

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Please call me at 320-214-3009 for full brochure!

I have the best job in the world. “I get to meet the most wonderful people and see such great things.

- Mary Holm

Tom Holm will also be on hand to share his knowledge regarding the nutrition needs of container plantings. Mary Holm said the duo will have a PowerPoint presentation and handouts, and will have time for some questions and answers at the end.

“I hope people will come and enjoy and maybe learn something,” she said.

Gardening in all of its forms has a multitude of benefits. This includes being able to harvest and consume your own foodstuffs.

“It is fun to pick a cucumber or a tomato,” and make a tasty meal with them, Holm said. “I survived the winter just for this.”

There are the environmental benefits to gardening as well. The more food grown and consumed in communities the better, as it reduces the miles a crop has to travel before arriving in people’s kitchens. It also means people are more aware of where their food is coming from and how it is produced.

And then there is the mental well-being one can achieve while puttering around outside. Gardening can help grow and cultivate a relationship between the gardener and the nature around them. Holm said there is nothing like weeding or digging a garden, disconnecting from the modern day and being able to hear the birds sing or watch a butterfly float by.

“You are in tune with nature, and I think that is good for your soul,” Holm said.

Mary Holm, front center, has loved seeming how children and students are getting involved in gardening and agriculture though school programs and at home.

Don’t toss that ‘junk’ while spring cleaning, it may be valuable

STATEPOINT

From baseball cards and sports equipment to postcards and photographs, is that “junk” in your attic or basement dusty treasure or just dusty? We’ve all heard of families getting rich from the sale of rare memorabilia they found when spring cleaning.

A little time spent determining if items are valuable and where to sell them can pay off in the long run.

“The sale of older sports cards, postcards and photographs can yield thousands of dollars, even tens of thousands or more for the right ones,” said Al Crisafulli, auction director at Love of the Game Auctions, an internet sports auction house that helps families identify and sell valuable sports cards and memorabilia.

Crisafulli has assisted people in selling tens of millions of dollars of baseball card collections, autographs, sports equipment and more. Such sales can be life changing. In one instance, he researched a family’s old baseball bat and proved it was game used by Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig. His Love of the Game Auctions sold it for almost half a million dollars, a figure which would top

a million dollars today.

Here are some of his tips to determine if your sports collectibles are valuable: The older, the better with cards

Vintage sports cards from the early periods of sports are collectible, especially Hall of Famers. Do you have stars from the 1960s, 1950s or earlier? Look for names like Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner or Ty Cobb. Even non-star cards can be valuable, especially in nice condition with sharp corners and no creases. Really early cards from the 1880s through the 1930s are particularly desirable, such as those by tobacco, gum and candy brands, such as Old Judge, Piedmont, Sweet Caporal, American Caramel, Goudey or Diamond Stars. When determining where to sell cards and memorabilia, focus on a specialty auction house, such as Love of the Game, which employs trained experts in researching sports ephemera, and maintains bidder lists of sports collectors. More information is available at loveofthegameauctions.com.

See CLEANING, Page 19

Delpixart / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Kingery Family, Larry Olsen Polka Band to entertain at Life Connections

Bringing Natures Healing and Well-being to Seniors, Veterans, and the Disabled

Let’s Go Fishing has always had at its core the desire to serve older adults in our community. Veterans of all ages, from young men and women who have recently returned from overseas conflicts to those in our greatest generation, deserve our support, appreciation, and help. Often, disabled adults are not able to take advantage of all that nature has to offer. Let’s Go Fishing is committed to making our fishing and boating trips are accessible to all.

WEST CENTRAL TRIBUNE

The Kingery Family and the Larry Olsen Polka Band will take their show to the stage at the 2024 Life Connections event April 26 at the Willmar Civic Center.

The Kingery Family, of the Atwater-Grove City area, will begin their set at 11:30 a.m. Friday.

The group began as a family of 10 — Mike, Chris and their eight children — singing and ministering together through music. It has grown to include three sons-in-law and seven grandchildren. They have enjoyed singing together for the past 19 years. They sing primarily gospel bluegrass music, while also incorporating fiddle, patriotic, Americana and a capella styles. Their combination of tight harmonies, uplifting songs and family unity are sure to encourage all.

The Larry Olsen Polka Band will entertain the afternoon crowd beginning at 2 p.m., following afternoon BINGO. Attendees are welcome to wear their dancing shoes and kick up their heels in front of the main stage.

The Larry Olsen Polka Band — featuring Larry Olsen, Al Drage, Dale Tolk and Rich Roepke — is a four-man concertina group out of Lake Benton. The group was formed in 1982, and got its start as the Larry Olsen Show, performing polka favorites around Minnesota and the Dakotas.

