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The Interview Issue! Colbie Caillat, Robert Kleinendorst of Paul Taylor Dance Company, Artist Rachelle Reis Branum, and Chef Matt Henning! Plus Food and Fitness in Schools, Life After the Foster System, Iowa City Boxed(IN), Tailgating food, make a turkey hat and more!
Citation preview
Inspire(d).magazine
i. l ve
Life After the System
Food & Fitness in Schools!
Iowa City Boxed (IN)
Let’s Goooo Tailgating!
FREE!An experiment in positive news from the Driftless Region. Fall 2011 No. 27
Put on Your Arty Pants
Carbon Neutral Inspire(d) + DigIN! W
in a trip to
Iowa City,
and Englert
Theatre
GREG BROWN
tickets!!
! Wow!
Educate.
Motivate.
Inspire.
Like Inspire(d) Media on Facebook! XOXO
The Passing Zone presents GRAVITY ATTACKS! Saturday, September 17, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored in part by Gundersen Lutheran—Decorah Clinic
Garrison Keillor The Aura of Flora in DecorahTuesday, September 27, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored in part by Decorah Bank and Trust Company
The Rose EnsembleIl Poverello: Exploring the Life and Deeds of St. Francis of AssisiThursday, October 6, 7:30 p.m.
Paul Taylor Dance Company Thursday, November 3, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored in part by the Paul Taylor Dance Foundation
This presentation is supported by the Performing Arts Fund, a program of Arts Midwest, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional contributions from Iowa Arts Council, General Mills Foundation, and Land O’Lakes Foundation.
Caroline Worra ’91, operatic sopranoThursday, November 17, 7:30 p.m.
Center Stage Series2011–12
A Celebratory Sesquicentennial Series— you’ll want to be part of every show!
Center for Faith and Life, Luther College, Decorah, Iowa
Special thanks to event sponsors, as well as media supporters KVIK, KDEC, and Inspire(d) Media, for lifting up the arts.
Center Stage Series tickets: http://centerstage.luther.edu, 563-387-1357, [email protected].
03
AN INTERVIEW WITH COLBIE CAILLAT
FOOD AND FITNESS IN SCHOOLS
WHY DO THE LEAVES TURN COLORS IN THE FALL?
BOXED (IN): IOWA CITY
DECORAH ARTIST RACHELLE REIS BRANUM
CARBON NEUTRAL INSPIRE(D)
DANCER/LUTHER ALUM ROBERT KLEINENDORST Q&A
FOSTERING A POSITIVE FUTURE
CHEF ON THE BLOCK: VICTORIES’ MATT HENNING
A LETTER FROM SANTA
...and more!
1214
20
22
31
34405258
61
FALL 2011contents
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011
ON THE COVER:Aryn always gets a little weak in the knees when the school supplies hit the shelves. So of course, she was super ex-cited when she planned and shot this cover. Plus – you see what it says in that “ripped” corner? That’s right: we’re giving away Greg Brown tickets. See how to enter on page 24!
MISSISSIPPI MIRTH: TAILGATING 62
PROBITUARY: THE MOORES 66
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Mon - Fri 9-5 Thursday 9-8Saturday 9-5
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EL
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fleeceFEATHERfleeceFEATHER
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AN
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FLA
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EL fleeceFALL FASHIONfleece
FUN for you!
“ohhh...he’s fine!”
BE A FACEBOOK
FAN!
W O M E N • P A S S I O N • B U S I N E S S
SEPTEMBER 15-17 2011 * ST. PAUL, MN * THE CROWNE PLAZA
PRESENTING SPONSOR
PARTNERSBLOgHER HANdMAdE
VOgUEkNiTTiNg
MARyJANESFARM
WHERE WOMEN CREATE
WHERE WOMEN COOk
STAMPiNgTON & COMPANy
THE DATES
BlogHer Handmade Social Media Panels
Welcome Dinner
TCC 60 Handmade Workshops
Market Place
The place for unique handmade items, products, and over 48 of your favorite authors autographing their books.
MaryJanesFarm Food Day
20 food and cooking classes
TCC 60 Handmade Workshops
Market Place
THURS.SEPT15
FRi.SEPT16
SAT.SEPT
17
REgiSTER TOdAy AT…Holly Becker - Decor8
A s I’m writing, the President is just leaving our lovely little town. And in October, the King and Queen of Norway will make their way here. What IS it about
this place?!? I am truly in awe, and am feeling particularly inspire(d) this morning. Sure, I’ve had to postpone the printing of this magazine TWICE. First because, well, it’s hard work to make a magazine. But the second time was because of Decorah’s amazing opportunity to host the president of our great county. For some reason, it all reminded me of my days as a Postville High School cheerleader. I remembered feeling proud of my home – even if we had to do our school plays in a gymnasium and that there were so few people in band I left the sidelines at halftime to march and play trumpet… still in my cheerleading uniform. It’s patriotism, and I want to remind people it is not a bad word. It’s not that different from school pride. It’s fun to believe in what you’re part of – and to actually be a part of it, finding solutions for a country you love. There’s no point in focusing on the past or looking to the future with anything but positivity. Together... voting, talking, volunteering... we will move forward. I am certain we are – all of us – unstoppable.
It’s exciting. When we started Inspire(d) – four years ago this October (!) – I had this same feeling: that people would come together and our region would be unstoppable. Benji and I are so grateful that you, dear readers, have given us this opportunity to realize our dreams. We hope to keep growing and going – and while we’re on that subject: We’ve entered the Dream Big, Grow Here grant contest! Go to dreambiggrowhere.com every day from September 3 to 23 to vote for us, pretty please! We could win $5,000 to keep building Inspire(d)!
In this Fall issue, we’ve listened to our readers – you want Q&A, we’ll give you Q&A! We’ve got interviews with Colbie Caillat, Luther alum Rob Klienendorst of the Paul Taylor Dance Company, local artist Rachelle Reis Branum, and the region’s newest restaurant’s chef, Matt Henning of Victories!
We also have some great features – Kristine Kopperud Jepsen writes an eye-opening piece about a new endeavor in town: Project Care. Brainchild of Kirsten Heine, Project Care offers assistance to foster kids in the region who are graduating and, thus, “aging out”. Inspire(d) newcomer Flannery Cerbin tells us more about the Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative, and Benji and I explore how to make Inspire(d) carbon neutral! We’ve pledged to reduce our carbon footprint over 2012, and we’ll keep you in the loop on how it goes. In the meantime, learn about how even your toilet paper choice has an impact on the environment!
Finally, Boxed (IN) goes to my alma mater: University of Iowa and Iowa City! We had so much fun researching this story, and guess what?!? We’re giving away a package that includes Englert Theatre tickets to Greg Brown, a stay at the lovely Brown Street Inn, and amazing tapas and cocktails at Inspire(d)’s favorite IC restaurant, Devotay! See page 24 for details on how to enter! And in the spirit of Iowa City, fall, and food, Jim McCaffrey entertains us with tales of tailgating!
There’s lots more. SO MUCH GOES ON in the fall! Take some time to align your calendars, and then get out there and have some fun!
Looking forward,
Aryn Henning Nichols
CORRECTIONS:
In the Summer 2011 issue, we made a few mistakes. Please accept our apologies.
1. In the story “Leap. The Net Will Appear.”, credit for two photos inadvertently got left off. The photo of the Spencer-Berg family that spreads across pages 22 and 23 and the one of Kaj Specer-Berg in the upper right hand corner were both by Jeanine Scheffert. Jeanine, we are so sorry for this oversight! Thank you for your talents.2. In the Spring Grove “Tall – No…Giant Tales” Giants of the Earth story, the sentence regarding male’s y chromosomes should not have read infinity. Learn more about this and so much more at springgrovemnheritagecenter.org. 05
Looking forward,
Aryn Henning Nichols
Co-founders:Aryn Henning Nichols / editor & designer
Benji Nichols / writer & advertising sales(& husband, support team, dinner-maker)
We couldn’t do it without:Kristine Kopperud Jepsen/ contributor
Lauren Kraus/ contributor
Flannery Cerbin/ contributor
Jim McCaffrey/ Mississippi Mirth
Inspiremagazine
From the Editor
Inspire(d) Magazine is published quarterly by Inspire(d)
Media, LLC, 412 Oak Street, Decorah, Iowa, 52101. This is-
sue is dated Fall 2011, issue 27, volume 4, Copyright 2011 by
Inspire(d) Magazine.
Although Inspire(d) is free on the newsstands, you can have it sent to your door for only $25/year. Email
[email protected] for a membership or visit
theinspiremedia.com for more info.
Want to make a comment about something you read in
the magazine?Email
Interested in advertising? Contact Benji at
[email protected] call 563-387-6290.
Write inspire(d)
support inspire(d)
Visit our website:theinspiredmedia.com
“Like” Inspire(d) Media on Facebook!
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com06
Seed Savers Exchange3074 North Winn Road, Decorah, IA
563-382-5990 • seedsavers.org
Saturday, October 8, 1-4pmThis free event includes soup cook-off, tours,
music, cider pressing & more
Seed-To-SeedSunday, October 9, 10am-2pm
Learn the A-Z of saving your own seeds in this full day workshop. Registration required. Box lunch included with workshop fee.
Visit seedsavers.org for more information.
H a r v e s t F e s t i va l
Happify your creative side!
Welcom
e
to
207 WAShIngton STREet, DecOrah, iowaWWw.THEclaySTudioDecOrah.com • 563.517.1022
Take a class. Schedule a party. Walk by & pop in to paint a quick pot. We can’t wait to see you!
1. September 1: Vesterheim Opening Reception for the exhibition “Sigvald Asbjørnsen, Sculptor.” 5-7 p.m. Free Thursday! Exhibition on view until Sept. 3, 2012. vesterheim.org.
2. September 2: ArtHaus First Friday: Maritza! Join us from 8 – 10 pm at the ArtHaus Studio Courtyard for live music with Decorah’s own Balkan boogie band! $8/$6 students. arthausdecorah.org
3. September 3: Tomato Tasting at Seed Savers Exchange! This free event includes tomato seed saving workshops, salsa contest, hayrides, kids activities & music, 1-4pm. seedsavers.org
4. September 10: Winneshiek Co. United Way Book and Bake Sale 8 am – 12 pm. Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Iowa Ave., Decorah - Support 17 local agencies! Call 563-379-1129 to donate books.
5. September 16: Baker London Presents: Dewi Sant at ArtHaus! Come and support Minnesota songwriter, Michael Morris’s latest project, Dewi Sant in the ArtHaus Studio Courtyard, 8pm/$5 arthausdecorah.org
6. September 17-18: Driftless Area Art Festival, Soldiers Grove, WI. Experience painters, potters, woodworkers, weavers, metal-smiths, musicians, vintners, and brewmasters in a beautiful scenic setting! www.driftlessareaartfestival.com
7. September 17: Luther CSS - The Passing Zone: Gravity Attacks! Luther Alumni Jon Wee (’88) and Owen Morse celebrate 25 years of lighting things on fire and throwing them around, 7:30 pm www.luther.edu/programming/centerstage
8. September 17: Kickapoo BRAVE Ride, Choose from 20-40-60-100 mile ride and enjoy post ride Harvest Dinner of local food and beer! www.crawfordcountywi.com/brave.htm
9. September 20: Lake Superior, North Country, the great fresh-water expanse. Frigid. Bountiful. Lethal. Wildly beautiful. Duluth author Danielle Sosin reads from The Long-Shining Waters, Dragonfly Books, Decorah, 7:30 pm. www.dragonflybooks.com
11. September 22: Bluff Country Artist’s Gallery CHICK NIGHT in Spring Grove 5-8 p.m. Shopping - Dining – Sales! Visit local businesses & earn a free movie at the SG Cinema! www.bluffcountryartistsgallery.org
12. September 22-24: Boats and Bluegrass is a family friendly music festival held on the Mississippi River in Winona, MN. Tickets and info at www.boatsandbluegrass.com
Check out these fantastic fall activities! In chronological order, each event’s number coincides with the number on the calendar!
25W/$25B
Looking for more details about events on the calendars?
Continued on page 9.
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11
12
13
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15
16
17
18
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Art
Hau
s Fi
rst
Frid
ay:
Mar
itza
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rtH
aus
Cou
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pm
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rusp
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ty’s
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ther
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ert
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wa
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sten
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peri
ence
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gler
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pm
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ick
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a C
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bie
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cert
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ther
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ter
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terh
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sday
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sday
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rst
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ay
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chin
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rtis
ts
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ork”
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/ E
mbe
r Sc
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m
Har
vest
Fe
stiv
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eed
Sav
ers,
D
ecor
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1-4
pm
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ters
of
the
Fidd
le,
Gal
lagh
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Blu
edor
n,
UN
I, 7
:30
pm
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Peo
ple
Bro
s. B
and,
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aym
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t
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t 1
4:
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ht O
ut A
t th
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useu
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ldre
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ts C
ente
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umm
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rts
&
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anit
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all t
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he a
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rt
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psta
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pm
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rt C
olle
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n D
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alla
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:30
pm
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stor
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rtH
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pm
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appy
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allo
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cam
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Win
nesh
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ket,
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W
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sday
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turd
ays
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rish
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t, P
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anis
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lert
The
atre
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a C
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aste
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3
4
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10
11
13
14
12
16
17
18
Oct
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Oct
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se
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sing
, IA
8:3
0 p
m
The
Unc
le, H
aym
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t, 9
pm
OCT 15
Oct
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mer
ican
Cra
ft W
eek
Oct
10
–1
2: A
nnua
l Win
nesh
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Cel
ebra
tion
of
Life
, Elk
’s L
odge
, Dec
orah
5-8
pm
Oct
7-8
& 1
4-1
5: Y
e O
lde
Ope
ra H
ouse
pre
sent
s ‘P
laza
Sui
te’,
7 p
m
Oct
. 13
: Th
eir
Maj
esti
es K
ing
Har
ald
V &
Que
en S
onja
of N
orw
ay
visi
t Lu
ther
Col
lege
Oct
. 22
: Tro
mbo
ne S
hort
y &
Orl
eans
A
venu
e, E
ngle
rt, I
owa
City
, 8 p
m
Oct
. 23
: Lily
Cai
Chi
nese
Dan
ce
Co.
, Gal
lagh
er B
lued
orn,
UN
I, 3
pm
20
Oct
. 7: B
ig D
addy
Cad
e, H
aym
arke
tO
ct. 8
: KP
VL
Fall
Soi
ree,
Elk
’s L
odge
, Dec
orah
, 7pm
22
23
21 25
Sep
t 3
0 –
Oct
1 –
Uff
Da
Fest
/
Fest
ival
of Q
uilt
s, S
prin
g G
rove
Sep
t 9
-11
: S
team
En
gine
D
ays,
Mab
el
T-B
ock’
s O
pen
Sta
ge
Nig
ht
Dan
ielle
S
osin
A
utho
r R
eadi
ng,
Dra
gonf
ly
Boo
ks,
7:3
0 p
m
9
Sep
t 2
4: F
all
Fun
Them
e W
eeke
nds
begi
n at
P
inte
r’s
Gar
dens
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pkin
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15
Frie
nds
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ecor
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ary
“Boo
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uy &
don
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6-8
pm
19
18
24 Oct
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City
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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com08
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Mon
day
Tues
day
Sun
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Wed
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ayTh
ursd
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iday
Sat
urda
y
12
30
Nov
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erfun stuff to do
25 W
ord
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5 Bu
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Cal
enda
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alw
ays
an e
xciti
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at In
spir
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Hea
dqua
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Just
how
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can
we
fit o
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th?!
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p to
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wha
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e’ve
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thes
e lo
vely
pag
es h
as b
een
entir
ely
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rial
and
sub
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ive.
We
figur
e, h
ey,
you
like
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mag
azin
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o yo
u’ll
prob
ably
like
the
fun
stuf
f to
do t
hat
we
pick
out
fr
om a
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love
ly
read
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frie
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and
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tel
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Thos
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fun
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th
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lend
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nd in
the
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pur
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o ge
t th
e w
ord
out
with
out
brea
king
the
ban
k.
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exam
ple:
See
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told
you
abo
ut o
ur a
maz
ing
fictio
nal p
arty
in ju
st 2
5 w
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! On
the
visu
al c
alen
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the
one
at
left
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will
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sted
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ith a
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Insp
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Wor
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G
reat
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Par
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Insp
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vite
s yo
u to
the
wor
ld’s
gre
ates
t pa
rty
in t
he
wor
ld’s
gre
ates
t ve
nue!
We’
ll ha
ve a
maz
ing
amou
nts
of fu
n!
See
you
the
re! T
ime,
day
, mon
th.
1
1
26
Nov
. 11
-12
, 16
, 18
-19
: Lu
ther
The
atre
/D
ance
, ‘S
prin
g A
wak
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Jew
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heat
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Pau
l Tay
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7:3
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Ves
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Fr
ee
Thur
sday
, Ev
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Thur
sday
!
DJ
Sm
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H
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othe
r Th
urs.
