CMW - OctNov14
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Theresa Eichers Eichers Hobby Farm More Than A Hobby! Selling Healthy Goat Products Locally LOCAL Women’s Network Section • Get Out and Enjoy This Season with Must-Do’s Women’s Fund - Enhancing Lives of Women and Girls • Steppin’ Out! Cold Spring Bakery - Delicious Seasonal Favorites Lynn Schurman and Family Natural Healing and Her Faith Saved Her Life Beth Gustafson October is Blind Awareness Month - Meet our Local Federation of the Blind The Life of Pie Food Explorer Loyalty is Earned and Learned When 10 Really Means 19 What’s He Thinking?
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Transcript of CMW - OctNov14
Theresa EichersEichers Hobby Farm More Than A Hobby! Selling Healthy Goat Products Locally
LOCAL Women’s Network Section • Get Out and Enjoy This Season with Must-Do’sWomen’s Fund - Enhancing Lives of Women and Girls • Steppin’ Out!
Cold Spring Bakery - Delicious Seasonal Favorites
Lynn Schurman and Family
Natural Healing and Her Faith Saved Her Life
Beth Gustafson
October is Blind Awareness
Month - Meet our Local
Federation of the Blind
The Life of Pie
Food Explorer
Loyalty is Earned and
Learned
When 10 Really Means 19
What’s He Thinking?
2 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
Central Minnesota Women is published six times per year by Central Minnesota Women L.L.C.© PO Box 485, waite Park, mN 56387 | Please do not send unsolicited manuscripts. contact the publisher. |Central Minnesota Women L.L.C.© All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Central Minnesota Women does not necessarily endorse the claims or contents of advertising or editorial materials. Printed in the U.S.A.
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4 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 5
printed words
Tamera farrand, Publisher
Natalie m. rotunda, editor
Tamera Farrand cO-PUBliSher
All around us, we see examples of women whose lives touch ours in so many ways. maybe it’s that they’re making countless personal sacrifices designed to make our lives better, while bringing a feeling of accomplishment to their own lives. Or maybe it’s that they’re enduring a debilitating illness, and will one day reach out to share that experience so that we can learn from it. in time and spirit, the women whose lives touch ours find a way to succeed, or conquer.
in this issue, char hopela tells us the story of Theresa eichers, whose first career didn’t feel quite right. while she gave her all to the customers she served, something else beckoned. in time, she would find what that something was.
lynn Schurman sat down with Amy Olson to share the many fulfilling aspects of her life. For more than 30 years, lynn has lovingly invested time in being an integral part of her family’s business. But lynn has even more to give, and Amy tells us the rest
of the story.
for two-plus decades, Beth gustafson battled an unseen foe which, according to one doctor, should have immediately ended her life. lois johnson writes of Beth’s faith, hope, and an indomitable spirit that led her to conquer that illness.
Our columnists deliver thought-provoking comments on the subject of abuse; a humorous take on “time;” an update on programs established to help women and girls, and a pie-baking event you can hold in your own kitchen. it’s all here for you, along with cori’s and Natalie’s recommendations for events you’ll not want to miss.
we hope you’ll accept our invitation to take a little time for yourself soon, if not right this moment, and enjoy connecting with…central minnesota women!
Time and Spirit
By Tamera & Natalie
title
6 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
5 ◗ priNTeD wOrDSTime and SpiritBy Tamera and Natalie
8 ◗ mUST-DO’SBy Cori Hilsgengrab a jacket or sweater and take in these “fall”-ish family fun events.
10 ◗ ANNA mArie’S AlliANcefor Some, it’s warBy Debra Schroeder
11 ◗ cOver STOrY: from Salon to farming roots: Theresa eichersBy Char HopelaPhotos by Sue DroppTheresa eichers has loved goats since she was a little girl. wait till you see where that love has taken her!
15 ◗ FeATUre STOrY: cold Spring Bakery – hometown goodnessBy Amy OlsonPhotos by Jen Lessingerlynn Schurman serves up more than delicious pastries at the family bakery. Her plate is filled with deep-rooted dedication to community and education.
18 ◗ leArNiNg AS i gOLoyalty Is Earned and LearnedBy Tamera Farrand
19 ◗ FeATUre STOrY: hope is my word: A Story of courage, Strength, and faithBy Lois JohnsonPhotos by Jen LessingerA main ingredient in Beth gustafson’s journey back from the brink was hope. her story may fill you with hope, too.
21 ◗ wOmeN’S FUND enhancing lives of women and girlsBy Melinda Sanders
23 ◗ FOcUSeD pHilANTHrOpY: National federation of the BlindBy Crystal NuttPhotos by Sue DroppThe local NfB chapter reaches out to educate sighted people, while advocating for the blind.
26 ◗ SpeciAl ADverTiSiNg SecTiONlocal women’s Network
25 ◗ wHAT’S He THiNkiNg?when 10 really means 19By Doug Vagle
28 ◗ FOOD eXplOrerThe life of PieBy Heather RotundaPhotos by Sue DroppPie-lovers, raise your hands! for you, heather whips up three quite-different-but-oh-so scrumptious pies: Salted caramel cheesecake Pie, Spiced coffee Bavarian cream Pie, and Nut Butter Shortbread Tart.
30 ◗ STeppiN’ OUTBy Natalie M. Rotundain partnership with AroundThecloud.org.
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Table of contentsOCtObER-NOVEMbER 2014
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 7
8 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
As we start to experience cooler weather, now is a good time to admire the beautiful fall colors on the trees as we drive to local football games, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and other favorite destinations. With the approach of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, we prepare to give thanks for freedoms and liberties, and for the many joys that fill our days. Here are just a few happenings to add to your Must-Do list.
Football Funfor football fans, there are still a
few home games at
St. cloud State University and St. John’s University to bundle up for and sip some hot chocolate at. if you are a minnesota vikings fan, check out their home schedule at the Tcf stadium. To view schedules and ticket pricing information, visit the websites, stcloudstate.edu, csbsju.edu, and vikings.com.