Contributed

The Larry Olsen Band — featuring Larry Olsen, Al Drage, Dale Tolk and Rich Roepke — is a four-man concertina group out of Lake Benton.

The Kingery family, of the Atwater-Grove City area, will perform at 11 a.m. Friday, April 26, at the Willmar Civic Center.

Contributed / Eric Vest Photography Inc.

Association.

How to build a healthy money mindset for a stable financial future

STATEPOINT

Building and managing your wealth is a lifelong process that can have major implications for you, your children and other beneficiaries. While your path to building wealth should be tailored to your circumstances, this three-pronged approach from Freddie Mac can help you plan for a stable financial future.

1. Understand your money mindset: Understanding your relationship with money can help you identify opportunities to create healthier spending and saving habits. A positive outlook toward money can provide you with a strong base on which to build wealth and achieve goals. Conversely, a negative outlook can make you reluctant to take the steps you need to establish a strong financial history. For example, being overly focused on displaying wealth can lead to overusing credit. Likewise, becoming preoccupied with financial success to the point of anxiety can prevent you from spending the wealth you do have on items you need and want to live comfortably. By recognizing the factors that influence how you spend and save, you can make new choices that better support your financial goals.

See MONEY, Page 19

Setting tangible financial goals is the first step to creating a stable financial future for you and your loved ones.

Jacob Wackerhausen / iStock via Getty Images Plus

Susan Honken

Life Connections to honor outstanding senior volunteer in west central Minnesota

WEST CENTRAL TRIBUNE

WILLMAR — The selection of an outstanding senior for the year is a favorite feature of Life Connections. This year will be the 14th year of the award. The award will be presented at 9:45 a.m. Friday, April 26.

The Outstanding Senior Award is given to an individual age 50 or older who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment that benefits the community and its citizens.

Leadership qualities include creativity, volunteerism, responsibility, problem-solving, respectfulness, cooperation and organizational skills.

Nominees must live in Kandiyohi, Swift, Chippewa, Renville, Meeker, Pope or Stearns counties.

The winner will receive a $100 award, plus $100 donated to the charity of his or her choice. In addition, the person providing the nomination will receive $50. Nominations must include a description of the projects, activities and/or volunteerism the person has been involved in; the end results and benefits of the individual’s efforts and contributions; and comments as to how this person’s efforts have helped to make their community a better place. For more information, call 320-214-4317 or email csteffel@wctrib. com. Sponsor of the award is West Central Sanitation of Willmar.

2023 recipient

Paul Hedin, of Willmar, received the Outstanding Senior Award in 2023. He

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Create aLasting Legacy. Build Community.

Patrick Goebel of West Central Sanitation, at left, congratulates Paul Hedin after presenting him with the Outstanding Senior Award during Life Connections at the Willmar Civic Center on Friday, April 21, 2023. Macy Moore / West Central Tribune

was nominated by Deb Van Buren, volunteer services manager for CentraCare Hospice in Willmar.

“Paul is a such an amazing volunteer, and we are so blessed to have him as one of our CentraCare Hospice volunteers working in the Willmar service area for the past 11 years, donating more than 200 hours of loving, compassionate service to those in need of support in the final stages of their final journey on this side of glory,” Van Buren said in her nomination letter.

Ourgoalis to empoweryou to leverage yourgifts andamplify yourimpact to make the community youlove abetterplace. Youcantrustthe Willmar Area Community Foundation to bein touchwiththe needsof your community.

“

Hedin, who served in the United States Air Force from 1969 to 1972, is involved in CentraCare’s “We Honor Veterans” program, which is designed to recognize and thank veteran patients for their service.

performed dozens of ceremonies for our veteran patients as we salute and recognize them for their service to our country — whether that be on the front lines or more behind the scenes,” Van Buren wrote. “Paul is able to provide critical support, compassion and companionship to the veteran patients, as he is able to reminisce with them and create a special bond sharing their experiences in military service.”

Ihavetheopportunity to makeanundeniable impact to manyofmyfavoritecharitable causes. Itrustthe Foundation to putthe dollarsintherightplaces,knowing Iam making adifferencelocallyandin realtime.

“As a veteran volunteer, Paul has

In addition to his duties as a veteran volunteer, Hedin also works as a patient volunteer, making weekly visits to hospice patients and helping to coordinate final wishes, whether it be one final airplane ride, one more opportunity to catch a big fish, or just a trip to the cemetery to visit a patient’s spouse.

-WACFDONOR

”

2. Set and manage goals: Establishing and maintaining a set of defined financial goals is the next step when building wealth. Think about what you would like to accomplish over the short-, medium- and long-term, and make a savings plan to help you get there. It’s also important to take actions to safeguard your accumulated savings. This includes being mindful of inflation, guarding your information from scammers, and planning for unforeseen circumstances and emergencies.