9 p
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Art
Hau
s Fi
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Frid
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Art
by
Pau
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ude,
7-9
pm
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ple
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and,
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. 5: J
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& V
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ce,
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ail “
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“Dec
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ill Su
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lk’s
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m
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ngle
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ter,
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a C
ity, (
Win
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0:
The
Nut
crac
ker
–
MN
Bal
let
($1
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alla
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ving
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ts 5
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Foun
tain
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jos,
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22
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m
Vet
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ter
Ann
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ala
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kon
Fire
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Oct
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ovem
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edor
n, 7
:30
pm
29
28
30
31
32
33
27
Ves
terh
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Thur
sday
,
Thur
sday
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edia
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Ash
ley,
Mar
ty’s
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Visit Vesterheim in Decorah!
Norwegian sweaters, jewelry,
books, CDs, original artwork,
and other great items.
New Museum Store in the Westby-Torgerson
Education Centeron the corner of Water and Mechanic Streets
Preserving a heritage. Connecting us all.523 W. Water St., Decorah, Iowa • 563-382-9681 • vesterheim.org
Norwegian-American Lutheran Colleges
May 17, 2011-April 7, 2012
Sigvald Asbjørnsen, Sculptor
September 1, 2011-September 3, 2012
New exhibitions on view this fall...
The Peale Collection: Norwegian Furniture
from Hill FarmSeptember 22, 2011-
April 30, 2012
Norwegian-American Museum
New exhibitions on view this fall...New exhibitions on view this fall...
13. September 23: ArtHaus presents Kristen Ford! Ford’s ArtHaus concert last summer was incredible and we welcome her back with Kara Kulpa and Tony Memmel. 8pm, $8/$6 students. arthausdecorah.org
14. September 24: 100th Anniversary Contra Dance at the Highlandville School! Music by the Western Home String Band. Steps taught 7:30; dancing at 8:00. No experience needed. [email protected]
15. September 24: Fall theme weekend fun at Pinter’s Gardens & Pumpkins - Pick your own pumpkin, hayrides, giant jumping pillow, corn maze & playground area! Weekends through Oct. 30. Fudge, pie, lunches. www.pintersgardensandpumpkins.com
16. September 27: Luther CSS – ‘The Aura of Flora in Decorah” Garrison Keillor and pianist Rich Dworsky bring a bit of the prairie home to Luther College. www.luther.edu/programming/centerstage
17. September 30: The ArtHaus All-Original Poetry Slam! Featuring past winner Emily Scali, sponsored by Dragonfly books, 8pm at Decorah Elks Lodge (402 W. Main Street), $5/$3 students. arthausdecorah.org
18. Sept. 30/October 1: Spring Grove UffDa Fest! Heritage events, genealogy, Scandinavian foods, Music, Vintage Style show, 5k/10k Run for the Arts, Historic District Tour, Car Show, UffDa Games - Lutefisk Toss! www.uffdafest.com
18. Sept. 30/October 1: Festival of Quilts Show & Sale at Spring Grove Fest Building. Friday: $20 (includes hors d’oeuvres, wine & Saturday’s admission; presentation by Quilter Darlene Zimmerman) Saturday: $5. www.uffdafest.com
19. October 6: Book Night at the Decorah Public Library, 6-8 p.m. Buy a book in honor/memory of someone you love and donate it! Snacks & entertainment! www.decorah.lib.ia.us
20. October 6: Luther CSS, The Rose Ensemble – Il Poverello: Exploring the Life & Deeds of St. Francis of Assisi. This joyful program will Reawaken the ancient through beautiful song and instrument, honoring St. Francis of Assisi. www.luther.edu/programming/centerstage
21. October 7-8, 14-15: Ye Olde Opera House presents Neil Simon’s PLAZA SUITE Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. October 7/8, 14/15. Downtown Spring Grove. 507-4985859 for tix. www.yeoldeoperahouse.org
22. October 7: ArtHaus First Friday: Teaching Artists at Work Exhibition. Join us for an evening viewing artwork by ArtHaus teaching artists with live music by Ember Schrag! arthausdecorah.org
25W/$25B
Check out these fantastic fall activities! In chronological order, each event’s number coincides with the number on the calendar!
Looking for more details about events on the calendars?
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com10
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great giftidea!
Stop by on the NE Iowa Artist Studio Tour October 7-9!
23. October 8: Harvest Festival at Seed Savers Exchange! This free event includes soup cook-off, tours, music, cider pressing & more, 1-4 pm. seedsavers.org
24. October 8: KPVL Fall Soiree. Music, Dance, & Silent Auction: Celebrate independent community radio in Northeast Iowa! Decorah Elks Lodge, 7pm. www.891theblend.org
10. October 27 (last minute date change, see 10 on calendar): Opening Reception for “The Peale Collection: Norwegian Furniture from Hill Farm.” From 5:00-7:00 pm “Free Thursdays” Event. Exhibition on view until April 30, 2012. www.vesterheim.org
25. October 28: Talkstory Decorah at ArtHaus. Everybody loves a good story – come to tell yours or just sit back and enjoy! Theme: “Treat or Trick”; 8pm; $5/$3 students. arthausdecorah.org
26. November 3: Luther CSS, Paul Taylor Dance Company - Arguably the world’s greatest living choreographer, the Paul Taylor Dance Company is extraordinarily gifted, embodying limitless versatility and deeply memorable movement. www.luther.edu/programming/centerstage
27. November 4: Recent Artworks by Paul Rude. Free! 7-9pm ArtHaus Studio, exhibition sponsored by Luther College Art Department; wine tasting compliments of Oneota Co-op
28. Nov 11, 12, 16, 18, 19: SPRING AWAKENING – eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. Teenage self-discovery from youth to adulthood in 19th-century Germany. Jewel Theatre, Luther College. Details at www.luther.edu/theatredance
29. November 12: “Deck the Tables” Event with Decorah Friends of Vesterheim! Decorations, entertainment, food, door prizes, a live auction, and more! At Nob Hill Supper Club. www.vesterheim.org
30. November 17: Luther CSS, Caroline Worra, Soprano – On special release from the Metropolitan Opera, this soprano power-house will captivate with her stylistic mastery and rich, bright sound. www.luther.edu/programming/centerstage
31. November 18: The ArtHaus All-Original Poetry Slam! Featuring guest poet, Gabrielle Civil, sponsored by Dragonfly books, 8pm at Decorah Elks Lodge (402 W. Main Street), $5/$3 students. arthausdecorah.org
32. November 25: Holiday Lights 5K! Run with a friend or walk with your grandma. Details and registration, www.helpingservices.org/holiday5K, or scan with your smart phone QR Reader now.
33. December 3-4: Norwegian Christmas Weekend at Vesterheim. This festive celebration of holiday traditions for the whole family features music, demonstrations, food, and hands-on experiences. vesterheim.org.
25W/$25B
Check out these fantastic fall activities! In chronological order, each event’s number coincides with the number on the calendar!
Looking for more details about events on the calendars?
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 11
Family Trees
by
Grandpa-Finder.com
Family Genealogy Research Services
“You just never know where these old records and archives may lead!” SM
Grandpa-Finder.com
Decorah, Iowa319-610-7736
Call for a brochureor check us out online!
From Grain to Glass – www.graintoglasshomebrew.com 2427 Tamarack Drive Rd, Opening September 2011
Beer is great. Local beer is even better – make your own beer? Epic. From Grain to Glass will soon be the Driftless Area’s best source
for a full line of ingredients and equipment for both the beginner and experienced home brewer and wine maker. From prepackaged extract kits to fully customized ingredients for your own special brew – From Grain to Glass stocks over 60 grains from the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Belgium. Amongst all the home-brew tools and ingredients, there’s bound to be some great advice –and they even have all the ingredients for those with gluten sensitivities to make beer!
DigIN, Decorah Iowa Green INitiativewww.digindecorah.com September 16-18
The 3rd annual DigIN weekend promises more fun than you can shake a shovel at! Visit Decorah for a weekend of green fun including urban garden tours, off-the-grid home tours, film screenings, educational seminars, the KDEC Green Expo, local food highlights, and more. Home owners, business owners, gardeners of all levels, and anyone with a passion to lighten their load on the earth can enjoy ways to bring “green” into your life and your wallet! Explore the Decorah area and all that it has to offer on this fantastic fall weekend!
Fall for Young & Old!
Pinter’s – www.pintersgardensandpumpkins.comShane and Elisa Pinter have created NE Iowa’s latest new
entertainment destination! Pinter’s Gardens and Pumpkins offers families of all ages an exciting destination including fun garden displays, pick your own pumpkins, hayrides, corn maze, a giant jumping pillow and playground, farm animals, live music, fudge, pies and cakes, sandwiches, and more! The pumpkin patch and corn maze will be open weekends Sept. 24 - Oct. 30th. Bring the family and take a walk through the display gardens, enjoy an array of beautiful plants and garden décor, and enjoy the view from the front patios!
Effi gy Mounds – www.nps.gov/efmo Somewhere around 1,000 years ago, Native peoples
of the Driftless Region enjoyed creating elaborate burial mounds in the shape of many animals and such. Today, Effigy Mounds National Monument is one of the regions most fascinating and captivating parks – not to mention a great place to take in fall foliage. Check out these dates for special events!
September 24: National Public Lands Day (Fee Free!)October 1- 2: Annual Hawk Watch / migration weekendOctober 1 – 31: Iowa Archaeology MonthNovember: Native American History Month
FUN!
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com12
St. M
ane
THEA
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206
Park
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Lanesboro Arts Center w w w . l a n e s b o r o a r t s . o r g
5 0 7 ‐ 4 6 7 ‐ 2 4 4 6
Encaus�c/Mixed Media Mary Catherine Solberg
EXHIBIT Aug 13 ‐ Oct 16 Recep�on Sat Aug 13, 6‐8pm
Brianna Lane And the Navigator’s Club Sat Sept 24
7:30 pm CONCERT
$12/$10
Claudia Schmidt Sat Sept 10
7:30 pm CONCERT
$12/$10
Sat Oct 29 6:30 pm Food Tas ng 7:30 pm Film
Lanesboro, Minnesota
Juried Group EXHIBIT Oct. 22 ‐ Dec. 23
Recep�on Sat Oct 22, 6‐8pm
H2O SHOW
Exh
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ALL
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S a tu rd a y, Nov 5 D inne r • Mu si c • Auc�on s
Your music presents a lot of optimism – the Los Angeles Times once dubbed you as an “evangelist for positivity”. In a world that can be full of the opposite, what keeps you inspired to stay on the bright side of things?
No matter where I go, and what I do, I stay in touch with my family and friends. That keeps me grounded, and it keeps the everyday ups and downs we all have in perspective. My best friends today are the best friends I’ve had since I was in elementary school, so we can put anything that happens today in the context of our entire lives. And when I am home, I really like to exercise, take my dogs for hikes, spend time with those same friends, have a bbq, etc. normal things. We keep it
Brighter Than The Sun
An interview with Grammy-winning pop artist Colbie Caillat
Colbie Caillat just might be Brighter Than the Sun – her positive thinking is certainly inspiring for Inspire(d). Hailing from Malibu, California, Caillat is down-to-earth and genuine. Her debut record “Coco” put her on the map in 2007
and in 2008 she won her first Grammy for a duo hit with Jason Mraz entitled “Lucky.” She was nominated for Best Pop Vocal for her album “Breakthrough” in 2009, and has just released her fourth album “All of You” this past July. The now 26-year-old has sold over six million albums worldwide and 10 million singles, and she’s performing live at Luther College in Decorah this October! Inspire(d) caught up with Caillat via email to ask her a few questions.
By Benji Nichols
very low key and down to earth and that’s what makes me happy. I also have been doing work with Farm Sanctuary, the Humane Society and the Surfrider Foundation, so I know that I am using my success in a very positive way.
You performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo in 2010. Luther College has been the home for the past several years to the Nobel Peace Prize forum and celebrates deep Scandinavian heritage. What was it like to play that show with a truly world-class line up?
The year I played was the same year that Liu Xiaobo from China was awarded the prize for his non-violent work for peace, but wasn’t allowed to come to Oslo to accept it. It was very powerful seeing an empty chair. We were honored to perform, and the city and people of Oslo were so lovely and welcoming.
Growing up in So-Cal, what has it been like to tour the rest of the country and internationally? What do you miss most about the LA Area when you are on the road, and what has been the best, unexpected place you have found while touring?
My career has really opened the world to me and one day I hope to spend more time getting to know the countries that I now can only visit for a few days. I miss my friends and family and the wide-open spaces when I am on the road. I fell in love with Australia, but it doesn’t surprise me cause it’s like Hawaii and California combined which are my two favorite places in the world!
What’s your favorite thing to do on a day off?
I love to get up and go for a run with my boyfriend or a hike with my sister and our dogs, then get together with friends. I know I keep saying this, but it’s really true.
Your third album “All of You” came out in July of this year and features a guest appearance with rapper/actor Common – you have also co-written with Jason Mraz and Taylor Swift… who’s on the short list of musicians you’d love to work with in the future?
I would love to work with the Kings of Leon, and Coldplay!
You’ve had great success in the world of selling digital downloads and music – what is your favorite device to listen to music with and who are you listening to right now?
My dad just bought me a record player. It makes listening to music an event, sound matters, you listen to the entire record, front to back, and respect the work and feeling that was put into it. But of course on planes or in my car I love that I can plug an iPod in so easily and it fits right in my pocket. I listen to everything from Adele, Katy Perry, Kings of Leon, Coldplay, John Mayer, Andy Grammer, Common, Notorious BIG, Tom Petty, Bob Marley, Beyonce, Brett Dennen, Amy Winehouse, Jason Mraz, One Republic.
52
9
52
9
9
9
63
63
Pole Line Rd
Co Rd A46
N
2011 Weekends Sept. 24th-Oct. 30th~ Hayrides to Pumpkin Patch ~ Corn Maze ~ Haunted Corn Maze Starting Oct. 14th ~ Big Slides ~ Farm Animals ~ Giant Jumping Pillow ~ Pedal Carts with Track ~ Pumpkin Blaster ~ Corn Bin ~ Goat Walk~ Bakery Goods & Sandwiches
for Fall Fun!
Bring the Family to
5263
Visit www.pintersgardensandpumpkins.com
for Fall Theme Weekends , Live Entertainment Calendar and hours.
563-382-0010 • 2475 State Hwy 9 4.5 miles west of Decorah, IA
~ Pedal Carts with Track
~ Corn Bin ~ Goat Walk~ Bakery Goods & Sandwiches
TheBakery
at
Stop for sandwiches, homemade fudge, pie & other sweet treats!
Pinters_VertHlf_InspiredMagazine.indd 1 7/22/11 9:12 AM
Colbie CaillatLive at Luther College Sunday, October 2, 6:30 pm
Fresh Food, Fresh Air:
Food & Fitness
One of the many milestones of growing up is being allowed for
the fi rst time to spread peanut butter and jelly onto slices of
bread. There’s even the Peanut Butter & Jelly Song, “First you
take the peanuts, and you crunch ‘em, you crunch ‘em …”, which teaches
children about where peanut butter comes from, and how to build the
perfect sandwich.
By Flannery Cerbin • Photos courtesy Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative
By Flannery Cerbin • Photos courtesy Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com14
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 15
312 West Water StreetDecorah, Iowa 52101
563.382.4666www.oneotacoop.com
Summer Hours (Apr-Oct)Monday-Saturday 8:00 am - 8:30 pm
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Winter Hours (Nov-Mar)Monday-Saturday 8:00 am - 8:00 pm
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Apple juice, ants on a log, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches all evoke images of school lunches. But is the real, good ol’ fashioned PB&J sandwich becoming extinct? Homemade bread is virtually unheard of in school kitchens. Canning jellies and jams is quickly becoming a lost art. Instead, federally reimbursed school lunches allow for highly processed foods – like prepackaged peanut butter and jelly sandwiches – to be a mainstay. We’ve resorted to convenience over quality in meals at schools and at home, failing to educate our children about food and its origins.
But as the 2011-2012 school year unfolds, there is hope to reconnect students to roots. Invigorated by support from the Northeast Iowa Food & Fitness Initiative (FFI) and with assistance from partner the Pepperfield Project – a local nonprofit dedicated to gardening education – students from across Northeast Iowa are learning about local foods and other important things like exercise, plus good ‘ol readin’, ‘riting and ‘rithmetic, at 12 school gardens.
Northeast Iowa was one of nine communities across the United States selected as a Food and Fitness site four years ago by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Food and Community Program. The goal is to address affordability and access to locally grown food, right along with finding opportunities for physical activity and play. This yields multiple benefits: Together, we can strengthen our communities, reinvigorate our local economies, reduce health care costs, and address historical inadequacies that prevent all children from reaching their full potential.
Most of the other eight sites are urban: New York City, King County Seattle, and Detroit are just a few. Northeast Iowa FFI is the only multi-county site (Allamakee, Clayton, Chickasaw, Fayette, Howard, and Winneshiek) and its outreach covers an area equivalent to the state of Connecticut. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation and other national organizations are using lessons from the region to learn about improving food and fitness environments in rural communities.