Indoor theatre funTheater latte Da will perform “Steerage Song” at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 1st, at St. john University’s Stephen B. humphrey Theater. This
Apple and Pumpkin
Adventuresfor a small traditional apple orchard, visit the Hidden cove Orchard located at 27524 hidden cove road, cold Spring. This orchard offers pre-picked apples and pears, along with a gift shop filled with many items. For additional information, visit the website, hiddencoveorchard.com.
collegeville Orchards, located at 15517 fruit farm road, St. joseph, offers more than 20 varieties of apples, pick-your-own pumpkins, a petting zoo, wagon rides, and more. The orchards are open through the end of October. for additional information, call (320) 356-7609.
must-Do’s
must Do’sBy Cori Hilsgen
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 9
must-Do’smusical performance tells the story of immigrants who passed through ellis island to America. for some, it was a land of opportunity; for others, a land of exclusion. Tickets range from $10 to $24. for additional information, visit
the website, csbsju.edu/fine-Arts, or call (320)
363-5777.
The Stroia Ballet company brings their annual performance of “The Nutcracker Ballet” to the
Paramount Theatre November
13th through 15th. This show includes a sugar plum fairy, a ferocious mouse, and beautiful costuming. Tickets range from $12 to $19. for additional information, visit paramountarts.org,
or call (320) 259-5463.
celebrate veteran’s Day by attending a performance of “Accidental Hero” at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, November 15th at the Stephen B. humphrey Theater at St. john’s University. in a one-act play, Patrick Dewane tells a story of finding his grandfather’s journals and discovering a story he never knew. Patrick uses rare color wwii footage, music, and photos from the 1940’s.Tickets range from $10 to $24. for additional information, visit the
website, csbsju.edu/fine-Arts, or call (320) 363-5777.
family time at the Paramount Theatre could include performances of “A charlie Brown christmas” and “Frosty the Snowman.” The greAT children’s Theatre will perform these two well-known television holiday specials November 21st through December 7th.Tickets range from $14 to $22.
for additional information, visit the website, paramountarts.org, or call (320) 259-5463.
Cori Hilsgen is a central Minnesota freelance writer. She is a wife, mother and grandmother who enjoys spending time with family and friends.
10 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
Debra Schroeder is a local. She grew up in Cold Spring, went to college at SCSU, and has worked with Anna Marie’s Alliance since 2000. She gains much energy from talking with people about the issues faced by those experiencing relationship violence. Debra
currently lives in her childhood home with her husband, seven cats, and the occasional bat.
situation may end in physical abuse. As with all dynamics of relationship violence, not every situation follows any specific model, and can vary widely. It’s important to remember the abuser’s problem is not that they respond inappropriately to conflict. the abuse is operating prior to the conflict: it usually creates the conflict, and it determines the shape the conflict takes, and its outcome.
to intervene and not be a bystander depends a lot on the situation and your relationship with both the abuser and the target. If you can, always let the person being abused know they do not deserve this treatment and you are there to help as much as you can.
to break the cycle, it is important men speak up, too. tell the abuser what you have observed and how it could have consequences legally, and in the relationship. Do not mention if the victim has talked to you about the situation; it could be very dangerous for them. As with most things in life, knowing when to speak is as important as the speaking.
Source: Why Does He Do That? Inside the Minds of Anger and Controlling Men, Lundy Bancroft. Berkley Publishing Group, 2003
makes it impossible for the argument to end any other way than his
way, and he feels he has the right to do this.
“When we argued, I felt like I was in a battle, like we
were at war.” For many abusers, this is exactly what an argument is, a war that must be won at all costs. You win this war by controlling the final outcome and getting what you want. It is not the abuser’s goal to negotiate, understand the other person, or think of compromise. In the eyes of the abuser, his target is always wrong. this is what can make it pointless to argue with someone who is absolutely certain their perspective is accurate and right, and yours is wrong and stupid.
“No matter what I said, he would twist it to be about him and how I was wrong.” through a series of conversational control tactics, abusers will work the argument in their favor. If we put these behaviors on a continuum, the argument may start with sarcasm, laughing at opinions, provoking guilt, changing the subject, interrupting, and distorting. As the argument escalates, yelling and swearing tactics increase the sense of threat and fear for the target. On the higher end of the continuum, abusers may block the doorway, tower over their target, or approach the target in an intimidating way. If there is no intervention, the
For Some, It’s War
By Debra Schroeder
targets of relationship abuse will often confide they tried to reason with their abusers during arguments, only to have the situation escalate into a yelling match, or worse. What is going on in the abuser’s mind, why won’t they listen? According to Lundy bancroft in his book, Why Does He Do That?, there may be no reasoning with an abuser during an argument. His goal is to silence and discredit his target’s opposing perspectives or grievances. For the abuser, it may be paramount to always being right and not feeling obligated to change behaviors or attitudes. this view
if you are experiencing violence in your relationship, call
Anna marie’s (320) 253-6900, or
(800) 950-2203, any time.
October is National Domestic ViolenceAwareness Month
Anna marie’s Alliance
cover Story
From Salon to Farming Roots:
Theresa EichersBy Char Hopela Photos by Sue Dropp cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 11
From Salon to Farming Roots: Theresa Eichers
Theresa showing some love
Leading her pets around the farm
cover Storycover Story
By Char Hopela Photos by Sue Dropp
12 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
Getting ready to do chores
theresa Eichers is gonzo for goats. She is a big believer in the benefits of goat’s milk, whether it’s sipped raw from a glass, consumed on a cracker, or smoothed over skin. Eich-ers Hobby Farm produces gourmet foods and cosmetics formulated and handcrafted by theresa, an energetic entrepreneur and salesperson.
theresa runs her business from her home office where she can glance at a monitor and keep an eye on the milk house, birthing pen, and a slumber-ing Great Pyrenees, Dolly. the goats also have an outdoor play area visible from the back window. Her spacious country home in rural Avon is sunny and immaculate. both her housekeep-ing and wall art communicate old-fashioned values. Judging by the lat-ter, this is a “God bless America” and “ten Commandments” household, where hobby and hard work are as one. together, she and husband Jerry manage the 20-acre farm, a growing commercial enterprise.