3. Be prepared: Building an emergency fund can help you maintain financial stability by putting you in a better position to weather unexpected financial circumstances, such as a loss of income, unplanned medical bills or property damage from a storm. Creating an emergency budget can help you gauge how much you need to save, but in general, you should save up enough money to cover three to six months of your typical monthly expenses. Keep this money separate from your other savings, and don’t touch it until it’s needed. Additionally, having adequate homeowners or renters insurance will help ensure that your wealth is protected in certain unexpected circumstances. Familiarize yourself with your coverage so you understand what is and isn’t covered by your policy. Want to know more about managing

money and establishing wealth? Whether you’re renting a home, are on the path to homeownership or saving for the future, Freddie Mac’s CreditSmart, which is available in English and Spanish, offers free personalized financial educational resources. Visit creditsmart. freddiemac.com to learn more.

By adopting a healthy money mindset and setting tangible financial goals, you’ll be well on your way to a stable financial future for you and your loved ones.

CLEANING, From PAGE 15

Don’t overlook memorabilia and equipment

Cards aren’t the only potentially valuable things. Look for older promotional and advertising ephemera spotlighting sports stars, especially items that promote sporting goods, food or tobacco brands. Ads from magazines aren’t valuable, but store displays, signs and premiums can be pricey.

Old sporting goods and equipment, such as balls, bats, gloves and uniforms, can also be valuable, especially if you had a family member who played minor or major league sports. Note that items from before the 1960s are highly collected. Also look for equipment endorsed by star players. Condition matters, but game-used equipment from professionals can be valuable in almost any condition.

Save postcards and photographs

If you have old photographs, cabinet

cards or postcards of sports stars or ballparks, they should be evaluated. Those from pre-1960 can be expensive. Look for early “real photo” postcards from the 1900s through the 1940s, which are photographs printed on postcard backs.

Popular stars are key, meaning original images like Babe Ruth or early ballparks can be valuable, as opposed to images of your family members playing sports or of popular vacation destinations. When examining photographs, look for markings on the back, such as photographer, publication and date stamps. Also set aside cabinet cards, which are photographs from the 1880s through the 1930s adhered to cardboard stock.

“A good rule of thumb is that the older a sports item is, the more valuable it might be, especially from before the 1950s going back to the 1880s,” Crisafulli said.

This spring cleaning season, don’t rush to haul “junk” to the curb. Examine it first.

About Chris Cakes

A Pancake Grill is Born!

During the 1960’s, the local Kiwanis Club in Pocahontas, Iowa, was preparing for their annual pancake supper. Since the preparation and presentation of the meal was labor intensive, requiring a large group of men, the idea of building a portable grill capable of serving large groups of people in a short span of time was con -

trived by Mr. Lorin Christiansen. His idea was to build the grill and reduce the workload at the pancake event and, occasionally, lease the grill to other groups. However, since Lorin was the primary cook and always the entertainment it was natural that he and his grill become a team. Thus, Chris Cakes Pancake Catering was founded.

The Catering Business Grows

The business catered to civic organizations initially but soon the agricultural implement dealers, tire manufacturers and other businesses in the area were calling to have Lorin provide the food and entertainment for their customer appreciation days, grand openings and employee appreciation days. The serving area soon expanded to include Iowa, Minnesota, North and South Dakota and a small portion of Nebraska. During the ensuing years, churches, schools and more civic organizations were looking upon the pancake feeds as a great fundraising idea. The name Chris Cakes was becoming well known throughout the area and soon the Des Moines Register–who sponsors

Event Game Plan

Chris Cakes provides its own blend of pancake mix – which is sold in over 200 specialty shops and supermarkets – maple syrup, sausage, margarine, orange drink, coffee and all tableware at each of its pancake feeds. It takes approximately one and one half hours to set up and one hour to break down and only requires their host to provide the place, table and chairs, and four to eight people to help serve, depending on the number of to be served. There is no charge for the fun and entertainment that is provided.

the bike ride across Iowa called “RAGBRAI”–was interested in the catering service. Soon, other bike rides, fishing tournaments and additional fundraising organizations were calling regarding the catering service that provides a great meal prepared fast, efficient and reasonably priced with a fun time for all who attend. In January, 1992, the business was sold to Coterie Enterprises, Inc. a Missouri based Corporation that is family owned. The owners, Gregg, Donna, Darren, Evonne and Ted White continue to operate the business as Chris Cakes and have expanded the original five states to eight by including the states of Illinois, Oklahoma, and Texas.