Northeast Iowa FFI identifies schools as the hubs of those rural communities, whether people have children or not. Changing school environment will impact the broader community. Gardening helps build relationships between people and places, as well as opens the door to a world of discovery: Fresh produce comes from dirt… it’s tasty.
Former Turkey Valley teacher Patty O’Hollearn introduced her family and consumer science students to cooking with fresh school garden
Five ways we can make food and fitness a priority at home!
1. Buy and serve fresh, local food.
2. Start or join a walking school bus in your neighborhood.
3. Plant a garden – your own, a community’s, or a school’s.
4. Contact your local school and ask about their wellness team and how you can help.
5. Get children involved in picking out food, planning meals, and cooking.
Visit: www.iowafoodandfitness.org for more information.
Inspira(c)tions
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com16
Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow.3rd generation locally owned & managed
community bank in the Decorah area.
Dimes they are a-changin’!
Go to www.decorahbank.com to learn about easy-to-use tools that’ll help you achieve financial success!
119 Winnebago St, Decorah, IA 563-382-5337
promoting peace, pursuing justice
non-profit, non-partisan, interfaith resource center Offering services such as: Diversity Training • Conflict Resolution Training & Facilitation • Facilitation of interfaith events and initiatives • Immigration
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produce last fall. For one project, O’Hollearn challenged her class to find a recipe that would utilize excess school-grown eggplant. From the eight different recipes, O’Hollearn’s favorite was a pizza made with a whole-wheat crust and topped with ratatouille. The students loved it too. Many of them had never even eaten eggplant before.
A school garden certainly increases awareness and demand for fresh, whole foods, but schools are able to grow only token amounts of produce – several containers-worth of tomatoes for hamburgers or cucumbers for a salad bar. Local farmers are better positioned to provide schools with a steady stream of fresh produce and a lot of work is happening behind the scenes to make this possible.
Northeast Iowa Food & Farm Coalition (NIFF), which has joined up with Northeast Iowa FFI, helps producers engage in the local food system and also works to make changes to the regional policies to support processing, distribution, and storage opportunities for the local food system.
Northeast Iowa FFI also supports opportunities for school food service staff to take courses in food safety, and has educated staff about procuring and preparing local foods. Food service personnel are some of Northeast Iowa FFI’s strongest allies. These great women and men serve students breakfast and lunch, while following a long list of governmental regulations, tight budgets, and often working with outdated equipment.
And for students, the school cafeteria is a great venue to share where food comes from, and who grows or raises it. In the spring of 2011, Northeast Iowa FFI piloted “Face of the Farmer.” Local farmers were invited for school lunch once a month. Prior to their visit, students watched a short video clip about the farmer, his or her operation, and the featured food. During lunch they asked the farmers questions, sampled their product, and received a “Face of the Farmer” trading card – complete with the farmer’s photo and bio.
To continue the creative teaching methods, schools participate in a cross-age program as well. High schoolers lead lessons about the benefits of local foods for elementary school students. For example, they might sample several varieties of local cheese, and then the high school students will talk about their favorites and tally the younger students’ top picks, getting a conversation rolling. This model has piqued the interest of Farm to School programs across the US. Over 9,700 schools are part of the national Farm to School network, connecting schools and local farms with the goal of serving healthy meals in school cafeterias, improving student nutrition, providing agriculture, health, and nutrition education opportunities, and supporting local and regional farmers.
Through grassroots efforts, Northeast Iowa FFI is addressing the twin epidemics of poor nutrition and physical inactivity. To increase support, the organization has helped jumpstart school wellness teams made up of dedicated school staff, students, and community members at 16 of the region’s 20 school districts.
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 17
Change your life today!
Contact Diane Sondrol for more information.
563.419.5420or [email protected] [email protected]
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Small group and private lessons available, all are welcome!
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Wellness team members have hosted health fairs and changed school concession options, but they need more support to continue pushing health initiatives in schools, and of course, there’s always room in the garden pulling weeds. The teams and Northeast Iowa FFI advocate for morning walking clubs in schools, community fitness centers, and also recognize the importance of “natural movement.” This is a concept as fundamental as bringing back walking or simply playing outside, activities
that are being replaced by screen timeIt’s a concept that is embraced in Safe Routes to School, a
national program led by parents, schools, and community leaders
that encourages walking and biking to and from school rather than driving or getting bussed. And to encourage biking to and from school, the Northeast Iowa FFI supported a bike rack challenge. With modest start-up dollars, high school tech education classes created plans for, and welded scrap metal to form unique bike racks.
Northeast Iowa FFI will continue to seek lessons from our local families and communities, and envision vibrant communities where there are opportunities for children, their parents – everyone – to experience fresh food and fresh air everyday.
Flannery thanks her parents and her namesake; author Flannery O’Connor, for her unique signature. Since graduating from Luther in ‘09 with a bachelor’s in Environmental Studies, Flannery has worked for the Northeast Iowa FFI. She embraces both food – perfecting breakfast “flancakes” topped with real maple syrup, and fitness – mainly a wild relationship with running.
Ever wonder how and where to start with a home garden? Learn how area “yarden”
enthusiasts get growing each year, and how you can do the same! And lots of our dig IN
favorites are back! Like off-the-grid & retro-fitted home tours, local foods, energy-saving
& money-saving tips from experts, & more!
Brought to you by the Winneshiek County Convention & Visitors Bureau
More info at digindecorah.com
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“Yarden” tours by Decorah Urban Gardeners (DUG)
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theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 19
Prairie du Chien’s Opportunity Center is an organization that enhances the lives of individuals with disabilities by creating opportunities that will develop their full potential in society. This summer, the center has broken ground on what will be the Sharing Spaces Kitchen – a new Opportunity Center co-packing operation. It will greatly increase capacity and markets for local food growers and buyers, including the on-site Opportunities Blooming Greenhouse and garden projects. The kitchen’s anchor tenant, The Local Oven, will produce breads and baked goods featuring local ingredients whenever possible. The products will be available through their retail storefront in downtown Prairie du Chien starting this Fall. In addition, the kitchen will serve as a food business incubator, assisting entrepreneurs to launch their food-based businesses. This groundbreaking project is a model that addresses several challenges at once on the local level and will be an incredible example for the tri-state area! www.sharingspaceskitchen.org
At the corner of 12th Avenue and 3rd St. SE in Cedar Rapids, a fresh new plan is hatching: The NewBo City Market. The market will act as a year-round meeting place and a center for social interaction, helping to revive a flood-ravaged neighborhood while providing a “town center” and dynamic spot for food, fun, and fraternity. When completed, the NewBo City Market will feature a carefully crafted and eclectic mix of local, ethnic, and gourmet foods, and events and attractions. Concerts, flea markets, festivals, and cooking classes are all on tap to provide a new and much-needed destination for the area. Coupled with the $7 million renovation of performance space CSPS Legion Arts (check it out at www.legionarts.org!), Cedar Rapids will have achieved a monumental step toward the vision of creating a vibrant hometown. Find out more at www.newbocitymarket.com
Kurt and Kim Friese may best be known in these parts as the co-founders of Devotay Restaurant in Iowa City, or perhaps as the head honchos of Edible Iowa River Valley Magazine. Or maybe you’ve heard of Kurt as the founding leader of Slow Food Iowa and a Slow Food USA board member, or author of “A Cook’s Journey: Slow Food in the Heartland”. Basically, on the short list of long-time, good Iowan food lovers, these folks are at the top.
Last Spring, Kurt – along with slow food pioneer and ethnobotanist Gary Paul Nabhan and agro-ecologist Kraig Kraft – authored the book “Chasing Chiles: Hot Spots Along the Pepper Trail.” The three self-proclaimed “gastronauts” travel to incredible reaches to lay out the story of not only how chile peppers have come to be in the modern palate, but more importantly how they show us a picture of the effects of climate change on crops and farmers across the world. Take yourself for a wild ride by picking up a copy of “Chasing Chiles” at Dragonfly Books in Decorah or your local bookstore (published by Chelsea Green). www.chasingchiles.com
Sharing Spaces Kitchens - Prairie du Chien
NewBo city Market - Cedar Rapids
Chasing Chiles - Kurt Friese Co-author
Inspire(d).food news feed
Science,You're super!
As you well know, we are lucky enough to live in a part of the country that gets to experience the brilliant fall foliage of deciduous trees. And as most know, the season for fall
colors can vary greatly with any given year – but do you know why? And for that matter, why those crazy green
leaves go wild colors in the first place?
Let us explore…
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com20
Why Do Leaves Turn Colors in the Fall?By Benji Nichols
We do our best to be accurate and well-researched, but if you’ve got some other
information or a local, regional, or world-wide sciency thing you think we should feature, by all means: send it on! [email protected].
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 21
Pete's PotsPOTTERY BY PETE BLODGETT
Join us for a Fundraiser for the Decorah Free Clinic
During theNortheast Iowa
Artists Studio Tour
October 7-910 am - 5 pm
563.382.9610www.iowaarttour.com
All proceeds during studio tour go to the Free Clinic
Location 12 on Tour612 Stanwood Drive
Decorah, Iowa
First, there are three types of pigments found in leaves: 1. Chlorophyll (green, necessary for photosynthesis)2. Carotenoids – or xanthophyll (yellow, orange, and brown)3. Anthocyanins (reds and purples)These also help support other functions of the trees and their
chemical reactions and systems. All three can be found in leaf cells through the growing period, but throughout the season, chlorophyll is continually made and broken down by the trees, giving leaves a green color. When the fall nights begin to get longer, chlorophyll production slows and eventually stops – since there is less light to power photosynthesis (…that’s how a tree eats... wait for it…). Meanwhile, the carotenoids and anthocyanins are still present – have even increased as excess plant sugars exist with the slowing of photosynthesis – and they begin to show their colors.
Think of it like this: trees have two ways to receive nourishment during the growing season. First they sip up water and minerals through their roots in the ground. Second, they absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Both of these systems are necessary for the tree’s leaves to absorb the sun’s energy and make sugar (to eat!) from all of the goodness it absorbs (photosynthesis!). But as fall approaches, trees shut off or seal up their root lines in order to survive the winter. As that happens, chlorophyll (green!) dies off and allows the other pigments to show their colors (reds and yellows!). Eventually, these too lose their ability to survive and the leaves turn brown and fall from the tree.
Easy, right? But why then does fall foliage vary so much from year to year, you ask?
There are three factors that mostly control the ever-regal turning of the leaves.
First, the pigments above, which we’ve already covered. Second, the length of nights (or lack of light), and third, the weather (kind of, well, wait for it…). The calendar primarily shows when the length of days will start changing the leaves from lack of sunlight – and this really is the most predominant factor in the process. However, nice warm days help produce lots of sugars in the golden fall daylight, while crisp autumn nights (but not freezing!) keep the trees root veins slowly closing up for the winter, keeping more sugars in the leaves. There are lots of other factors like soil moisture, what the growing season conditions have been like, and what kind of nutrients the tree has access to. In general, a warm wet spring, pleasant summer weather, followed by light-filled fall days with crisp nights can produce the most brilliant autumn colors. But a warm snap in the fall, or an early freeze, or a big rain at the wrong moment can easily bring the big show to an end. After all, nature is beautiful, but certainly not predictable, and no two seasons are ever alike!
Benji Nichols is in continual awe of just how super science can be. He has also been known to hug a tree now and again. Here’s to hoping for a great fall foliage season –big hugs all around!
Sources:1.) USDA Forest Service: www.na.fs.fed.us
2.) University of Illinois Extension: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/forestry/fall_colors.html
CORRECTION!In Aryn Henning Nichols’ Summer 2011 Science, You’re Super “Why is the Sky Blue?” article, she said her brother, Wade Henning, was a TA/graduate student at the University of Florida. He ACTUALLY goes to Florida State University in Tallahassee. Sorry, Sciency Brother!
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com22
Iowa City is a charming town full of fun, culture, good food, good drinks, and Hawkeye football. Home of the University of Iowa, it’s one of those cities where it’s hard
to distinguish between college and town – and maybe it’s not really necessary. They complement each other, and create a place that’s pretty darn great to visit.
UI, in turn, is home to some 30,000 undergrad, grad, and professional students, the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, and it’s also the place that taught Aryn how to make magazines like this one!
In fact, the University of Iowa has long been called “where the writers go.” Tennesee Williams got his degree there. Fiction author Kurt Vonnegut worked on Slaughterhouse Five while teaching at the Writers’ Workshop, where Flannery O’Connor also attended. The list goes on. Perhaps this is why Iowa City’s Prairie Lights Bookstore is one of the most famous independent bookstores in the country – the roster of author readings is impressive, and the cozy shop is a great place to hear a good story.
But Iowa City got its start as a hotspot way before the Writers’ Workshop – it was originally chosen as the state capitol in the mid 1800s. The Iowa constitution was written in the “Old Capitol Building” that forms the center of what
Iowa City is Approximately:130 miles south of Decorah185 miles south of La Crosse / Rochester105 miles south of Elkader
Visit the Iowa City / Coralville CVB for general travel info: iowacitycoralville.org
IOWA CITY GETAWAY GIVEAWAY!
Inspire(d) teamed up with Englert Theatre, Brown Street Inn, and Devotay! We put
together an Iowa City trip package, including two tickets to Greg Brown at the Englert, a stay
at Brown Street Inn, and tapas and cocktails at Devotay! I know, exciting, right?!?! Enter to
win at Inspire(d) Media’s Facebook!
Inspire(d) staff takes Boxed (IN) to Iowa CityIt’s a party, yes...but so much more!
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theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011
is now the University of Iowa Pentacrest. The first governor of the state of Iowa was inaugurated in this building, and the first six Iowa general assemblies met here. It was when the state government moved to Des Moines in 1857 that the Old Capitol Building became the first permanent UI-owned building. It is now the Old Capitol Museum, and visiting is a fun trip through history. While you’re checking out the Pentacrest, make the free museum circuit and stop over in Macbride Hall to see our friend the Giant Sloth in the Museum of Natural History – it’s a really fun little educational tour – and then head down the hill to the temporary UI Art Museum, now housed in the Memorial Union post-2008 flood. Despite it’s smaller location, the content is well rounded and perfectly curated.
Opposite the museums – for a completely different type of fun – there is Hawkeye football. If there’s a famous household sports name in Iowa, it’s Hayden Fry. He is credited for doing more for Hawkeye football than any other coach before. Since his retirement in 1999, current coach Kirk Ferentz has stepped in to lead the Hawkeyes to victory.
During home games, a black and gold craze sets Iowa City ablaze virtually overnight. Upon waking (early, early if it’s an 11 am game), like on Christmas day, the town is transformed into a wonderland… one of big-ass turkey legs, cheering fans, beer pong, and marching bands in the streets.
Maybe the marching band is the whole reason you’re at the
football game? (Okay, that’s a stretch for most people…but Aryn was in the Hawkeye Marching Band, so she loooves that part!) If so, go catch something only a handful of Hawkeye fans know about: the UI Recreation Building pre-pre-game show. Right next door to Kinnick, the halftime stars put on a quirky, sometimes earsplitting show that ranges from raucous school songs to “The Stripper,” complete with glove- waving and silly shrieks. The band then marches – or dances – with the drum cadence on the way to the stadium tunnel and pre-game show.
Of course, there’s a lot more to Iowa City than the University of Iowa and Hawkeye football. There are beautiful, tree-lined streets, great pedestrian areas, outdoor concert series, and of course, great shops and food. Dining options range from tasty street-cart food and yummy burgers, to menus full of local love and inventive dishes. A must-stop is Devotay on Linn Street. Owners Kurt and Kim Friese have put together a memorable dining experience, with a Spanish-inspired menu and lovely atmosphere – even the 23
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serving dishes are handcrafted by Kim herself.We advise that you stay for the night, (heck, the weekend!),
and within walking distance of the Pedestrian Mall in downtown Iowa City. The beautiful and welcoming Brown Street Inn (on, of course, Brown Street) is in the perfect location to enjoy the charming, quiet streets of Iowa City while still being able to walk downtown to check out live music and shows at iconic venues like Gabe’s, The Mill, Blue Moose Tap House, and the Englert Theatre. The Englert went through extensive fundraising and
then renovations in the early 2000s, reopening in 2004 to bring residents and visitors acts like The Second City, Neko Case, or the upcoming Greg Brown (see ad at left to learn how you can win tickets!).
If you’re not into sports and the museum and music culture leaves you yawning, maybe it’s outdoor activities for you! Grab a coffee at Java House – they drip-to-order – and head north on Highway 1. Your first stop should be Wilson’s Apple Orchard – it’s such a beautiful place to spend a fall hour or two, and the apples are delicious (no pun intended). They even encourage you to eat an apple while picking your bounty. Once you’ve done just that, head on to Lake Macbride State Park, where you’ll find fishing, hiking, camping, boating, and more. One of the coolest things at Macbride, in our opinion, is the Raptor Resource Center. It’s a nonprofit organization that preserves Iowa’s raptors and their natural habitats, but it’s also home to several species of permanently disabled eagles, hawks, owls, and falcons. You can walk through the outdoor housing near the Nature Center and see the amazing birds up close. Each bird’s home has a plaque posted nearby with the bird’s names (technical and given) and some educational information as well.