Coaxing people to sample goat cheese
at local farmers’ mar-kets is part of the fun for a woman who, until recently, owned Sensa-tional Styles & Spa in Avon. A self-professed ‘talker,’ theresa thrives on interacting with the public. While she grew up on a dairy farm near St. Martin, goat products are her passion. because “there’s so much on the market that people can buy,” her sales message includes a lengthy list of health and beauty benefits.
When theresa discusses eczema, facial moistur-izing and skin nutrition, you begin to understand how her 30-year career in the beauty industry dove-tails with her new venture. Working at styling salons heightened her awareness of the health risks associ-ated with prolonged contact with harsh chemicals. As a
Theresa and Jerry Eichers with “the girls”
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 13
cover Story
Soon, the Eichers were producing too much milk for their own needs, and invested in a 180-gallon bulk tank for milk storage. “Craig’s List has been our friend,” theresa says.
As expenses mounted, the goats were becoming an expensive hobby. theresa needed to defray costs, and began selling raw goat’s milk to local customers who came to the farm. With a daily surplus of milk, she also started mak-ing cheese, learning by trial and error.
Pleasing cheeses, and more In 2012, theresa made endless small batches of cheese at her kitchen stove. Researching the subject and refining recipes was a long process. “that was a chore. I wrecked a lot of milk, but the cats liked that,” she says.
Given her own taste preferences, theresa needed to master the art of making fresh, easygoing cheeses. “I personally don’t like aged goat cheese. It’s just my taste buds.”
Relying on her own likings and feed-back from salon clients and family members, she altered ingredients and tweaked the texture of her cheeses. “When I was learning the curding, I tried many different things,” the-resa says. She settled on apple cider vinegar, and then began to diversify her flavors.
Once she had consistent products, she started selling her wares at the farmer’s market in St. Joseph. As her cheeses gained a following, theresa was determined to sell them in stores and restaurants. At this point, she discovered a steep increase in state regulations. Moving forward com-mercially required the purchase of a pasteurizer, another significant expense.
the following year was a struggle. “I’m really impatient. I hate waiting. It took me all of 2013 to complete the state’s cycle of inspections.”
Fortunately, decades of experience in cosmetology — also a highly regu-lated business — taught her to shrug off her exasperation and keep going. “I’m not a rule breaker. It’s not worth the consequences,” she says.
theresa takes pride in the mild flavors and fresh taste of her cheeses. Her selection includes nine kinds of artisan cheese. the sliceable cheeses melt well on grilled burgers. She recommends trying the cheeses that crumble in scrambled eggs or salads,
among other uses.
theresa makes her cheese in three-gallon batches, prefer-ring quality to quantity. the approach has paid off. Eichers Hobby Farm cheeses are now sold at the Good Earth Food Co-op,
the Grand Depot, and a growing list of area grocers.
New products, old ways While learning to make cheese, the-resa was also making small batches of soap. Friends from church shared family recipes. Years of continuing education as a spa owner gave her a good idea of what anti-aging ingre-dients she wanted to incorporate. In time, she learned how to get creamy goat’s milk soap to properly harden. the result is attractive, molded soaps sold in fine mesh netting. theresa advises customers to keep the soap in the mesh wrapper, which acts like a shower scrub.
What accounts for theresa’s tena-cious willingness to try new things? “If I’m going to do something, I’m going to make it work, whatever it takes,” she says.
She credits her interest in natural products to her farm upbringing. theresa is the oldest of nine siblings. During her childhood, family mem-bers went to the doctor for emergency care only. Milder illnesses were treat-ed with “the oldest remedies.” the same rules applied to the livestock. theresa’s parents successfully treated sick animals with natural substances rather than modern medicines.
“I’ve always been a homeopathic kind of person,” she says. “If people only checked into natural (solutions) instead of going to the drugstore, they would be amazed at how much healthier they would be.”
theresa’s healthy product line may soon expand. the Eichers occasion-ally butcher goats. Sensing a growing demand, they are adding meat goats to their herd, and plan to do some
salon owner, she used natural clean-ing products to reduce health risks to employees. Later, she wanted to offer her customers a natural line of soaps and lotions rich with goat’s milk.
Did she find it hard to leave her spa for solitary days milking goats and making cheese? Yes and no. While she loved the conversations with her customers, owning her own salon was never her dream. As a young mother and new stylist, theresa was content working at a chain salon until busi-ness hours on Sundays conflicted with getting to church. though she was willing to work through her lunch hours to secure Sundays off, schedul-ing issues continued. Looking for a solution, theresa realized Avon could use a full-service salon and decided to start one, eventually hiring additional stylists and buying a building.
theresa sold the salon in January 2014 and is fully committed to her new livelihood. “We call it a hobby farm? It’s not. It’s a full-fledged farm-ing operation,” she says.
A growing herd After rearing two children, Carrie
Sue and Sam, theresa and her husband had more free time to
devote to their hobby farm. Jerry, who preferred “field work and machinery” to farm
animals, was not enthusiastic about adding goats to the mix.
but theresa, who has loved goats since childhood, was persistent. She convinced Jerry to buy a pair of nannies, more as pets than livestock, in 2011.
tilly and Lulu — affectionately called ‘the girls’ — played their
part, playfully rubbing against Jerry’s legs and winning him over.
A large dog kennel was converted into a sheltered goat pen. An old chest freezer was used to elevate the goats to a comfortable height in a makeshift milking station. the goats were bred, kids were born; and theresa began visiting other goat farms in the region to see how they ran their operations.