Of course, all this exploring, hiking, and celebrating is hard work, and you certainly deserve a rest. And maybe a drink? It wouldn’t be a story about Iowa City if we didn’t talk about booze: although University officials don’t like to admit it, UI was recently ranked the number four top party school in the nation, according to the Princeton Review, even with last year’s ordinance that makes it illegal for anyone under 21 to be in a bar past 10 pm. For those of you of age, check out the sidebar for great local wineries, distilleries, and breweries. ‘Cause, you know: in heaven there is no beer! (Oh wait, is this heaven? No, it’s Iowa. Whew.)
Go Hawks!
Pick up that jaw & start clicking. It’s time to enter.1. Like us! If you’ve already done that, share us! We
promise we won’t embarrass you in front of your friends…and they might bring you along!
2. Write “Are you ready for the Boom Town?” on our wall.3. Bonus question: Who do you think is getting the
Cy-Hawk Trophy this year?4. Bonus Bonus question: Did you catch that Before and
After al la Wheel of Fortune Reference?
We’ll announce the winner Friday (‘cause Friday’s fun), October 14. Woot!
Inspire(d).media
where we
give away fun
YOU COULD WIN A TRIP TO
IOWA CITY TO SEE
GREG BROWN FRIDAY,
NOVEMBER 18!
ARE
YOU
READY
FOR
THIS?!?
But that’s not all folks:
In addition to TWO TICKETS to see GREG BROWN at the ENGLERT THEATRE, we’re also including: A night’s stay at the beautiful BROWN STREET INN & TAPAS & COCKTAILS at DEVOTAY, Inspire(d)’s favorite Iowa City restaurant!
Wow
Here’s how:
Photo courtesy of University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band.
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 25
• • •
AS YOU TRAVEL TO IOWA CITY, CHECK OUT SOME FUN STUFF ON THE WAY OR NEARBY!
Victories Restaurant and Sports Loungewww.victoriesfayette.comFayette’s brand new eatery is right on the way for folks heading to Iowa City from the Decorah area. Read more about Chef Matt Henning on page 58 – he’s this issue’s Chef on the Block!128 South Main Street, Fayette, Iowa • 563-425-3128
Cedar Ridge Winery / Clearheart Spiritswww.crwiner.comPulling up the drive to Cedar Ridge Winery, you know you’re in for some sort of treat. The winery/distillery makes some of Iowa’s best wines and spirits, and their staff is friendly and welcoming in their lovely tasting room and vineyard grounds.1441 Marak Rd., Swisher, Iowa • 319-857-4300
Amana Colonies / Millstreamwww.millstreambrewing.comWe talked a lot about good Iowa beer in our Winter 2010-11 issue – these guys were no exception! We are always excited to enjoy locally brewed beers, and a trip to the Amana Colonies isn’t too bad either!835 48th Ave., Amana, Iowa • 319-622-3672
Devotay’s paella. Photo by Benji Nichols.
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com26
Luxury salon & day spa
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• Facials • Manicure & Pedicures• Facials • Manicure & Pedicures• 60-minute massages • Makeup• 60-minute massages • Makeup
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Lake McBride: Raptor Resource Centerwww.macbrideraptorproject.org/brochure_material.htmThis place, as we said, is so cool. Say hi to the owls there – they were our favorites, although all the birds are beautiful. This is a great educational trip in a lovely State Park.April-October hours: 6 am to 8 pm, daily. November-March hours: 9 am to 6 pm. Guided tours may be arranged by calling 319-398-5495.
Backpocket Brewery • www.backpocketbrewing.com(currently Old Man River, McGregor) Our McGregor neighbors are moving shop: to the Iowa City area! They will be building Iowa’s largest craft brewery at Iowa River Landing. We’re looking forward to seeing what Backpocket will offer as they expand “offices”.
Wilson’s Apple Orchardwww.wilsonsapples.com This orchard was one of Aryn’s favorite places to visit on a fall day when she went to college at the University of Iowa. The owners are so friendly, and they really do encourage you to taste as you pick. Pretty sweet, eh?2924 Orchard Lane NE, Iowa City, Iowa • 319-354-5651
Lincoln Café • foodisimportant.comThis Mt. Vernon café is one of Benji’s favorites, and is totally worth the drive from the Iowa City area; they have amazing local fare.117 First St. West, Mt. Vernon, Iowa • 319-895-4041
Sutliff Cider • sufliffcider.comWe’re not too hot on super sweet cider, and thankfully neither are the folks at Sutliff Cider! Their Iowa-made hard cider is the perfect balance of tart and sweet! Perfect on a cool fall day.382 Sutliff Road, Lisbon, Iowa • 319-455-4093
DON’T MISS THE IOWA CITY FOOD:Devotay • www.devotay.netKurt and Kim Friese do it right here: amazing tapas, a great wine list, hand-crafted cocktails, and of course – don’t miss out on the paella specialty! Yum. Tell them Benji and Aryn said hi.117 North Linn Street, Iowa City, Iowa • 319-354-1001
Motley Cow • www.motleycowcafe.comMotley Cow is hard to recognize since its move to its current location…that is, until you taste the food. Their seasonal treats are delightful, and so are their Manhattans. 160 North Linn Street, Iowa City, Iowa • 319-688-9177
George’s BuffetYou can’t go to Iowa City without getting a burger at George’s. Everyone will tell you this, so don’t even bother questioning. Get it. It comes in a little parchment bag and is perfect at any time of day (or early, early morning).(no web site… none needed… not really a buffet!)312 E Market St Iowa City, Iowa • 319-351-9614
Panchero’s Mexican Grill (The original) • www.pancheros.comWe crave this place. Burritos as big as your head in tortillas grilled right in front of you! It’s so simple, yet at-home ones never taste the
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Everyone!More info online!
www.got2bthin.tsfl.comor call 563-380-7764
Meetings (optional) at 5:30 pm on Tuesdays at Java John’s in Decorah or Thursdays at Super 8 in Cresco.
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 27
LOCALConnect the dots...
Easy, right?
Local & friendly US Cellular, Dish Network, Direct TV, & Satellite Internet services. Connecting’s never been so easy.
Check out our great selection of HD TVs, laptops, digital cameras, & electronics supplies – we’ve got your part or can order it.
112 Winnebago St., Decorah, Iowa563-382-CELL (2355) • www.simselectronics.com
Mon - Fri 8 am - 6 pm • Sat 8 am - 5 pm • Thurs ‘til 8 pm
So is working with Sim’s TV & Electronics.
107 S Main St. Elkader, IA • 563-245-1992 Hours, Menus & Events at scheras.com
• Algerian & American Cuisine
• Patio dining over Turkey River
• Signature Cocktails plus a connoisseur’s selection of Belgian, Import & Craft Beers
Around the World in 32 Beers Beer Tasting Series
same. Our friend recently won the annual burrito-eating challenge. He gets 52 free burritos. We are jealous.32 S. Clinton St. Iowa City, Iowa • 319-338-6311
Oasis Falafel • www.oasisfalafel.comThe reviews were glowing about this place, so we had to try it. Apparently so did everyone else. Despite the busy dining room and long-ish wait…it really was good falafel. Especially fun is the condiment salad bar. 206 N. Linn Street Iowa City, Iowa • 319-358-7342
The Java House • www.thejavahouse.comAryn spent many hours “studying” and drinking coffee here. They drip-to-order and offer great people watching vantages.150 Stevens Drive, Iowa City, Iowa • 319-354.2111
John’s Grocery • johnsgrocery.comThe idyllic corner grocery store, “Dirty John’s” is famous to townies and students alike. You can get obscure wines and a box of Mac and Cheese in one convenient location!401 E. Market St. Iowa City, Iowa • 319-337-2183
Quinton’s • www.quintons.comGet the 1/2 sandwich and soup. You’ll never be able to eat the bag of chips that comes with it, but that’s okay. Save them for later…they will come in handy, for sure.215 E Washington St, Iowa City, Iowa • 319-354-7074
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com28
Banquet facilities - weddings, conferences, meetings, & more!
1101 Highway 9563-387-0300
www.oakssteakhouse.com
110 East Water St563-382-4297
www.mabespizza.com
Fine Casual Decorah Dining
IT’S KIND OF A BIG DEAL.
Shop locally at kdecradio.com now!
Local gift certificates at 20 to 40% off!
New Pioneer Coop • www.newpi.coopSo many favorites to be had at New Pi, so if we had to pick one, it might be the chocolate cupcakes. Hey – organic doesn’t have to mean healthy!22 S. Van Buren St. Iowa City, Iowa • 319-338-94411101 2nd Street Coralville, Iowa • 319-358-5513
One of Aryn’s favorite things about going to school at UI was all the live music. You can catch shows at these fine establishments, and make sure you also sign up to win our Iowa City giveaway! It includes two tickets to Englert Theatre’s November 18 Greg Brown show, a stay at Brown Street Inn, and tapas and cocktails at Devotay! Like Inspire(d) Media on facebook to find out how to enter.
NOW, ON TO THE MUSIC VENUES:Englert Theatre • englert.org221 East Washington St. Iowa City, Iowa • 319-688-2653
Blue Moose Tap House • bluemooseic.com211 Iowa Ave. Iowa City, Iowa • 319-358-9206
Hancher • www.hancher.uiowa.edu1-800-HANCHER
The Mill • icmill.com120 E. Burlington Street Iowa City, Iowa • 319-351-9529
OTHER ENTERTAINMENT:Hawkeye Football • www.hawkeyesports.comIowa Marching Band • www.uiowa.edu/~bandsOld Capitol Building Visitors Center / Museum of Natural History www.uiowa.edu/~oldcapU of I Art Museum • uima.uiowa.eduBijou Cinema • bijou.uiowa.edu
ENTERTAINMENT TO US:Coralville / Hawkeye Express Train!www.hawkeyesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081605aai.html
LODGING:While there are a couple of lodging options in Downtown Iowa City and several in the Coralville area, we whole-heartedly to keep it local and check out the lovely Brown Street Inn. If you’re in doubt, just read the Trip Advisor reviews – more than 100 five star reviews! It’s not only a friendly spot to stay, it’s also within walking distance of downtown – a necessity, in our opinion!
Brown Street Inn • www.brownstreetinn.com430 Brown Street Iowa City, Iowa • 319-338-0435
It’s Where
You Want To Be...
206 W. Water Street • 563-382-5970
www.tbocks.com
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Dance like you mean it
In a time when the world is in constant flux, stopping to consider
art doesn’t seem like a high priority. But art – modern or traditional or
classic or underground – opens minds to ideas that can change the
world. It’s way beyond “Oh that looks pretty.”
But that doesn’t mean it can’t be pretty. Or so ugly it’s beautiful. It takes a choreographer like Paul
Taylor to skillfully weave the beauty in dying, the raw hatred of war, the
passion in sex, or the morality of living into a cohesive show that is
sometimes, well…pretty.
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 31
Introduction/Interview by Aryn Henning Nichols
An interview with Paul Taylor Dance Company dancer and Luther alum Rob Kleinendorst.
Eran Bugge and Robert Kleinendorst. Photo by Paul B. Goode.
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com32
Join us on select Sundays in the
upper level of the Dahl Centennial
Union on the Luther College
Campus.
Enjoy your brunch in the spacious Peace Dining Room, overlooking the
beautiful Oneota Valley.
Pancakes, Waffles, French Toast, Scrambled Eggs,
Hash Browns, Eggs Benedict, Breakfast Meats, Fresh Fruit, Baked Goods from the Luther Bakery, Made-to-Order Omelets
and much more.
Fall 2011 Brunch Dates:
September 11, 18, 25 October 2, 9, 16, 30 November 6, 13, 20
No brunch in December Reservations are encouraged for all brunches. Call 563-387-1030 to make your reservations today.
PRICES Adults ........................................ $13.50 Children Ages 5-10 ..................... $6.50 Children Under five ....................... Free Luther students with meal plans may use one meal transfer plus $8.55.
Paul Taylor, the man, is often billed as a giant: “a genuine cultural icon, a modern dance hero, a genius.” He built the Paul Taylor Dance Company (PTDC), first launched in Manhattan in 1954, to be truly one of the greatest dance companies in existence. It is
respected and highly sought-after, touring extensively through more than 520 cities and 62 countries. But no matter the accolades, it’s important to remember: Paul Taylor, the dancers: they are all just human beings like you and me – albeit incredibly flexible and fit human beings – trying to make connections with and for the people in this world.
PTDC dancer Robert Kleinendorst is even more relatable – he’s a Midwesterner, and a Luther grad to boot. Kleinendorst, originally from Roseville, Minnesota, finished a B.A in voice and dance in 1995, then headed straight to New York to dance with a variety of ensembles and projects, further his studies at the Taylor Dance School, and eventually, in 2000, to join the company that helped inspire him to be a dancer in the first place.
Kleinendorst will return to Luther College this fall, along with the rest of the PTDC, to perform as part of the Center Stage Series. He took some time out of his schedule to chat with Inspire(d) about the upcoming show, what it’s like to live and work as a dancer, and what’s inspiring him these days.
Tell us about the upcoming performance at the Center for Faith and Life – what pieces are you bringing on this tour?
The audience in Decorah is getting a star-studded line up of dances that are some of Mr. Taylor’s best and most famous works – Esplanade, Mercuric Tidings and Piazzolla Caldera. All of these pieces are really energetic and will enthrall the audience. This is an interesting combination because Paul usually programs a subdued, or more dramatic and emotional piece in the middle. But these dances are all very powerful, driven pieces. It’s going to be non-stop for the audience members.
Pau
l Tay
lor.
Pho
to b
y P
aul P
alm
aro.
Annmaria Mazzina, Lisa Viola, and Robert Kleinendorst. Photo by Paul B. Goode.
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 33
If there’s a household name in dance, Paul Taylor might be it, don’t you think? People have called him “the world’s greatest living choreographer” … what’s it like to work with a man and within a company with a reputation like this?
It’s incredible to work with Paul but it’s great to dance the dances he choreographed back in the 70s and 80s that are iconic. As a dancer, you grow up seeing these dances and now you’re doing them – it’s an amazing experience.
Paul Taylor is definitely a household name within the arts and dance community. The general public only really knows a handful of dancers and it is sad dance it’s not recognized the way it should be. That people know dance from TV shows like, “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing with the Stars” instead of Paul Taylor is a travesty.
My shining moments with Paul are when he comes out on stage and we get to bow with him. It is the only chance I get to be on stage with him sharing a moment.
You’ve been with the Company – first at the Taylor School, then dancing with Taylor 2, and now in the PTDC – in some way or another for the past 15 years. Was this your dream? Do you ever wake up and think, “Wow, this is my life!”?
I started dancing at Luther College and Doug Risner was the dance professor there at the time. My parents wanted to send me to a summer dance program and Doug strongly suggested Paul Taylor. There were other summer programs out there – Jose Limon, David Parsons, but they sent me to Taylor. At that time, I had only seen Esplanade. I had never dreamed of being a Taylor dancer until I took the intensive summer program, and it felt absolutely perfect for me. That’s why I went to New York to study at The Taylor School.
At this point in my career, I don’t wake up and say anymore, “Wow, I’m dancing for Paul Taylor!” But I am thankful every day for the job that I have.
What’s a usual non-touring day in the life of Rob Kleinendorst like?
The Secret in the Wings by Mary Zimmerman
| Directed by Bob Larson
theatre / dance
center for the arts, luther college, decorah, iowa
Luther College
$10. adult /$5. children under 12
Spring Awakening
Music by Duncan Sheik/ Book & lyrics by Steven Sater
Directed by Bob Larson & Jane Hawley
Nov 11, 12, 16, 18, 192011-12 season
March 2, 3, 8, 9, 10Invited to Tea | Directed by Amanda Hamp
April 27, 28; May 3, 4, 5
2011-12 Season details at www.luther.edu/theatredance
Tickets @ Luther College box office 563.387.1357 &
1 hour before shows at Jewel Theatre
I wake up and grab breakfast and head to Pilates. I take or teach class at the Taylor studio, then rehearse from 12 – 5 pm. Quite often, I’ll go to the gym right after. I get home around 7:30 pm and cook dinner, play guitar and pass out! Then it starts all over again the next day.
What do you say to the Modern Dance – or even Modern Art – Haters of the world? You know they exist. Do you have any nuggets of wisdom that might sway them to the other side?
I feel like modern dance and modern art speak to people with open minds and imaginations. I feel like people who don’t see the value in art
or believe we’re wasting money on the arts are coming from a different place than we are. They are either going to go and see dance and open their mind to the experience and appreciate it or not. I think modern dance speaks more to your spirit and not intellect, so if you’re not open and you don’t let it happen, it won’t. People will analyze dance and not understand it but it’s not like a movie they can decipher.
People who don’t like modern dance should still come! A word of wisdom would be go without any expectations and just be there for the experience.
And – something we like to ask in all our interviews: who – or what – inspires you most at this time in your life?
Right now, my parents inspire me because of how open, kind and hard working they are. Those are the values they instilled in me since I was a kid. I think luck has a lot to do with success but if you don’t work hard or if you’re not kind to people, you’re not going to succeed. They teach by example because they lead their lives this way. They are inspiring.
Aryn Henning Nichols has always wanted to be a dancer. It is, in fact, the reason she was a cheerleader in high school – there was no dance program at her tiny school! The quarterly pep rally dance routines had to suffice. She’s looking forward to checking out the PTDC this fall in Decorah.
See the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Decorah
at Luther College’s Center for Faith and Life
Thursday, November 3, at 7:30 pm. Tickets are on
sale starting October 6. Details at
www.luther.edu/programming/centerstage/
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com
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sales/travel research
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Carbon Copies
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011
Consumer Use/Reuse
Forestry/Wood Harvest
Saw mill operations
Paper mill Distribution > 70 mile radius of Decorah x 2
Inks & Solvents >>>>
Printer
Inspire(d) HQ: staff editorial content, design, ad
sales/travel research
Iowa
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Delivery
Disposal: recycling or landfill (coffee table?). This part is in your hands!
35
By Aryn Henning Nichols
When I don’t know the answer to something, I often ask Google. “What’s the best place to stay in Minneapolis?” “How do you alphabetize a list in a Word doc?”
So, naturally, I brought up Google when I needed to ask, “What’s the carbon footprint of…”
…this is where I was going to write “magazine publishing.” But Google, these days, tries to finish your sentences. It goes on to guess “your toilet paper?”
Of course, I was curious. Just what WAS the carbon footprint of my toilet paper?
The environmental advocacy group, National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), says that if each U.S. household, every year, replaced just one of their non-recycled-content rolls of TP with one that does have recycled-content, more than 424,000 trees would be saved. From one roll. Shocking, right?
Whether the product goes, literally, down the toilet, or into a magazine, as is our case, it’s still the paper business, and it’s an industry that is hugely contributing to global warming and air, water, and land pollution. It takes
Inspire(d) offsets the carbon footprint of the magazine in your hands, and pledges to track and lessen its overall environmental impact through 2012 and beyond.
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com36
Dr. Jon R. Hart • Dr. Peter J. Blodgett • Dr. John E. Wilmes
108 Fifth Avenue, Decorah, Iowa • 563-382-3657 • Visit our website at: www.decorahdental.com
“Dentist day! Those 6 months took FORever!”Okay…we know you’re probably not going to say that. But
we do have digital x rays with less radiation, metal-free dentistry available, plus cable TV in every room, local art,
nice views, and, of course, free toothbrushes and floss. Hooray for Dentist Day!
a lot of energy to harvest and process trees, and for publishing, there’s the added environmental impact of printing and distribution. But we love trees. We love the earth. (Big hugs all around.) So we thought there’s no better time than now to start looking at how to decrease our carbon footprint.
A carbon footprint is a measure of the total greenhouse gas emissions for a business, person, event, or product through transport, manufacturing, and general day-to-day tasks. The goal is to make your “footprint” smaller, thus leaving our lovely earth less marred. Inspire(d) Media hopes to look at all of our processes in 2012, researching in detail what our impact is on the environment and how we can minimize or offset our footprint, making each magazine a little more – if not totally – carbon neutral.
Let’s start with the positive: What we’re doing right.
- Our inks are soy-based, making them naturally low in VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
- The cover has 10% recycled material (but we can do better).
- Our interior pages are not coated – this not only removes the intensive process of coating (present on lots of glossy magazines), but also makes the pages easier to recycle.
- We work from home! This means no commuting and no additional space to heat and cool.
- We ride bikes for errands a lot!- We only have one car: our trusty Subaru, and it gets pretty good
mileage – about 25-27 miles/gallon.- We recycle, compost, and use cloth napkins.- We’re local: No shipping tons – literally – of magazines across
the country.- We’ve gone quarterly (cutting down our entire process from six
to four times per year) and our whole magazine is viewable online.
See the illustration on the previous page to learn more about the path of Inspire(d) Magazine.
Things we could do better:- Use papers with more recycled content that are also Forest
Stewardship Council Certified (using only wood pulp that has been harvested from responsibly managed forests). The reason we haven’t done this already is cost, but we’ve been researching with our printers, Crescent Printing (based out of Onalaska, Wisconsin). There are some great options available, and we hope to make more green upgrades in 2012.
- Raise awareness with our readers, encouraging them to recycle or pass Inspire(d) on to friends.
- Deliver magazines locally with a bike and trailer!- Find regional “stewards” to
help keep our magazine racks stocked (so we don’t have to drive the Driftless Region Distribution loop more than once).
- Get an even more fuel-efficient delivery vehicle.
- Encourage readers to check out the magazine online.
- Get recycled-content toilet paper in-office (that one’s easy)!
Miles driven, reams and rolls of paper printed on, research conducted, office energy used, toilet paper unrolled…it all adds up to our carbon footprint. But accurately measuring these things is
difficult. My rough estimates show that currently, per year, we drive about 8,500 business miles, print about 50,000 magazines, and our in-office energy use, in total, equals about $350 (25% of our whole-house usage). Plus truck delivery of our completed magazines from Onalaska to Decorah, cardboard for the boxes, and the energy needed to actually receive, plate, and print our magazine at Crescent Printing…well, there are a lot of variables. But I took all these numbers and worked with some online carbon footprint calculators, divided the number by four issues a year, and divided THAT number by an average of 12,500 magazines printed per quarter. I also looked at other magazines that have gone through this process – like Backpacker, National Geographic,
Winneshiek Energy Districtrecognizes the energy ethic of
Inspire(d) Mediaas represented by the purchaseof 6 Oneota Tag carbon offsetson the 12 day of August, 2011
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 37
For all your printing and promotional
needscontact Steve Sokolik
@ 608.781.1050 ext. 179www.crescentprinting.com
Proud Printer of
Inspire(d) Magazine
Your logo Here
Inspire(d).
magazine
i. l ve
Life After the System
Food & Fitness in Schools!Iowa City Boxed (IN)Let’s Goooo Tailgaiting!
FREE!
An experiment in positive news from the Driftless Region. Fall 2011 No. 27
Put on Your Arty Pants
Carbon Neutral Inspire(d) + DigIN! Win a trip to Iowa City,
and Englert Theatre
GREG BROWN
tickets!!! Wow!
Educate. Motivate.
Inspire.
Like Inspire(d) Media on Facebook! XOXO
www.crescentprinting.com
Life After the System
Food & Fitness in Schools!Iowa City Boxed (IN)Let’s Goooo Tailgaiting!
Put on Your Arty Pants
Carbon Neutral Inspire(d) +
Life After the System
Food & Fitness in Schools!Iowa City Boxed (IN)Let’s Goooo Tailgaiting!
Put on Your Arty Pants
Carbon Neutral Inspire(d) +
Your logoHere
DigIN!DigIN! Win a trip to Iowa City,
and Englert Theatre
GREG BROWN
tickets!!! Wow!
Your logoHere
MON-THURS: 10:30-8PMFRI-SAT: 10:30-9PM
Ede's The Angry Pickle
&
213 WEST WATER STREETDOWNTOWN DECORAH
HOUSEMADE SPECIALTIES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. FULL CATERING AVAILABLE
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and Discover. Their average carbon footprint was about 1.5 pounds per copy. We’re a much smaller operation, obviously, so with all those numbers, we’ve decided on a generous one pound of carbon dioxide per copy, or, for this entire issue, 5.67 tons.
To offset this footprint, we’re buying, well… offsets. Since sometimes there’s no way around negatively impacting the environment (except not doing or making the thing you’re planning to do or make), a way to lessen the damage is by putting something equally good into – or removing something equally bad from – the environment at the same time. Most of the world’s developed countries have signed the Kyoto Protocol, requiring companies and countries to reduce their emissions over time – if they can’t, they must buy offsets. But the United States and its businesses aren’t required to do this. That means all US offsetting is voluntary – the purchaser just wants to make the world a better place, or so we can assume. But the offsets are often purchased for projects in other countries or places so far away that it’s hard to believe anything positive is happening. But luckily for the Driftless Region, there’s a local option!
The Winneshiek Energy District sells offsets called Oneota Tags. It is, according to the Energy District’s website, “the only program in the world where offset dollars go to energy projects directly in Winneshiek County, reducing emissions AND stimulating the local economy at the same time.” EnergyDistrict.org has tons of great information that will help you understand the different types of offsets, where your money is going, and why buying them locally is a really great idea.
Each Oneota Tag offsets one metric ton of carbon dioxide and costs $30. Since we create 5.67 tons of CO2e per quarter, we’re buying $170.10 worth of Oneota Tags. I just enter the number in the form on energydistrict.org/offset and click check out (let’s do it together…exciting, right?). A few PayPal clicks later and this Fall 2011 magazine is (roughly) carbon neutral! And we’re saving trees in the bathroom now too! (More big hugs all around!) Follow us through 2012 as we continue to make changes, and thanks for reading!
Aryn Henning Nichols was the first to think recycled-content toilet paper couldn’t possibly be pleasant. But she was, happily, wrong! Change the world, people: Change your TP!
Read the story about the Winneshiek Energy District from the Winter 2010-11 issue at theinspiredmedia.com.
Want to learn more great green stuff ? Come to the Third Annual Decorah Iowa Green INitiative (Dig IN), September 16-18, 2011. digindecorah.com
What do YOU do with your Inspire(d) when you’re done reading? Let us know at Inspire(d) Media Facebook!
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com38
Gundersen Lutheran Energy Check Up Program
A few years back, Gundersen Lutheran realized the rising energy costs that they were experiencing were doing little but help raise the price of healthcare for consumers. Energy audits ensued; simple measures were first taken, and then bigger projects to help conserve energy and resources. From the wisdom gained came the Energy Check Up Program, available to healthcare organizations and beyond. Through things like retrofitting light fixtures, scheduling air handling and HVAC equipment cycles, and changes in heating/cooling technology, the Check Up Program has helped save hundreds of thousands of dollars in just a couple of years for Gundersen Lutheran. In fact, they have gone as far as to partner with the City Brewery in La Crosse to harness excess methane waste gas which is burned to create electricity for the Gundersen La Crosse campus. Cheers to that! Check out more at www.gundluth.org
Who was that? Your sister?
we call more than your grandkids!
HealthMart Pharmacy
onlonDecorah
Iowa
No. it was Donlon
Healthmart! They call to check on my prescription refills once a month. My sister only calls once
in a blue moon.
201 West Water Street, Decorah, Iowa • 563-382-2626 • www.donlonpharmacy.com
Ring, Ring! “... ... ...?”
We keep track of your prescriptions, and call once a month to ask if there are any changes or any Over-The-Counter items to include in your order, and then have it all ready the same day each month. And it’s just $10 a year!
Synchronized Med Refills:
Making (More) Cents of Green
By Benji Nichols
In the past years, Inspire(d) has worked hard to highlight businesses that go out of their way to use green technologies and thinking. We offer up our latest champions of the environment here – to learn more about Making Cents of Green, read 2009’s “Making Cents of Green” feature at theinspiredmedia.com.
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 39
• Residential & business programs
• Partnerships & volunteer opportunities
Save money... AND the world!
Visit us online at energydistrict.org or call 563-382-4207
(Almost) Everybody’s doing it!
DISTRICT
WINNESHIEK
ENERGY
Depot OutletThe
Monday-Friday 9-5 • Saturday 9-3
www.depotoutlet.org or find us on Facebook
Reusable clothing, books, & household goods.
Do you like saving the earth AND getting a great deal?
563-382-2700•105 Railroad Ave•Decorah, IowaGently used donations accepted at the back of the building
Thoughtfully designed, handcrafted timber frames for homes, park shelters and barns.
563 382 6245 | Decorah Iowa
www.wildrosetimberworks.com
Made by Hand for You
Open Mon-Fri 10-6 / Sat. 10-3
303 Sanford St, Decorah, Iowa
• FISH • SMALL
ANIMALS • REPTILES
• BIRDS • AQUARIUMS
• CAGES & SUPPLIES
• BUTTERFLIES • DRAGONFLIES
563-382-6111
Energy Star stars shine bright in Decorah!
In May of 2011, the Oneota Community Food Co-op earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ENERGY STAR certification. This means that the Co-op building performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency, and meets strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA. ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Last year alone, Americans saved $18 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 34 million vehicles with the help of ENERGY STAR. In addition to the Oneota Food Co-op, Decorah Bank and Trust, and JC Penney have also earned Energy Star ratings in recent years.
“Whether operating a grocery store, a school, or an office building, getting the most of energy dollars while reducing a carbon footprint just makes sense,” says Joe Grimstad of Decorah Bank and Trust. Indeed! Let the stars shine!
Find out more at: www.oneotacoop.com/about-the-coop/sustainabilitywww.jcpenney.net/about/social_resp/environment/energy-
star.aspxwww.decorahbank.com/environment.php
The Green Business Challenge – Save energy and money!
The Winneshiek Energy District is encouraging businesses to save energy and save money with the Green Business Challenge. Businesses that sign up for the Green Business Challenge will gain recognition for their efforts and qualify to win one of three intensive electrical audits from Smartgreen.com energy consulting valued at over $3,000.
Businesses that sign up for the Green Business Challenge enter their energy use data into the EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool. This is an online database that allows businesses to qualify for the Energy Star program, monitor energy use, and access resources for reducing energy costs. To sign up, businesses can start by collecting their last 15 months of energy use data. Then go to www.energydistrict.org/programs/challenge. For questions about this or other programs of the Winneshiek Energy District, contact [email protected]. The Green Business Challenge is funded by a grant from the Iowa Office of Energy Independence.
While the Challenge is limited to businesses and organizations within Winneshiek County, all businesses can benefit from the Energy Star tools by following the web links or by going to www.energystar.gov/benchmarking.
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com40
Rachelle Reis Branum’s wide smile welcomes you in. It’s impossible to NOT feel instantly comfortable with this energetic, funky, excited, talented, creative woman.
This was especially helpful as I sat in the first evening of her class at ArtHaus in Decorah. Rachelle’s hunger to create is contagious in the classroom. She got us novice students (and the experienced ones too) excited about diving right into the vibrant watercolors we would use for the next six weeks.
She somehow manages to maintain this sparkling personality as she bounces between all of her life’s roles – artist, business owner, wife, teacher, mother, Driftless Art Collective board president, and entrepreneur.
Decorah’s Very Own Jack of All
Artistic Trades: Meet Rachelle Reis Branum
By Lauren Kraus • Photos by Aryn Henning Nichols
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com42
Originally from Cresco, Iowa, area, Rachelle was inspired to pursue art in high school and won a scholarship to the University of Northern Iowa to do just that. After that, she spent some time living life and searching for her “voice” as an artist.
“Throughout my life, I have tried on many careers, mostly in arts education,” she says. “But I always seem to come back to the need to create.”
Decorah residents for the last four years, Rachelle and her family were drawn back to the vitality of Northeastern Iowa after living in Cedar Falls, San Antonio, Ankeny, Omaha, and Minneapolis. Once settling in, Rachelle obviously didn’t waste time jumping into the art scene. She owns and operates The Clay Studio, a community pottery studio, is the co-creator of Wise Owl Designs with Decorah artist Lea Lovelace, and also teaches various classes at ArtHaus.
As if that’s not enough, for the past 10 years she’s been creating her own Soymade Scents candles – “I have a lot of repeat customers so I keep on making them for those who are addicted…” – and
also sews “20 or so” quilts every few months with her mom in a venture called Wabi Sabi Ware.
“I love spending time together doing what I imagine women would have done at the turn of the century: canning, quilting bees, etc. It has brought our relationship to a new level – we are co-creators appreciating and needing each other’s talents like friends.”
How in the world does one woman do so much? We thought it might be best if she fills you in. Don’t ask us how she found time to answer our questions!
You are an incredibly multifaceted artist and teacher. After graduating from UNI, where and to what did your creative energy take you?
I try not to restrict myself but work in what interests me at the moment. I did a lot of colorful, abstract yet representational watercolors in my
Your busy life doesn’t stop when you or your child get sick or injured.If this happens, turn to the Gundersen Lutheran – Decorah Clinic fortreatment of cuts, sprains, allergies, infections, rashes and minorinjuries. Same-day appointments are available when needed soyou can get back to living your life.
For your convenience, we open at 7:30 a.m. on weekdays and stayopen until 6 p.m. (5 p.m. on Fridays). We’re also open Saturdaysfrom 8 a.m. to noon.
To schedule your appointment, call (563) 382-3140or (800) 865-3140.