Committing to expansion, the couple built a goat barn with a blend of new and recycled materials, including old barn timbers from a nearby farm.
“We are totally tied to
the land.”
14 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
cover Storycrossbreeding for a leaner product. As momentum builds, she believes it’s important to balance business success with “a good family base.”
theresa has achieved her goals through perseverance and “anger, tears, sweat, and blood.” Years of handwork — from styling hair to milking goats — resulted in the need for carpal tunnel surgery in 2014.
What started as a hobby has grown into a demanding, but rewarding, occupation. Currently, the couple has 27 goats — most are female. they milk twice a day, at 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. As a result, theresa and Jerry rarely take time away from their farmstead.
Char Hopela is a freelance writer with fresh technology skills and experience in print, broadcast and new media.
eichers Hobby FarmAvon, mN
(320) 290-2757eichershobbyfarm.weebly.com
Hometown goodness
Lynn talking with a customer
16 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
titleHometown goodness
Amy Olson is a freelance writer and story teller living in Cold Spring, MN with her family.
cOlD SpriNg BAkerY308 main Street
cold Spring, mN(320) 685-8681
coldspringbakery.com
volunteer Opportunities• Food Shelf
(320) 685-8785• Central Minnesota habitat for humanity
cmhfh.org
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 17
18 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
Tamera is the Publisher/Co-Owner of CMW Magazine since 2008. She believes in giving back to a community that has given so much to her. She can be reached at [email protected]
18 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
learning As i go
By Tamera Farrand
Loyalty is earned and has to flow both to and from the other entity.
through my years in business, I’ve observed that men seem to naturally create loyal networks among them-selves. Sometimes good, sometimes bad, but always undying loyalty
Women, on the other hand, seem to want to be nice to everyone and spread out their alliances.
this matter of loyalty is not some-
thing I “got” or understood until my good friend Dean showed me how it works by his continued support and encouragement throughout our de-cades of friendship. He never wavered from his loyal friendship to me, no matter what.
Loyalty comes in many forms -- and not just to another person. It comes in the form of loyalty to brands, sup-port of non-profits, religion, groups, causes, or country.
And it’s all about forming relation-ships. big marketers know the power of loyalty. they work hard to estab-lish loyalty cards and programs so you stick with them. Panera gave me free coffee through the month of Sep-tember. So I stopped in every day for my free coffee…and bought a scone to go with it! that’s pretty cool.
Our parents were loyal to the compa-nies they worked for, back in the day. they would work at one place until they retired, a type of loyalty we don’t experience in today’s market, which
diminishes a company’s power over us and the public.
If you do work for a company you feel loyal to, the business’s success seems to soar far and above its com-petitors.
I am loyal to my partner Doug, co-owner of this magazine. He did not experience this loyalty with another partner on a different magazine he owned, and it was a hard blow. then, the loyalty did not go both ways, a critical element to its success.
Having true, loyal friends and busi-ness associates is like having a safety net. It’s an amazing feeling.
Loyalty is both earned and learned. It’s one of the most powerful forces on earth.
LoyaltyLoyalty
Imagine, if you will, a life filled with potential: a young family with a brand-new son, satisfying careers, and a promising future. Such was beth Gustafson’s life 26 years ago, until her son was born. When, during the birthing procedure, she lost a lot of blood and needed a transfusion, her doctors, instead, decided to give beth the rubella vaccine, in order to prevent German measles in uterus should she become pregnant again. Her first thought was, Hmm… that doesn’t sound right. Little did beth realize that that decision would forever change her life. She would never feel like herself again.
During the next three months, beth nursed her son and felt somewhat okay. Nevertheless, when she went back to work, a crippling fatigue set in. beth’s doctor told her that she was suffering from postpartum depression, but, deep down, she knew that wasn’t the problem. “It was not a good enough reason to go on anti-depres-sants, so I didn’t,” says beth.
After five months, utterly exhausted, she quit her job. “Some days, it was hard just to get out of bed to go to the bathroom,” remembers beth. “It was like having the flu every day of your life.”
beth continued to search for answers, visiting numerous specialists in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. they all told her the same thing: either the problem was postpartum depression, or it was all in her head.
Eventually, she stopped seeking medical help altogether, but then the alarming weight loss started. beth lost 25 pounds a month without effort, until she looked anorexic. Every night before bed, she would tell her hus-band, “If, by chance, I’m not here in the morning, please tell my son what his mom was like.”
Very worried, beth’s husband made an appointment for her at the Mayo Clinic. they were the best in the world, certainly they would be able to help.
Hope is my word
is my word: A Story of
courage, Strength, & Faith
By Lois JohnsonPhotos by Jen Lessinger Beth gustafson
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 19
However, 24 years ago, there were no electronic records, so beth’s medical history didn’t follow her there. After the initial examination, she remem-bers the doctor looking down at her as he pulled his glasses to the tip of his nose, saying, “there’s nothing wrong with you, but if you want to run the damn tests, go ahead.”
“He was angry,” remembers beth.
Although stunned by the doctor’s re-action, beth and her husband decided to go forward with the tests, hop-ing that the Mayo Clinic would find something.
they stayed the whole week, with beth enduring non-stop testing. At the end of the week, she met with the doctor once more. Just as before, he looked down at her as he pulled his glasses to the tip of his nose and said, “Just as I told you, every test came back normal. Get yourself a psychia-trist.”
BreakthroughDevastated, beth and her husband
the look on his face that the news was not good.
”Your blood work came back. It’s off the charts. You should have died the moment the shot was given to you. How are you walk-ing?”
“I’m not,” beth answered. by that time, she was completely disabled to the point where she couldn’t do anything. Nonetheless, beth was elated. At last she had an answer. Certainly, there would be an easy solution, as well.
that was not the case. “Until the day you die, it [blood count] will never change,” Dr. Neilson told her. “It will always be elevated. It’s really sad and unfortunate when these things happen, but there’s nothing we can do but keep you
comfortable until you die.”
beth was stunned but said she would get back to him.
The long road backbeth returned home and prayed. She listened to her heart and knew that there was something out there. She remembers thinking, God’s not going to let me lie here and die.She went back to Dr. Neilson one last time and told him, “Keeping beth comfortable is not in her vocabulary, but no, thank you, I’m going to get healthy. From this day forward, I take full responsibility for this body.”
With that, she walked away from the medical field.
At least now beth had a starting point. While she lay in bed for the next 3½ years, she read everything she could get her hands on regarding health and nutrition. “I became my own guinea pig,” she says.
Eventually, she went to Mexico for an alternative treatment which involved injecting hydrogen peroxide into the bloodstream. this technique oxygen-ated the blood which, in turn, killed the virus. “After three weeks, I could actually get up and walk,” recalls beth.
Armed with this new and vital infor-mation, she returned to the United States. because the treatment was not available in the U.S., she bottomed out, worse than ever. “I really wanted to die at that point,” beth says.
Meanwhile, beth’s dad found a lym-phologist in Utah who was experi-menting with blood oxygenation using a different method.
After numerous phone calls, the lymphologist finally told her, “I’m going to teach you how to oxygenate your blood. When can you come out here?” Luckily, her church had just completed a fundraiser and collected just enough money for beth and her family to fly to Las Vegas. “this guy picks us up at the airport in an old sta-tion wagon with the doors falling off,” remembers beth. She looked at her husband and said, “this guy’s a brick short of a load.” Still, she decided to make the most of it.
the lymphologist drove beth and her family to their hotel. there, the lymphologist rolled a mini-trampoline into the room, told her to bounce on it, keeping both feet on the mat, and to do it again the next hour. “I couldn’t even do it for a minute,” says beth.
the next morning, the lympholo-gist came back, drew blood, and pointed out to beth its unnaturally deep burgundy color. but each day, as her blood became more and more oxygenated, the color turned a bright red. “Within four days, I wasn’t in bed 24/7,” says beth. “I’m thinking this guy’s a quack, but in reality, this is what saved my life.”
It was the beginning of beth’s 9-1/2 year health journey.
today, she still uses the trampoline for 20 minutes a day. She eats healthy and manages her stress. “It really was a learning, rebuilding process because I had everything wrong you could imagine. the body is actually wonder-fully made to correct itself. It’s the truth. I’m living proof.”
Yep, hope is her word.
Lois Johnson is a freelance writer from St. Cloud, MN. She enjoys outdoor adventures, travel, gardening, writing, healthy cooking, and her grandsons.
20 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
Hope is my word
Beth talks about what she did to regain her health in her book,
coming out in the spring.
it’s entitled, Have Hope.
were about to head home when she received a call from her mother. After hearing the news, she suggested that beth call Dr. Neilson, the local physi-cian in Hinckley where they lived at the time.
Driving straight from Rochester, they arrived at Dr. Neilson’s office Friday evening. He took one look at beth and said, “You’re one sick girl. I’ve never worked with anyone this ill. I don’t know where to start with you.” Nev-ertheless, he told beth that he would think about it over the weekend.
Early Saturday morning, Dr. Neilson called beth to ask her if she had been given a rubella vaccination after the birth of her son. beth confirmed that she had. “there was dead silence at the other end of the phone,” recalls beth. then he told her some astonish-ing news.
the night before, Dr. Neilson had seen a 20/20 segment regarding the rubella vaccine. Not only was this vac-cine killing beth, it was killing other women, as well. “Dr. Neilson put two and two together when they said that the likely time to get it was after birth,” she remembers.
Furthermore, a specific blood test was required to determine if the vaccine was causing beth’s debilitating symp-toms. No test was administered.
Within a week, beth’s blood work came back and she made an appoint-ment with Dr. Neilson. He walked into the room, and she could tell by
Pho
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ub
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Beth and Kevin’s 30th wedding anniversary included “a dream wedding”ceremony in which they renewed their vows to one another.
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 21
women’s Fund
Enhancing Lives of Women and GirlsBy Melinda Sanders
You know that idiom – tug at the heartstrings? I’ve got that feeling about the three organizations chosen to receive the proceeds from this year’s Women’s Fund event, HERstory in History, which was held in June.
As you know, the Women’s Fund is all about women enhancing the lives of girls and women, and, in particular, girls aged 10 to 18, women in transition, and elder women.
the Women’s Fund chose the St. Cloud Children’s Home building project for the “girls” category. this secure residential intensive treatment facility provides in-patient treatment for struggling teens who cannot be served safely in less-restrictive environments. Kids helped by this program have experienced more trauma, hardship, and troubles than most adults will see in a lifetime. Many Women’s Fund volunteers touring the Children’s Home learned why a new cottage was needed to help these most vulnerable kids.
Starfish was chosen as the “women in transition” recipient. Starfish is
an intense mentoring program for women who are seeking to break free from a history of domestic abuse or sexual assault. Starfish women work hard to build their self-esteem, and learn how to become the best woman they can be. throughout the year, many Women’s Fund volunteers share their talents, treasures, and tears with this program.
In support of elder women, Meals on Wheels was also a recipient this year. Meals on Wheels brings a nutritious meal to seniors who have mobility issues, but it also provides the seniors, two-thirds of whom are women, a much-needed link to the community. It’s no secret that many elder women suffer from depression and isolation. Meals on Wheels feeds their body and their soul, one friendly visit at a time.
through the hard work, creativity, and leadership of the Women’s Fund,
Melinda Sanders joined the Central Minnesota Community Foundation as its Director of Donor Relations in June 2013, after practicing law in St. Cloud for almost 19 years. Melinda lives in Rockville with her
husband and sons.
each program received $15,000 from HERstory in History, and, just as important, these programs were recognized for enhancing the lives of girls and women in our community.