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also sews “20 or so” quilts every few months with her mom in a venture called Wabi Sabi Ware.
doing what I imagine women would have done at the turn of the century: canning, quilting bees, etc. It has brought our relationship to a new level – we are co-creators appreciating and needing each other’s talents like friends.”
do so much? We thought it might be best if she fills you in. Don’t ask us how she found time to answer our questions!
artist and teacher. After graduating from UNI, where and to what did your creative energy take you?
in what interests me at the moment. I did a lot of colorful, abstract yet representational watercolors in my
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011
early 20s since I was quite busy with my job – at the time I worked as an assistant curator of art education at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. I didn’t have the time or studio space to continue pursuing clay. It was great for me. I let the work guide me and really got to trust my intuition.
When we moved to Minneapolis in my late 20s, I got back into clay work. But now I was using clay to tell stories and work through my own insecurities about “finding myself”. I remember struggling at that point and wanting to find a billboard among the crowded highways that said, “Hi Rachelle. Do this: ___________.” It was a process for me to realize that I could create myself instead of always searching to find myself.
Did you settle on creating something during this time of your life that you felt proud of?
Yes! When I was pregnant with my first child, Caden, I tried to discipline myself into making a small pinched bowl form for each day of the gestation. I am inspired by folk art, especially that of Mexico, and it was a practice for me in consistency and mindfulness. It seemed like making a pilgrimage without having to travel. There are still over a hundred of these small bowls around our house. I have sold a few dozen and I like the idea of the bowls now making real pilgrimages into other people’s lives.
How did you get the ball rolling again with art when you moved to Decorah?
I was lucky that ArtHaus was starting up and that gave me a chance to teach. Then I told Lea Lovelace, ArtHaus Co-Director, that I would have a show. I did want to make art again, though I didn’t want to bring clay and all the dust and mess into my home with two preschoolers. I wasn’t sure if I was interested in painting again. So I procrastinated, something that has always worked for me in the past. I decided to learn to sew. Out of that, came my first show at ArtHaus!
That’s a lot of pressure when you’re just starting a new medium. How’d that go?
I learned to sew by doing. No patterns, no rules, although I ended up making some rules for myself in the end. I just started to play. I created small quilts like I would paint. I let the color and
43
211 West Water StreetDecorah, Iowa
M.T.W.Fr.Sat 9-5 Thurs. 9-8
563.382.8940
warm
cozy
casual
Good clothes take you good places
Tiles made by the community decorate the facade of The Clay Studio.
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com44
fabrics determine the shapes and look for unity and variation.
For the show, I conceptualized the idea of taking old forgotten handiwork from women at the turn of the century and making it new again, adding a new layer to the story. I went back to the storytelling I was doing with clay but added the exploration of my watercolors into it – I wanted to make art that leaves room for your own interpretation, your own story.
You’re also the creator and owner of The Clay Studio. Tell us the story!
Well, I love art, I love learning, I love new challenges, and I love clay. I don’t always love what I make out of clay – but I do love lots of other people’s work. I love the problem solving and element of surprise that comes with working in clay. And I love to see what kids come up with to make out of clay almost as much as I love to see kid’s drawings. I wanted a place to work in clay but didn’t want to just be a studio artist holed up in my basement. I want to share the joy of creating with others. And I wanted to do my part in adding something to the vitality of Decorah. I truly believe everyone has a creative side that can benefit being nurtured.
What is Wise Owl Designs all about?
To balance that more “heady” work, I am enjoying collaborating on work with Lea for Wise Owl Designs. It is fun to just make art on a weekly basis without all the pressure I put into a piece that is “storytelling”. The work is purely design-based – whimsical, playful, fun. I love that we can make fun clothes for kids, while trying to be earthwise about it. We use organic cotton, overstocks, or upcycled clothing whenever possible.
What is your favorite medium?
The only consistent thing is change. In trying to find my artistic voice, the art has always come first and the medium second. I would call myself a mixed media artist because of that. I want to create a story for the viewer. I can’t seem to pin myself down to one medium which for years felt like a failure, a “jack of all trades, master of none” type.
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Learn, network, b e inspired!
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theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 45
PRINTS JEWELRY POTTERY FURNITURE SCULPTURE WOOD GLASS
Commemorative glass plates
in honor of Luther’s Sesquicentennial.
Artwork from an original 1911 Postcard.
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You’ve been the Board President of the Driftless Art Collective (D.Art Co) for the past year – tell us about your work with that organization. How does it help connect artists – like you – in the region?
It has been very exciting to be part of D.Art Co this year. We’ve been reshaping it into an umbrella organization for other arts groups (currently we are fiscal sponsors for ArtHaus and Oneota Film Festival) and as a support system for local artists. We are lucky to have such a big number of artists and creative people in our community, and D.Art Co is important in educating the public about what the arts /artists have to offer in terms of community vitality. We want to make sure each visitor to our area is aware of what a vibrant arts community we are. D.Art Co’s work this year will culminate in the launching of a website which will be an information hub: showcasing arts happenings in the area, work of local artists, and resources for artists. Coming up is our annual membership drive and party October 22 as well. I hope to see lots of people there – it is guaranteed to be fun!
Seriously: How do you fit it all in?
I am a “jump in, get your feet wet, and then solve problems” type of person and although I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone, it is what works for me! I follow my interests and then am in the middle of many things without wanting to let any of them go… except for the days when I am ready to move to the desert and only think of myself and my art, like I imagine Georgia O’Keeffe doing. I am very interested in exploring the places in between: consistency and change, repetition and variation, loving the modern and respecting tradition, finished and unfinished, polished/professional and lively/naïve, making work through intuition and thinking conceptually. I love the comfort of consistency but chase after the inspiration/growth that comes through change.
Lauren Kraus, happy Decorah resident, loves summer, not humidity. The best part of the summer was her trip to Peru! Next thing to look forward to: a cool, crisp fall.
If you are interested in learning more or seeing Rachelle’s work in person, purchasing anything or taking a class, check out these links, or visit her upstairs of the Clay Studio during the Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour!
www.theclaystudiodecorah.comwww.wiseowldesigns.com www.arthausdecorah.orgwww.simplejoystudios.etsy.com
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com46
Driftless Area Artist FestivalSeptember 17: 10-5, September 18: 10-4
Enjoy local wines, foods, music, and art at the seventh annual Driftless Area Art Festival. This event brings artists together in Crawford County, Wisconsin, always the third weekend in September. It’s a beautiful time of year, and since the festival is headquartered in Soldiers Grove, there’s no way to avoid the stunning hills and valleys of the Driftless Region. “Discover the area. Discover its artists. Delight in both.”
Bluff Country Artist’s Gallery Chick Night Thursday, Sept. 22, 5 to 8 pm
The Bluff Country Artist’s Gallery in Spring Grove hosts this fun girls night out – although “roosters” are welcome too. Chick Night is a local night out with friends shopping, eating and watching a movie. Participating businesses in downtown Spring Grove extend their hours and offer specials for those at Chick Night. You start at the Gallery and get a punch card, then visit and shop at a minimum of three participating businesses. They will punch your card so you can earn a free ticket to the “chick flick” movie on the roster at the lovely Spring Grove Cinema.
It seems that every fall people are puttin’ on their Arty Pants. (Yes, of course that’s a thing.) Since there’s a lot of great stuff going on, we thought we’d put as much of it as possible in one place for easy viewing. So, without further ado, check out what’s happenin’ in the world of arts:
Art Attack is Back!
47theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011
October is National Arts Month, and there are a lot of exciting things happening!
Northeast Iowa Artists Studio TourOctober 7, 8, and 9, 2011
Iowa’s oldest and largest Studio Tour is celebrating 14 years with new artists and “adventures” on the tour. 54 artists at 40 locations will offer a behind-the-scene’s peek into their methods and studios, covering everything from pottery and paintings to woodcuts, baskets, and jewelry to woodworking, kaleidoscopes, sculpture, photography, fused glass, ironwork, and more. Tour participants can set their own pace while driving from studio to studio – a full-color brochure features a map and directions and more detailed maps and GPS coordinates are available as web downloads. The tour is free of charge and sites are all within 35 miles of Decorah. Workspaces are open from 10 am to 5 pm all three days. For more information or for a brochure, visit www.iowaarttour.com or email [email protected], or call Winneshiek County Convention & Visitors Bureau: 800-463-4692.
Art Walk/ Arty Party: A month-long fundraiser for Driftless Art CollectiveOn-going September 29-October 22. Arty Party October 22.
Inspire(d) Media and T-Bock’s Sports Bar and Grill would like to invite you to join in “Take it to the Streets!”, an upcoming month-long fundraiser for the region’s newly re-branded Driftless Art Collective.
Decorah artist Jeanine Scheffert will be on the Northeast Iowa Artists Studio Tour. Photo courtesy NIAST.
D.ART Co.Driftless ART Collective
D.ART Co.Driftless ART Collective
D.ART Co.Driftless ART Collective
D.ART Co.Driftless ART Collective
D.ART Co.Driftless ART Collective
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com48
Driftless Area Art Festival Saturday, September 17
10:00—5:00 Sunday, September 18
10:00—4:00 Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin
Celebrating the Visual, Performing, and Culinary Arts of the Driftless Area
80 Visual Artists Live Music Local Foods
Free Admission and Parking
www.DriftlessAreaArtFestival.com
The events kick off with ArtWalk’s opening night, Thursday, September 29 – stop in that night at the ArtHaus Studio to get a “guided tour”. Visitors and residents are invited to take a stroll around Downtown Decorah through an amazing “street gallery”. Decorah businesses will work with talented Driftless Art Collective (D.Art Co.) artists to display unique works in storefronts for all to enjoy throughout the October, the national arts and humanity month. And there’s an extra bonus: some artists will offer select pieces for silent auction as part of the fundraiser for D.Art Co. Folks can place bids any time between September 29 and 12 pm October 22, the day of D.Art Co.’s Arty Party and Annual Fundraiser. The Arty Party and Fundraiser will be held at T-Bock’s Second Floor! Arty Party-goers will enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, great conversation, fantastic art, and fun! All the silent auction items will be on display, with opportunities to bid on favorite pieces continuing until 9 pm. A small handful of art pieces will be part of a short and fun live auction as well, in addition to a few other Arty Party surprises throughout the night. All are invited to this free event!
American Craft WeekOctober 7-16, 2011Gail Bolson-Magnuson was one of the first to bring area art to the street – Water Street to be exact. She opened Agora Arts in 1991 with 33 artists selling their work on consignment.“There were so many artists in the region, but no local space to sell their
wares,” she says. Agora now has expanded to include 250 different artists’ work from across the nation – many local, and more than 90% of Gail’s store is filled with American Craft:
handmade wares produced by artisans from right here in the U.S. Early October marks the kick off of “American Craft Week,” which, despite the name, is actually 10 days. From October 7 through 16, the Craft Retailers and Artists for Tomorrow (CRAFT), ask retailers, artists, and the public to take note of the craft items they purchase, and keep it local, or at least national.“Local foods have gotten such a big push – when you support your farmers, that money stays in the community,” Gail says. “It is the exact same way for local artists. They are individuals trying to make a living.”America Craft Week (ACW) is part of a larger movement to educate the public on not only keeping it local, but making the idea of “craft” more visible. Craft, by definition, is a skill in doing or making something,
but in past years it’s been associated with cookie jars and potholders. Nothing against those things, it’s just that craft embodies so much more, and American Craft Week is hoping to widen that definition once again. www.agoraarts.com
Potter Pete Blodgett will be selling his bowls again this year, but this time as part of the Northeast Iowa Artists’ Studio Tour. All the proceeds from sales over the Studio Tour
weekend will go to the Decorah Free Clinic. Support this great cause and artist!{ }
Lanesboro, Minnesota(507) 467-2292
Thursday - Saturday 10-7Sunday - Wednesday 10-5
Stop in and fill your heart, mind, and soul
with new insights.
The latest in trendy fashions arriving daily!
Thanks for a great year! Open through Christmas Eve December 24, 2011.Re-opening March 31, 2012 in an all-new space in downtown Lanesboro!
The Funky
You’ll love the variety of fashions and accessories that
cause excitement in today’s social circles. There’s a funky kid in all of us, so go ahead, grownups…try it on,
get over “stuffy” and get a little crazy! You’ll be surprised at how it
changes your mood and brings on the smiles. Val will help
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The Antique Lover
Great selection of furniture, porch beams, trunks dressers, buffets,
kitchen Hoosiers and many other exciting
finds.
“Bittersweet Boutique in Lanesboro is all about bringing out the best in me! I can’t count the number of people who have said, “Your outfit is SO CUTE! Where did you get it?” I always love to
share my secret: Bittersweet Boutique in Lanesboro, Minnesota! Val and her staff are so much fun to shop with, and they know just what I like and what will look great on me. They
have many new must-have items every time I stop in, and they get as excited as I do when I come out of the dressing room sporting
stylish combinations of tops, bottoms, and dresses. Share the news: Bittersweet Boutique is retail therapy at its finest!”
Beth Ann Zukowski | Shoreview, Minnesota
Personal Shopping Assistant!
Don’t worry about keeping up with fashion trends. Create your own and let
them keep up with you! Bittersweet Boutique offers personalized assistance in combining
layer elements and accessorizing with scarves, handbags and jewelry. Not sure how it would look on you? TRY IT ON! Dressing rooms are
provided for your shopping convenience, and Val or her associate will be on hand
with tips and tricks that will make you the envy of everyone at your
next social gathering.
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com50
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From scratch daily:Delightful scones, tarts, &
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Specials posted daily!
Inspire(d) Media and T-Bock’s Sports Bar and Grill would like to invite you to join in “Take it to the Streets!”, an upcoming month-long
fundraiser for the region’s newly re-branded Driftless Art Collective.The events kick off with ArtWalk’s opening night, Thursday, September 29. Visitors and residents
are invited to take a stroll around Downtown Decorah through an amazing “street gallery”. Decorah businesses will work with talented Driftless Art Collective (D.Art Co.) artists to display unique works in storefronts for all to enjoy throughout October, the national arts and humanity month. A popular event when D.Art Co. was known as the Decorah Regional Arts Council, ArtWalk will bring all the great ideas of the past back to the streets, but with an added twist: some artists will offer select pieces for silent auction as part of the fundraiser for D.Art Co. Art lovers can place their bids any time between September 29 and 12 pm October 22, the day of D.Art Co.’s Arty Party and Annual Fundraiser.
The Arty Party and Fundraiser will be held this year at T-Bock’s Second Floor! Mid-renovation, Arty Party-goers will get a sneak peek at the beautiful building’s restoration and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, great conversation, fantastic art, and fun! All the silent auction items will be on display at the Arty Party, with opportunities to bid on favorite pieces continuing until 9 pm. A small handful of art pieces will be part of a short and fun live auction as well, in addition to a few other Arty Party surprises throughout the night. All are invited to this free event!
The Arty Party also represents the launch of dartco.org, an easy-to-update local arts website. It will host details on mission, membership, and resources, and will be a platform for members to network and gain exposure through an artist directory, regular arts updates, and outreach opportunities. This will be a new benefit for D.Art Co. members – the organization will be accepting new and returning members at the Arty Party and Fundraiser, and ballots will be available for members to vote on arts council board positions for the 2011/2012 year. The new board will be announced following the Live Auction.
The Driftless Art Collective’s mission is to empower our community to network and foster partnerships, so together we can create stronger art-related events, cultural activities, and educational opportunities. As a membership organization, we provide promotional, business, and community-building support to artists and arts groups hoping to get off the ground, grow, and improve life in our region.
D.Art Co. plans to use funds raised during “Take it to the Street” to hire a central administrator for the organization. As fiscal sponsors – right now for ArtHaus and the Oneota Film Festival, and more projects on the horizon – D.Art Co. must process paperwork and checks for current projects, and accept and review applications for future projects. An administrator would work with the board on these tasks and also assist in grant writing, regularly update the dartco.org website and social media, and help organize art business-related workshops and events. The arts are important to everyone: art-related events equal tourism and tourism equals dollars for our community. Come out and “Take it to the Streets” with the Driftless Art Collective!
If members of the public would like to volunteer at the Arty Party and Annual Fundraiser, contact D.Art Co. board member Aryn Henning Nichols at [email protected].
to the
Inspire(d).Sponsored by Inspire(d) Media and T-Bock’s Sports Bar and Grill.
9-11 Remembrance; 10 Years LaterSunday, September 11, 2011, 7 p.m.
Tim Conway & FriendsSunday, September 25, 2011, 7 p.m.
Masters of the FiddleThursday, October 13, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
Lily Cai Chinese Dance CompanyA BUCK A KID!Sunday, October 23, 2011, 3 p.m.
Lukas Nelson and Promise of the RealThursday, October 27, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
My Fair LadySaturday, October 29, 2011, 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Hugo Wolf QuartettSunday, October 30, 2011, 3 p.m.
The Nutcracker - Minnesota BalletA BUCK A KID!November 18-20, 2011, Friday, 7:30 p.m. Saturday & Sunday, 2 p.m.
Kathy GriffinSunday, December 11, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
Mannheim SteamrollerFriday, December 16, 2011, 7:30 p.m.