My words here don’t fully do justice to these three programs. If you would like to learn more, please call me at the Central Minnesota Community Foundation, (320) 257-9737. together, we’ll tour the Children’s Home, help facilitate a Starfish class, and ride along with Meals on Wheels. I guarantee these programs will pull at your heart strings.
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 23
“I came across a website that barely worked with my screen reader. I called them up, and they said, ‘We’ll fix it; not a problem.’ In a couple weeks, it was fixed, and yeah, I did order from that site af-ter that,” Kevin chuckles.
Some challenges persist in the com-munity, too.
“Restaurants are supposed to have braille menus, and a lot of them don’t,” says Kevin.
the NFb President also references the increasingly popular touch screen drink fountains used at restaurants and how he often has to get assis-tance from others to use the fountain because braille is not available.
“In situations like that, I usually ask for a manager and ask how they can make that accessible,” Kevin adds. “If it isn’t made accessible, a lot of times, it’s a place I won’t frequent.”
Making an impactCentral Minnesota Chapter Second Vice-President beth Moline says the group is doing its part to generate awareness and educate the public.
Every fall, I look forward to taking in the warm colors and serene views my favorite season so pleasantly brings. the simplest acts, be it a commute to work or a walk around the neighbor-hood, turn into precious moments in awe of nature’s beauty.
beauty that Kevin Horodenski has not had the ability to enjoy in several years. born with retinal pigmentosa (RP), an inherited disease causing gradual loss of sight due to retinal degeneration, he’s now legally blind. In recent years, the President of the Central Minnesota Chapter (CMC) of the National Federation of the blind (NFb) has been focused on educating the public about blindness, as well as advocating for the rights of the blind. It’s a year-round responsibility, and one that includes October’s blind Awareness Month.
Opportunities plentifulWith the 1990 signing of the Ameri-cans with Disabilities Act, the U.S. has progressed by leaps and bounds in the way of accommodating those without sight. However, people who are blind or partially sighted still face many barriers to accessibility today.
For instance, Kevin says accessibility to websites continues to be a chal-lenge, as not all sites are programmed to be compatible with screen reader software used to read screen content.
Compassion Kindness Concernassisiion
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLINDlocal chapter educates and Advocates During October’s Blind Awareness monthBy Crystal NuttPhotos by Sue Dropp
Back row: Beth Moline, Gail Gruber-Bengston, Kevin Horodenski - Pres., and Becky Chiado, and Front row: Ron Mahnke - 1st Vice Pres
Kevin Horodenski, President of the Central
Minnesota Chapter (CMC) of the National
Federation of the Blind (NFB)
For example, they have hosted events open to the public, such as Louis braille Day, named after the man who developed braille in the late 1800’s, at the St. Cloud Public Library. the early January gathering offered NFb members the opportunity to talk to attendees about being blind in today’s society, demonstrate technology that assists blind people, and show how to write and read braille.
“the library has been very supportive of us,” says beth. “We would like to do that event every year.”
Focused philanthropy
Focused philanthropy Day-to-day casual encounters with the public offer the chance to have a voice, as well.
“there are times when kids get in trouble for staring or pointing, and I tell my friends, they might want to know about our blindness. And I’ve said, ‘I’m not afraid to answer ques-tions. You don’t have to be afraid to ask me questions,’” beth adds.
Founding Central Minnesota Chap-ter member Gayle Gruber-bengtson makes a point about people provid-ing directions.
“I’d rather they give specific direc-tion, like left or right,” says Gayle.
beth touches on stereotypes that are often associated with blind people. Recalling a time when a woman tried to feed her, she emphasizes that people who are without sight are to be treated the same as people with sight.
Reminiscingboth beth and Gayle were born blind during the 1950’s, and it was recommended to their mothers to institutionalize them. Each of their mothers refused and found the people and services needed to help them learn and succeed during a time when it was difficult to get support.
Only five years apart in school, they enjoyed some of the same experi-ences.
“We had a teacher that taught us how to read and write braille,” says beth. “She was wonderful.”
“We played a game in the gym where you had to find a ball by sound,” says Gayle. “It was a fun way to learn listening skills.”
Ways to helpthe Central Minnesota Chapter of the NFb has a couple of fundraisers each year. the local chapter invites the public to support their mission at their spaghetti dinner in January and, during the summer months, at their bratwurst sales at various local Coborn’s and Cash Wise stores.
Additionally, the organization welcomes new members, including those who are fully sighted. the minimal $5 dues, along with the
dollars raised at fundraisers, support the education and advocacy work be-ing done in the community, and at the state and national levels.
to learn more about the organization and its local chapter, as well as how to get involved and donate, visit nfb.org.
About NFBthe National Federation of the blind is the largest organization of blind and low-vision people in the United States. Founded in 1940, the Federa-tion has grown to over fifty-thousand members. the organization consists of affiliates and local chapters in every state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. the Central Minne-sota Chapter of the NFb was founded in 1971, and has an average of 15 members.
the mission of the National Federa-tion of the blind is to achieve wide-spread emotional acceptance and in-tellectual understanding that the real problem of blindness is not the loss of eyesight but the misconceptions and lack of information which exists. the
Crystal Nutt is a Development & Communications Manager at WACOSA, as well as a freelance writer and storyteller. She lives in Monticello with her husband, son, and daughter. Contact her at [email protected].
organization does this by bringing blind people together to share suc-cesses, to support each other in times of failure, and to create imaginative solutions.
the purpose of the National Federa-tion of the blind is twofold — to help blind persons achieve self-confidence and self-respect, and to act as a vehicle for collective self-expression by the blind. the NFb provides public education about blindness with various literature and publications. It also provides appliances and other adaptive equipment for the blind. the organization advocates for the blind, including civil rights and the develop-ment and evaluation of technology and support for blind persons and their families. Members of the NFb strive to educate the public that the blind are normal individuals who can compete on terms of equality.