Monty Python’s SpamalotSunday, January 15, 2012, 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Rock of AgesThursday-Friday, January 19-20, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
The Magic Flute with UNI School of MusicFriday, January 27, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Elvis LivesTuesday, February 7, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Spirit of Uganda - A BUCK A KID!Sunday, February 19, 2012, 3 p.m.
Wroclaw Philharmonic with Garrick OhlssonTuesday, February 21, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Burn the FloorSaturday, February 25, 2012, 2 & 7:30 p.m.
The ChieftainsSaturday, March 3, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Colin HayFriday, March 9, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Béla Fleck and the FlecktonesSaturday, March 31, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Flying Karamazov BrothersA BUCK A KID!Sunday, April 15, 2012, 3 p.m.
The Midtown MenFriday, April 20, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Morgenstern TrioThursday, April 26, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Twist and ShoutSunday, May 6, 2012, 7:30 p.m.
Dates and times subject to change
Tickets on sale to general public August 1, 2011Join Friends of the Gallagher-Bluedorn to order early!
2011-2012 Artist Series
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com52
563.382.1200 • www.thefamilycareclinic.com
We put the care in healthcare.
David Heine, MD
By Kristine Kopperud Jepsen
Fostering a Positive
I t’s cicada season, and to school kids that means one desperate thing: the end of summer vacation. But for more
than 450 of those Iowa teens the whirring in the treetops is white noise to the fact that, not only are they heading back to school, but they’re just months away from facing the world on their own. Alone.
They’re foster kids – veterans of a system that both scrutinizes their particulars and commodifies them in a sincere but limited effort to keep them safe, clothed, and fed. And loved too, hopefully.
Kirsten Heine, a foster parent herself, got Project Care off the ground in just a few short
weeks. She hopes to continue growing the program to help more foster kids as they set
out on their own for the very first time.
Future
Photo by Aryn Henning Nichols
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 53
100 EAST COFFEE STREET • 507-467-9002
SUNDAY - WEDNESDAY 10 AM - 5 PM
THURSDAY - SATURDAY 10 AM - 7:30 PM
LANESBORO, MN
Unique . Inspired . Personal
Olivia’s Attic
HOME ACCENTS FURNITURE
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�e perfect destination for unique gifts or something special for
yourself: from accent pillows to glassware, candlesticks to art,
clothing & accessories to gourmet foods, even unique baby items!
Dan HuebnerStory People-Annette LaitenenLuther College-Jim HaemkerAce Kitchen Place and Ace Hardware-Julie SpildeDiane and Larry GrimstadCarol EdmondsonFarmers and Merchants Bank-Andy LudekingWalmart- Brad Henderson, Dewey Stuve, Jodi Kappes, John BernsKwik Trip-SharonDecorah Bank and Trust-Ben GrimstadBen and Padrin GrimstadSubway-Kim ZweibohmerPizza Ranch- John DambekRockweiler’s TV and Appliance-Dean Rockweiler and Jason ZuckBargain Outlet- Janet PorterWhippy Dip- Rosie CarolanCindy and Jeff ErnestMarilyn and Jeff RoverudGundersen Lutheran- Marla KlockeCasey’s- DawnCulver’s- Bruce and Sue AndersonJustin and Jeanne GulleksonBank of the West- Justin GulleksonKaren and Pat Trewin and FamilyZach and Andrew HeineThe Family Care Clinic- Dr. David HeineDavid and Jane JensenOnce Upon a Time Book Store- Marlys LienThe Magpie Coffee House- Kathleen RitnerRuby and Gene HermeierDr. and Mrs. E.D. FarwellKaren WoodwardKathy and Doc Fuqua and FamilyDenise and John OldsBrad and Jane MillerJayme and Dan Nelson & Family
Kirsten and David Heine and FamilyJim and Helen MeehanDiane MartenFirst Lutheran WELCAKatie ShepherdBob and Darlene JonesGloria CarpenterDawn Dynes ChristensenNancy and Mike Hovden and FamilyCarol Birkland and Tom WoxlandNorma and Paul DirksJanet LambertHarris and Luetta HostagerSusan NelsonMelinda and Bruce HansonSonja and Mark LundOwen and Linda ChristiansonDavid and Brenda CarlsonBev and Elliot Christen Roger and Jane KolarichSteve and Lindy Borske- HubbardJim and Sandy HoegRochelle Jermeier and Mike Voltmeranonymous donorsThe First Lutheran Mission and Outreach CommitteeJenine JordahlBill Musser and Otter DreamingDeana HagemanFirst Lutheran CirclesLaurie Wocester Al and Shirley LudekingJon and Mary Hart Quillin’s Grocery StoreCake Buzz-Kari BurnsDecorah Greenhouse-Jim LukesKTTC NewsKWWL NewsInspire(d) Media-Aryn & Benji Nichols
On behalf of First Lutheran Church of Decorah and the Project Care Committee, We would like to extend our heart-felt thanks to all of the individuals, businesses, and families who made Project Care possible! The goal of Project Care was to recognize six area students who were not only graduating high school but “aging out” of the Foster Care System. This dedicated effort raised money to help equip these young people in their next stage of independent living as well as host a wonderful and well-deserved graduation party on June 9. These young people have endured much, persevered, and we wish them well in all that is ahead for them. We also hope that this project brings to light the need of all children in Iowa’s Foster Care System. This inspiring endeavor would not have been possible without kindness and generosity of those listed below. We thank you for your support!
Serving 6,000 kids in Iowa each year, the foster care program manages children who’ve been abused, abandoned, neglected or otherwise estranged until they can either return to their families or find a new permanent home through adoption, according to Iowa KidsNet, a collaboration of six Iowa non-profits that recruits, trains, licenses and supports families to foster and adopt Iowa kids.
But reunification and adoption don’t always happen, and foster children “age out” of state custody when they turn 18. Some graduate. Some don’t. In a 2010 report on the progress of foster grads in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois, it’s clear getting a diploma isn’t always the most pressing concern.
Conducted by Chapin Hall, a policy research center at the University of Chicago, the study found that of the 732 students tracked from “age-out” to age 23-24, 37 percent had been homeless or couch surfed since exiting foster care. Less than half were employed at the time of their last interview, most who were employed were not earning a living wage, and more than one-quarter had had no employment income in the past year. In addition, two thirds of the female participants had been pregnant, and 45 percent of young men had been incarcerated.
“It’s impossible to overstate the disorienting effect of growing up in the foster system,” says Kirsten Heine, chair of the Mission and Outreach Committee at Decorah’s First Lutheran Church and herself the foster/adoptive mother of two boys. “Can you imagine your child or grandchild being picked up and moved to a stranger’s home?”
So when Heine’s pastor, interim clergyman Harris Hostager, asked this past spring what her brand-new committee was doing to support Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI) – a local partner agency of Iowa KidsNet – Heine shouldered the challenge. She hit on the aging out issue when she asked her friend and social worker Deana Hageman at LSI about foster kids’ particular needs.
“Problem was, it was already the beginning of May. We had just weeks to identify the kids in Winneshiek County who were aging out and do something about it,” Heine says.
“Thank you!” says Project Care
“Be Not Forgetful to Entertain Strangers: for Thereby Some have Entertained Angels Unawares” Hebrews 13:2
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com
Hageman explains that connecting with aged-out students can be tricky because they quickly drop off the state’s radar when they turn 18, the age at which they can leave foster care and be independent. “Many students cannot wait to be free,” she says. “Every child is different, but almost all those who opt out just want to be on their own and free of ‘the system.’”
Challenges aside, they found six students within 35 miles of Decorah scheduled to graduate both from foster care and high school. The First Lutheran committee dubbed the effort Project Care, and Heine took to the streets, approaching dozens of local businesses about donating goods, services, and supplies that new foster grads would need as they began life on their own.
“I walked in with a homemade flier and walked out with stainless steel pots and pans, microwaves, TVs, all way below cost or donated outright. I was only turned down once,” says Heine with a shy grin, still astonished in her quiet way.
Within days, she had laptops, Crock Pots, toasters, cookbooks, flatware (and “really beautiful flatware at that,”), towels, gift cards for gasoline, pre-payments on utility services and more.
“Bless Kirsten’s heart! Every time she called with project updates and stories of the ongoing generosity of the community, I cried!” says Hageman. “You have to understand, having ‘new’ is really important to these kids – and to the families who’ve cared for them. We foster parents are thrifty by necessity. We garage sale. We find ways to make ends meet. Through no fault of their own, foster kids rarely have anything theirs alone, and the way our community validated that simple need was incredible.”
With just days to go before area high school commencement ceremonies, Heine and Hageman turned their attention to customizing gifts for the students and planning a real, live graduation party. “It was difficult to get the kids to articulate what
they really dreamed of,” Heine explains. “It spoke volumes about them not wanting to dream big, only to be let down.”
“We kept discovering, over and over, how little things have huge effects,” Heine explains. “When we asked one young woman what she wanted most, if she could have anything at all for graduation, she requested ‘a butter yellow cake with whipped cream cheese frosting.’” So Heine ordered six cakes – one for each student.
Another student requested a new set of tires for her car so she could commute between her part-time work and the college classes she’d enrolled in. Still another student reluctantly asked for help paying down his investment in a new wheelchair.
In addition to hard goods, Heine rounded up commitments from banks to help establish savings accounts and learn budget planning. Another vendor offered free job training to
model the basics of professional conduct and success in the workplace. “It helped having this cross-section of donors take an interest in helping the students, having them see where and how to get answers for themselves without anyone telling them they had to do this or that a certain way,” Hageman explains.
By the time the party rolled around, Heine had enough gifts for each student to cover a buffet table. “We
had to ‘wrap’ them with table cloths,” she says. The students, some of whom knew each other through
foster programming, were able to build their own guest lists. Some invited foster families. Some reached out to birth families, their former social workers, and friends. A bevvy of project donors came, as well.
“The kids had no idea what was coming. When the gift-giving started, they were overwhelmed and excited and grateful. Tears were flowing everywhere,” Heine says, misting a little herself.
Since that party, four of the students have made plans to start college, and all are living on their own. While they declined further recognition in this article, their former caregivers and Hageman
54
Top: Heine along with fellow organizers Deana Hageman and Clergyman Harris Hostager.Bottom: People were overwhelmed by the generosity of the community and Project Care. Photos courtesy of Project Care.
Continued on page 56
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 55
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Can’t wait until Project Care’s 2012 graduation party? Check out these opportunities to learn more about foster care in our community:
August 21: Doug Johnson, CEO of Lutheran Services in Iowa, will present an overview of the organization’s work serving “children, youth and families, people with disabilities, the elderly and people of refugee status...helping in times of need, strengthening families and advocating dignity and social justice for our neighbors in the community.” Location: First Lutheran Church, Decorah Time: TBA Contact Kirsten Heine for event information, 563-735-5358.
Late September: First Lutheran Church, Decorah, will host “Heart Gallery,” an exhibition of photographs of Iowa children waiting for adoption. Taken by professional photographers, the portraits help introduce prospective foster and adoptive families to children in need. The gallery belongs to Iowa KidsNet, a partnership of six Iowa non-profit agencies. For information and a preview, visit iowakidsnet.com.
The six non-profit agencies that make up KidsNet are:Four Oaks (www.fouroaks.org)Boys and Girls Home and Family Services (www.boysandgirlshome.com)Children’s Square USA (www.childrenssquare.org)Family Resources (www.famres.org)Lutheran Services in Iowa (www.lsiowa.org)Quakerdale (www.quakerdale.org)
Right now, this minute, there are more children in Iowa in need of foster care than there are homes to provide love and support. This November, get certified to be a foster and or adoptive parent by completing training called Permanency and Safety: Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting. PS-MAPP is a 10-week series of 3-hour classes. For information, contact Kidsnet at 1-800-243-0756 or visit iowakidsnet.com to get scheduled for an orientation session.
Inspira(c)tions
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Lana W. McDermott, DDSWelcomes
When not practicing dentistry Dr. McDermott enjoys: running, working on home improvement projects with her husband, Patrick, boating on the river
with family and friends, snowboarding in the winter and interior decorating.
“I feel so fortunate that I get to come back to my hometown and do what I love, practice dentistry! I look forward to helping families achieve
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“Dr. McDermott and I share the same philosophy in providing the best quality of patient care possible. I look forward to having her join us at West Side Dental.” Jon R. Hart, DDS
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“We never forget our past but we move on. I’ve moved probably 20 times, treatments, foster homes, hospitalization, just diff erent placements I guess. But you learn something diff erent from every placement.” Graduate Taylor Meana (center in photo) said to KTTC News at the Project Care graduation party this spring. She also told them she was amazed at how many people cared for her enough to put on the party without even knowing her.
Photo courtsey of Project Care
say the legacy of Project Care is to spread awareness of Northeast Iowa’s foster program and the particular needs of the young adults it raises.
“I’m always telling foster kids, ‘Don’t let your past determine your future,’” says Hageman, “but there’s no easy way around the fact that we all make decisions based on what we know or have experienced, which for foster kids, sometimes isn’t great. We’re often asking these children to do things differently than they were raised, which makes them feel vulnerable. They have to feel a positive vibe around them in the wider community to begin to believe it.”
And as for Heine, well, she’s back at work with the committee, pushing for the construction of a website for Project Care, organizing related presentations and events for the fall and winter, and maintaining local buzz surrounding next year’s fundraising for graduates.
“I’m just so awed by the response to this need,” she says. “Many of this year’s donors didn’t even know the recipients’ names, and yet they gave what they had and were most sincere in wishing them well. I don’t know too many communities that just do that.”
Kristine Kopperud Jepsen is grateful that she grew up in a family and small-town community that let her make her own way and feel loved, every time she glanced back for support. She hopes to support Project Care and other local initiatives by helping them build a home on the Web and raise awareness of their mission.
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 57
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When not practicing dentistry Dr. McDermott enjoys: running, working on home improvement projects with her husband, Patrick, boating on the river
with family and friends, snowboarding in the winter and interior decorating.
“I feel so fortunate that I get to come back to my hometown and do what I love, practice dentistry! I look forward to helping families achieve
excellence in dental health in a comfortable, friendly, caring atmosphere.“
Lana received her Bachelor of Science from Luther College and her Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Iowa. She is a member
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“Dr. McDermott and I share the same philosophy in providing the best quality of patient care possible. I look forward to having her join us at West Side Dental.” Jon R. Hart, DDS
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Hosted by: The Crawford County Domestic Abuse Task Force.Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011 10am - 6pm @ La Riviere Park,Vineyard Road, Prairie du Chien, Wi
The Crawford County Domestic Abuse task force is once again hosting the Crooked Barn Music Festival and Family Picnic. Bring your blankets, bring your chairs and join in a fun-filled day among La Riviere Park’s rolling hills. Live music, games, door prizes, an auction, cartoon artist, arts and craft venders, and food and beverage stands will all be on the grounds. In addition, Valley Fish and Cheese will be serving up their famous fish fry.
Live music will be presented throughout the day by River Monsters (11 am to12 pm), Levitating Train Committee (12:30 pm to 1:30 pm), 88 MPH (2 pm to 3 pm), The Charles Walker band (3:30 pm to 4:30 pm), and Challenger (5 pm to 6 pm). There will also be horseshoes, a bean bag tournament, turtle races, a frog jumping contest, face painting, reverse tie dying, a pictures board contest, and more, plus many door prizes including a Fuji Mountain Bike, Washburn acoustic guitar and case, a pair of Milwaukee Brewers tickets and more!
Advanced tickets are on sale for $5/adults, $2/children ages five to 12, or a $15/family package. Tickets at the gate will be $7/adult, $3/children, and $17/family. Tickets and inquiries can be guided to 608-326-4215.
September 22-24, 2011Prairie Island Park, Winona, MN
Hands down, Winona’s Boats & Bluegrass should get a blue ribbon award for presenting what very well may be the best little music festival in the Midwest. Three days of bluegrass-ish goodness with everyone from Pert Near Sandstone, Charlie Parr, Greensky Blue, and Two Many Banjos to Sandman the Rappin’ Cowboy, I like You, Michelle Lynn, and a myriad of other artists. Acts both local and wannabe local create the laidback but string pickin’ goodness of the weekend – and don’t forget the boats! Each paid festival ticket also gets you access to group canoe trips throughout the weekend on the backwaters of the Mississippi River. Camping is free with a festival ticket, and families are not only welcome, but encouraged to participate. Do yourself a favor and check out more at www.boatsandbluegrass.com.