24 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 25
Doug Vagle and his wife Peggy live in Sartell. They have three children, Abby, Nathaniel, and Sophie. Doug is pastor of Waters Church in Sartell, thewaterschurch.net.
WHEN 10
REALLY MEANS
19While I was thinking about what to write this time, I was drawn to the fact that this issue is focused on “time and Spirit.” It was brought to my recollection that men and women look at time a bit differently.
Let me demonstrate with this one popular “time” phrase: “10 minutes.” When a man says “10 minutes,” most of the time, it literally means 10 minutes -- unless something unforeseen and out of our control happens to extend that time. It would be simple to understand if this was just a mathematical fact, but it quickly gets very confusing when there is no standard of consistency.
Let me explain where some of this innocent confusion may come from.
When a guy is on his way
home and says he’ll be there in 10 minutes, a literal timer begins a countdown in a
woman’s mind. If
there is some unexpected
delay of even six minutes, that point is
duly noted and brought up upon his entering the
home. Even with an explanation, the man is simply – LAtE.
but when you ask a woman how much time she needs to be ready to go – and this is very dangerous to bring up – and she says 10 minutes.......... Well, you get the point. It could mean any indefinite amount of time, and there are no imaginary timers allowed! If the man duly notes that it has actually been 16 minutes and he is foolish enough to point it out........it’s just not going to turn out well.
So, I’m just trying to resolve the conflict caused by this minor-yet-major inconsistency that causes so many arguments. I think if we all agreed that 10 minutes could mean anything actually up to 19 minutes, the world would be a more peaceful place for all of us.
Well, my job here is done for now. It’s time for me to go because I need to be home in 10 minutes. Until next time...
By Doug Vagle
what’s He Thinking?
26 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
cmw Local women’s Network
local women. local talent. local coverage.
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 27
To Advertise here, contact Kristi Spaniol (320) 266-8907 • [email protected]
Food explorer
Versatility, thy name is pie. there are very few dishes I can think of that are anywhere near as adaptable as pie. the filling can be meat, fish, vegetables, eggs, fruit, custards, nuts, ice cream. they can be single-crusted, double-crusted, crustless. the crust can be flaky pastry, shortbread, cookie or cracker crumbs, coconut, nut, meringue. What’s not to love about something so adaptable?
Pies hold a prominent place, not just in our cuisine, but also in our pop culture. Our language is full of expressions such as “easy as pie,” “as American as apple pie,” “having your finger in the pie,” and “pie in the sky.” In the entertainment world, we have Don McLean’s classic song from 1972, American Pie, and the pie-in-the-face gag, begun in silent movies in 1909, immortalized in Singin’ in
the Rain (1952), and revived by Soupy Sales on 1970’s tV. No matter how you slice it or serve it (pun intended), Americans love pie.
My love for pie began in my Gram’s apartment. I can picture her buffet, now sitting in my dining room, lined with at least three varieties of pie for thanksgiving or Christmas. She was still making pies from scratch into her 80’s, including pumpkin pie made from her mother’s recipe. If you ever had a banquet frozen pumpkin pie, you know what Gram’s tasted like; her son Pat worked for banquet when they were looking for a good pump-kin pie recipe, and he knew just the one they should use. Gram’s daughter Joan was also quite the pie baker, and now my sister and I enjoy making them.
but where did pie come from? Like most foods we’re familiar with, the pie we know today bears little re-semblance to the original. Pie has
been traced to the Egyptians in 2000 bC. Several hundred years later, pie spread to Greece and made it to Rome by 100 bC. the early “crusts” were inedible, merely vessels to hold the filling as it cooked. by the 12th century AD, the English were mak-ing pies, as well, but, to this point, the fillings were savory, often made with chicken or pigeon. English settlers brought pie with them to the New World, and colonists used two-crust pies as a means of food preservation, with the crusts keeping the filling fresh through the winter.
today’s sweet pies have come a long way, baby; a 1796 cookbook listed only three varieties, and, by 1947, there were 65 types. today, the variet-ies are endless, although apple pie still tops the list as most popular.
American Pie Council declared Janu-ary 23rd National Pie Day, while March 14th is Pi (3.14) Day, celebrat-ed with all things pie.
The Life of Pie
By Heather RotundaPhotos by Sue Dropp
28 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
Salted Caramel Cheesecake Pie1 cup sugar2 Tablespoons butter1/2 teaspoon salt1 cup heavy cream, warmed1 (8 oz.) package Neufchatel (1/3 less fat than cream cheese)2 eggs1 teaspoon vanilla1 9-inch pie crust, partially baked
Melt the sugar in a sauce-pan over medium heat, swirling pan occasion-ally until the sugar is amber in color.
Remove from heat, and stir in butter and salt.
When the butter is melted, carefully stir in the warm
cream; the mixture will bubble up. Return pan to the heat and stir
until caramel is smooth. If there are a few clumps of sugar that won’t melt, pour sauce through a strainer
into a medium-sized bowl. Let cool completely, preferably overnight in the refrigerator.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the Neufchatel, eggs, and vanilla. Reserve one-quarter cup cara-mel sauce, and add the remainder to the egg mixture, mixing to combine. Pour mixture into prebaked pie crust and bake for 15 minutes. Carefully pour reserved caramel sauce over the top of the pie and bake another five minutes. Cool completely before cut-ting; store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Spiced Coffee Bavarian Cream Pie1/4 cup water1 teaspoon rum extract1 envelope unflavored gelatin2 cups milk1 teaspoon espresso powder5 egg yolks3/4 cup sugar1/2 teaspoon cinnamon1 cup heavy cream
1 Tablespoon powdered sugar1 graham cracker crust
Combine water and rum extract; sprinkle gelatin over the top. Heat milk and espresso powder in a me-dium saucepan over medium heat; do not boil. Meanwhile, beat egg yolks, sugar, and cinnamon in a medium bowl until thick. Slowly whisk about a third of the warm milk mixture into the egg mixture, then return all of the egg mixture to the saucepan and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture coats the back of a metal spoon. Remove from heat and whisk in the gelatin mixture. transfer to a bowl and allow to cool completely. It may look like this mixture isn’t going to thicken further, but it will.