Crooked Barn Music Festival and Family Picnic
Boats and Bluegrass
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com58
Intro by Aryn Henning Nichols
There’s something about taking a bit of a drive for dinner that’s appealing. It’s that supper club mentality, the notion that there’s a little hideaway just around the corner that’ll have the perfect meal for you, and as an added bonus, you might get to see
some interesting scenery along the way!Victories is just that kind of place. The restaurant and sports lounge is located in tiny
Fayette, Iowa – population 1,300 and home of scenic Upper Iowa University – but instead of a little hole-in-the-wall tucked away, it’s a beautiful new building on Main Street with outdoor patios, colorful awnings, and two spacious levels inside. The main floor locks into the sports bar niche nicely, serving bar food with a kick: fresh, local ingredients with an inventive flair. Upstairs, the formal dining room opens up to wide windows on one side, and an open kitchen on the other. Watch as Executive Chef Matt Henning creates the tasty treats that will eventually make their way to your table. The food – all made fresh-from-scratch – ranges from salads to chili fries to mussels to blue cheese burgers to garlic ginger beef medallions. We suggest trying the house-smoked turkey breast sandwich with figs, Brie, and a side of sweet potato fries. Yum.
Matt smokes many of Victories meats himself, and has carefully crafted the menu so there’s “something for everyone,” highlighting seasonal ingredients and age-old favorites.
The restaurant was a 2010 recipient of an Upper Iowa University economic development grant – the grant, now in its third year, is given to a business that wants to start, expand, or relocate a business in the city of Fayette. Most of the restaurant owners met as students at the Upper Iowa campus. Partners hail from Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, and Arizona, all brought together again to give something back to their alma mater community.
CH
EFON THEBLOCK
Matt Henning, of Victories in Fayette, Iowa
Name: Matt HenningAge (if you’re willing): 36Restaurant/Business: Victories Restaurant and Sports LoungeNumber of Years Cooking: 18
Formal training or live-and-learn?School of hard knocks & CIA – Napa Valley. Trained under: Michael DeMaria, M Culinary Concepts; Erin Salzmann, Mondo’s; Robert Kapricoff, Houston’s.
What’s your earliest or most significant memory of cooking or being cooked for? Helping my mom make egg sandwiches for breakfast and shucking bushels and bushels of sweet corn.
Why did you decide to become a chef?I started cooking while attending Iowa State University – after graduating I wasn’t enjoying the job I was at and decided to move to Arizona to pursue a chef career.
Let Black Hills Energy be your ticket to a better vacation by turning wasted energy into spending money. Just schedule a free home energy audit, follow the recommendations of our experts and apply for energy efficiency rebates. In addition, depending on the improvements you make, you could receive up to $500 in tax credits — enough to buy plenty of fun in the sun.
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Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com60
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What’s the best thing you’ve ever made?That’s a tough one – grilled ahi tuna burgers off the top of my head, but I have been smoking a lot of meats lately, and my pork ribs and butt are pretty darn good!
Do you have any monumental food fails you’d like to share with us?While cooking for the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Arizona, I attempted to make a bulk batch (300 pounds) of mac & cheese. I attempted to cook 250 pounds of macaroni all at once in a make shift kettle made from a 200 gallon sink with a burner on the bottom. It was a disaster. Needless to say it burned the bottom of the sink, didn’t boil, and the pasta turned to mush!
How about secret food indulgences you don’t normally talk about? Will you tell us? I’m a sucker for hole in the wall Chinese place and buffets, but usually regret it after.
What’s your favorite:Ingredient: Garlic.Dish: Cioppino, with all the goodies: shrimp, clams, mussels, scallops, fish, etc.Cookbook: “Food Lovers Companion.” It’s the bible!Random (or not so random) kitchen tool: Emulsion blender. I use it for everything!Vegetable: Baby beets or Brussels sprouts.Fruit: Peaches
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 61
A letter from S. ClausSeptember 1, 2011
Dear Helpers of the World,
I know usually you all are writing ME letters, but I thought – since I’m so excited – I would take a little time to write YOU! What am I so excited about? Well, Christmas, for starters (at the time I’m writing this, it’s only 137 days away, and we’re already working hard!), and a close second is the Holiday Lights, Magical Nights display at Pulpit Rock Campground in Decorah (THAT’S only 85 days away)!
Holiday Lights, Magical Nights is one of our favorite pre-Christmas events. It’s always fun to be part of the lives of those young and young-at-heart: from tiny infants (“What is that thing in the red outfit?”), to mystified toddlers (“That really is Santa!”), to kids not quite sure (“That can’t really be Santa!”), to adults taking it all in (“It’s great to believe again!”).
Jingles, my elf, and I have had some truly touching moments at Holiday Lights. Like the time a loving little girl said, “Save my toy and give it to someone who doesn’t have any.” Or when a little boy cried tears of joy when I handed him a toy car. He said, “Santa, this is exactly what I wanted. How did you know?” And I remember the dog guarding his young master…thinking Jingles would be his next lunch. We’ll never forget asking the Japanese student, “How do you say ‘Santa Claus’ in your language?” Imagine our surprise when she looked at us and said, “Santa Claus!”
We can’t wait to see who we’ll meet this year, and hear the holiday wishes each visitor has to share. But first, we’d like to make a few wishes of our own: be good to your friends, family and neighbors… lend a hand to that person in need… always give a hug or smile to someone who could use it. Do these things, and you will always be on my “Good List”.
Jingles and I, along with all the elves, could also use some help! Before you know it, it will be time for Holiday Lights, Magical Nights and so much must still be done! I know the good people at Helping Services would appreciate extra hands and energy – would you like to pitch in? Can you fold programs? Or perhaps you want to greet visitors on one of the nights the display is open… you might even get to be MY helper! Or maybe you would enjoy helping with the display set up on November 5th? If you want to contribute in any way, call my friend Oz 563-387-1720 – he’ll set you up as an “Honorary Elf”!
Is it too early to wish you Happy Holidays? I think not.
Happy Holidays,
S. Claus
Medicap Pharmacy in Decorah is committed to providing a high level of care.
We offer a Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program that reviews:
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Call us at 382-8765 for more information.
Your Medicap Pharmacists: Lori Rissman, Sue Burks and Mark Branum
P.S. Don’t forget 2011 Holiday Lights, Magical Nights opens November 24, at Pulpit Rock Campground. Come see the lights and support Helping Services for Northeast Iowa. Learn more at www.helpingservices.org.
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com
Tis’ the Season…Tailgating Season, That Is
62
Photo by Aryn Henning Nichols. Truck model’s agents are Mike and Dom Bockman - thanks, guys!
theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 63
Tis’ the Season…Tailgating Season, That Is
By Jim McCaffrey
Now that summer is an outgoing tide of memories, it is time to ratchet it up for the next big thing. It’s party central. Step up and rub shoulders with the big boys and/or… er, girls… as well. Football mania is descending upon us and with it comes another national pastime: tailgating. This social phenomenon is kind of like the Energizer Bunny. Starting in August with preseason NFL games and concluding in early February with the Super Bowl, the season keeps going and going and going. And with it comes pre-game get-togethers with family, friends, and inevitably, total strangers. I would imagine the ritual probably dates back to at least the ancient Greek Olympic Games with buddies sharing six packs of mead and lamb kabobs. The best rendition of its beginning I could find, after a little digging, was in 1919. It was Green Bay’s first year and fans backed their pickups around the field and used their tailgates as seats to watch the games. As a Packer fan, that scenario made the appeal of tailgating infinitely clearer.
So let’s get started. The first and most important item to procure is a boatload of your favorite adult beverage. Ice-cold beer works well here. I would suggest not bringing a case of Dom Pérignon champagne – everybody will think you’re a snob. Remember – these events began in the back of a truck… but still try to put your own spin on it. Local foods and local beers are welcome, and when outdoors, cans are usually best… and make sure you bring enough to share! (Fun aside, it is also important to drink responsibly – you still have to get home from the party. When in doubt, call a cab!)
To work up an appetite, toss the beat up old football around and enjoy a couple turns playing hacky sack or the beanbag game with the kids. One needs to prepare for the smorgasbord of food that is being spread out on the beer pong table. What was once probably just a simple pre-game lunch of hotdogs and hamburgers has evolved into a treasure trove of tasty treats. I love it – especially the common sharing of food by everyone. Old family recipes like someone’s mom’s dill pickles proudly and inevitably show up on the table. Homemade fresh salsa and chips, potato salad, coleslaw, a seven layer Mexican casserole dip, baked beans and, of course, deviled eggs, are frequent sides awaiting a cornucopia of grilled goodies from the barbeque virtuosos.
Fall 2011 / theinspiredmedia.com64
It is not uncommon for these masters of the heat to be set up at dawn and slow cooking or smoking their delicious fare. Each one an MVP in their own right. Kings of the coals. Bragging rights are at stake here. There is something about playing with fire that brings out the primal beast in all of us. But that’s part of the fun of it all. The grill guys are putting on a show, pumping out ribs, hot and spicy barbeque chicken wings, root beer pulled pork, bratwurst, shrimp kabobs, and the list goes on and on. The camaraderie is infectious. Fans from opposing sides sitting together gently ribbing each other about their teams, discussing the finer points of previous games, and having a gastronomic marathon.
Tailgating parties aren’t necessarily limited to the parking lots of your team’s stadiums either. Can’t make it to the game? Pull a television out into the garage or deck. Invite family and friends to bring their respective grills and side dishes. This actually has some advantages. Since this is a private party, you can control who shows up. You do not have to put up with the obnoxious guy who has to prove how macho he is by going around smashing beer cans on his forehead. Unless, of course, he is your brother-in-law. Then you are just out of luck. All kidding aside, tailgating at home can be a very enjoyable experience. A simple thing I like to do is grill sweet corn. Since I am not on a first name basis with Martha Stewart I will have to give her credit for this idea. Husk your sweet corn and put it on the grill on high heat. Keep turning until the corn is nicely browned on all sides. Melt some butter and add fresh lime juice and cayenne pepper to it. Slather on corn and enjoy.
Have fun whipping up the following sides, and try my famous grilled chicken recipe (you might remember this from my Father’s Day 2010 column)! The food options are virtually endless…
Uh oh! Gotta run. It’s game time!
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All you need to know for food ‘n’ fun
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theinspiredmedia.com \ Fall 2011 65
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Carolina Coleslaw (Serves 8-10)
Dressing:1 tsp dry mustard 1 tsp celery seed 1 cup apple cider vinegar1 cup sugar1 tsp salt2/3 cup canola oil
Combine following ingredients in a large bowl: 1 head of cabbage, finely shredded 1 Vidalia onion, finely chopped 2 carrots, grated In a sauce pan, add all dressing ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Simmer and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Cool and pour over veggies and toss. Refrigerate until cold.
Gerda’s Potato Salad (Thanks Mom!)
5 lbs. Russet or Idaho potatoes 4 garlic cloves, minced 1 dozen hard boiled eggs 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise 1 small red onion, diced fine 1/4 cup yellow mustard 4 stalks celery, diced fine 2 Tbl Dijon mustard 2-3 large dill pickles, diced fine 2 Tbl spicy brown mustard6 radishes sliced thin Salt and pepper to taste Peel and dice potatoes. Boil until just tender. Drain and cool. Separate egg yolks from whites. Place yolks in a medium sized bowl. Mash into small pieces. Stir in garlic, mayonnaise, and mustards. Chop egg whites into small pieces and place in a large mixing bowl. Stir in remaining vegetables. Gently stir in mayonnaise mixture until well combined.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until cold 4-6 hours.
Grilled Roadside Chicken (Serves four) 1 3 lb chicken (cut into 8 pcs) 2 bunches green onions 1 ½ tsp ancho chile powder 1 teaspoon Mexican oregano ¼ tsp ground cloves ¼ tsp cinnamon 2 cloves garlic, minced 3 T apple cider vinegar ¼ cup orange juice 1 tsp salt Wash chicken with cold water and pat dry with paper towels. Place in a 9x13 baking dish. Trim green onions of any wilted leaves and roots. Set aside. Combine remaining ingredients to make a marinade. Coat all sides of the chicken with marinade. Let rest for 30 minutes. The chicken should be grilled over indirect heat. If using a gas grill, light the outside burners and leave the center one off. With a charcoal grill, push the grill ready coals to one side. You will have to add more coals about half way through. Place chicken on the non-heated portion of the grill. Cook without turning. Baste occasionally with remaining marinade. Chicken is ready when juices run clear. (About 45 minutes). About 10 minutes before chicken is ready brush green onions with vegetable or olive and place over direct heat until tender. Place chicken on cutting board and cover with foil for 10 minutes. Serve two pieces per person with grilled onions on top.
Jim McCaffrey is a chef, author, and co-owner with his family of McCaffrey’s Dolce Vita restaurant and Twin Springs Bakery just outside Decorah. He is author of a humorous cookbook titled “Midwest Cornfusion.” He has been in the food industry in one way or another for 40 years.
“I would imagine the ritual probably dates back to at least the
ancient Greek Olympic Games with buddies sharing six packs of
mead and lamb kabobs.” - Jim McCaffrey
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Thanks to all who made our Panama Mission Trip a Success.
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Plus a special Thank You to: Decorah Lutheran Church, Decorah Lions Club, Casper Heating & Plumbing, and all of our patients who donated.
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What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you?Donald Moore: The cheapest thing in the world is saying Thank
You. It gets you more than anything else. Profuse ‘Thank Yous’ gets a lot of mileage.
Ilene Moore: Respect all people. No matter what their educational or financial situation is, respect everyone as people.
What did you want to be when you grew up?DM: I didn’t think about it. I knew I wanted to go to college.
Not a lot of people went in our day. When I started college, I started out with being a veterinarian in mind.
IM: I wanted to be in the Iowa Extension service, particularly with 4-H clubs, working with education in farms and agriculture. 4-H stands for head, heart, hand, health, for both boys and girls. It was an important influence in my life as a young person.
What did/do you do?DM: Well, I became a veterinarian (laughs). As a vet, I did
general practice. I also represented the government. My era was involved in cleaning up TB (tuberculosis) in cattle and brucellosis in cattle. We also represented the state of Iowa in the poultry and meat inspection agencies.
IM: I’d say you liked small animal care the best – working with people in the community, giving care for dogs and cats.
DM: I can still name some of their pets. I knew them well. I liked that more than anything else.
My grandparents, Donald and Ilene Moore, truly know how to live. With their lifelong commitment to serving the community and raising a beautiful family, time is always precious. Between tending a farmer’s sick calf late in the evening, organizing 4-H events, and making sure all four children completed their schoolwork, keeping busy was never hard. Still, my grandparents have always made time for exploring hobbies, reading, traveling and constantly learning for the sake of learning. Here’s to living to the fullest and to two people I greatly admire.
IM: I worked with the Extension Service, a community service providing education, especially educating farm wives, organizing the county fair and 4-H Club. In those days it was hard to get about and communicate, the roads were so bad. The whole county was a different place to get to know.
What is one thing you couldn’t live without?DM: My wife! (Laughs)IM: If not, it might be your computer. (Laughs)DM: I guess it’s better to say we couldn’t live without
family. They never caused us any trouble (laughs).IM: We have a great community in Decorah.
You’ve been married for 65 years this spring (2011). Tell us about your wedding day.
DM: The tulips were out. It was a nice day, all of the flowers were out. It was the 21st of April and we had good weather. It was an
evening service on Easter Sunday.IM: It was a simple wedding compared to what they are
now. There wasn’t much for gifts. It was very post-war, there was a shortage of a lot of things. Housing was short and so were the things that went in it. It was a struggle to find a car. The kind of things people get now as gifts were hard to come by.
What are you most proud of?IM: Don worked a lot of community service, serving for over
40 years on the board of the bank, in that time it grew a lot. We worked a lot on the hospital board.
DM: I did early fundraising for the hospital. Then I was out hunting for money for the American Cancer Society. When I walked in the door they’d pull out their checkbooks and ask how much! We’ve seen the hospital grow from a few general practitioners to a multi-specialty group. We’ve had good support from the community.
IM: I originally started raising money for the cancer society in 1948. A friend and I were the very first group to get representatives from different parts of the county to organize for the Winneshiek county cancer society.
Any thing else?Decorah’s been good to us. We love it here. The community
of the whole county’s been good to us- a great place to live, a great place to raise our family. We’re proud of our family.
Do you know someone you’d love to interview for this
page? Let us know! [email protected]
Pho
to b
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Donald & Ilene Moore: 65 years of marriage, laughs, & love.INTRODUCTION & INTERVIEW BY GRANDSON HANS ASCHIM
805 MONTGOMERY ST. DECORAH, IOWA
HOURS: 7:30-5:30 M, W, TH, F 7:30-7:00 TUESDAY
563-382-4279WWW.DECORAHEYE.COM
Your support and donated frames and lenses helped the people of Panama.
Thanks to all who made our Panama Mission Trip a Success.
Drs. Meehan & Schwartz Family Eye Care traveled to Panama in June 2011 on a Mission Trip to provide eye care.
Plus a special Thank You to: Decorah Lutheran Church, Decorah Lions Club, Casper Heating & Plumbing, and all of our patients who donated.
The power of collaboration.The power of collaboration.The power of collaboration.The power of collaboration.The power of collaboration.
Physician services by
Through the power of collaboration, Mayo Clinic Health System brings Mayo Clinic to you and your neighbors for life. Now thousands of medical experts are working together sharing knowledge
for a single purpose: you.
Back to School . . .
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