Whip the heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add powdered sugar and continue whipping until stiff peaks form. Carefully fold whipped cream into the cooled gelatin mixture; trans-fer to graham cracker crust.
Nut Butter Shortbread Tart1/2 cup butter, softened1/4 cup powdered sugar1 cup flour1/8 teaspoon baking powder1-1/2 cups nut butter (i use sun butter)1 cup powdered sugar4 Tablespoons milk1/2 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream softened butter and one-quarter cup powdered sugar; add flour and baking powder. Press onto the bottom and up sides of a 10-inch tart pan; bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely.
Combine nut butter, 1 cup powdered sugar and milk in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Spread onto cooled crust. Put chocolate chips in a small zip-top bag and place in a cup of hot water until the chips are melted. Snip off a small tip of the bag and pipe over the nut butter filling.
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 29
Food explorer
Salted caramel cheesecake pie
Spiced coffeeBavarian cream pie
Nut Butter Shortbread Tart
Sue Dropp says: “Heather — you’re a pro baker! I don’t know which pie was my favorite! They were all delicious—your crusts were flaky and scrumptious. I enjoyed all of the pies. You are a
“pie queen!” Thank you for the sugar high!”
Heather Rotunda has been actively exploring the world of food for the past nine years and is at work on her first e-book. Find her at [email protected] and pinterest.com/sorrowfulflower/
7: An Evening with Clint Black, Para-mount, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: (320) 259-5463, or paramountarts.org.7-9: Quilting & Scrapbooking Week-end, Riverside Inn of Cold Spring. Info/Reservations: (320) 685-4539.10: St. Cloud Municipal Band: Dancing Through the Ages, Paramount, 7:30 p.m. Checkparamountarts.org for pos-sible at-the-door admission charge.13-15: Stroia Ballet Company Presents The Nutcracker Ballet, Paramount. Performances: Thu./Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 2 p.m. Tickets: (320) 259-5463, or paramountarts.org.14: Downtown Art Crawl, 5 to 9 p.m. Park free after 6 p.m. Locations: artcrawlstcloud.com.15: Accidental Hero • 7:30 pm • St John’s University Humphry Theatre. Celebrate Veteran’s Day with a per-formance that captures the essence of the “Greatest Generation.” Back by popular demand, this performance tells the extraordinary true story of a modest farm boy turned soldier from the Midwest.21-Dec. 7: GREAT Theatre Presents A Charlie Brown Christmas and Frosty the Snowman, Paramount Theatre. Performances: Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 7 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Tickets: (320) 259-5463, or paramountarts.org.26-Dec. 31: Memories in Miniature Exhibit, Stearns History Museum. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., noon to 5 p.m. Closed holidays. Admission
charged. Info: (320) 253-8424.28-30, Dec. 4-7,
11-14, 17-21: Laugh-ing All The Way V • Thurs - Sat at 7:30 pm, Saturday matinee at 4 pm and Sun. at 2 pm. • Pioneer Place.
Back for its fifth hilarious year, the gang at KLAF televi-
sion studio will have you rolling in the aisles
ArtsOCTOBEr 4-7: 2014 St. Cloud Film Fest, Pioneer Place on Fifth. Times: Sat./Mon./Tue., 7 p.m.; Sun., 2 and 6 p.m. Tickets: $5/single show, $20/festival pass. Info: (320) 203-0331.5: The Rose Ensemble Presents The roots of Bluegrass, 7 p.m., Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 4310 CR 137. Tickets: at the door, or call (651) 225-4340.
11: Sinclair Lewis Writers Conference, Sauk Centre High School Auditorium, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Info: (320) 352-2735.12: David Bromberg in Concert, 7:30 p.m., Pioneer Place on Fifth. Tickets: ppfive.com.15: Granite City Book Club, Stearns History Museum, 6:30 p.m. Admission fee, $7 for non-members. Info: (320) 253-8424.18: Creole Choir of Cuba, College of St. Benedict, Escher Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: (320) 363-5777, or csbsju.edu/.25: St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Moments of Inspiration, SCSU Ritsche Auditorium, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: (320) 252-SCSO, or stcloudsymphony.com.28: Ailey II • Paramount Theatre •7 p.m. Tickets: (320) 259-5463 or paramountarts.org. You’ll be amazed by Ailey II. A universally renowned dance company known for merging the spirit and energy of the country’s best young dance talent with the vision of today’s most outstanding choreographers.
NOVEMBEr
1: Justin Ploof & the Throwbacks Pres-ent Daydream Believer – The Story of the Monkees, Paramount, 7:30 p.m. Tickets: (320) 259-5463, or paramoun-tarts.org.2: Broadway Songbook: The First Hun-dred Years, Paramount, 2 p.m. Tickets: (320) 259-5463, or paramountarts.org.
30 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
Steppin’ Out
Steppin' Out
By Natalie M. Rotunda
Local Arts and Community Events
Accidential Hero
Ailey II
cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 31
and tapping your toes as the low-bud-get television station struggles to pull off their first-ever toy drive. It’s gonna take a miracle – a Miracle on Fifth.
CommunityOCTOBEr 4: Women’s Showcase, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Cloud Rivers Edge Convention Center. Info: (320) 259-7108.10, 24-25: Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Southway Bowl (formerly Granite City Bowl). Info: (320) 253-1616.11: 10th Annual Kids & Parents Expo, St. Cloud Rivers Edge Convention Center, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Info: (320) 253-4050, or kidsandparentsexpo.com.13, 20: 1-2-3 Magic class, Resource Training & Solutions, 137-23rd St. So., Sartell, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Register: (320) 255-3236, or resourcetraining.com.17: Pumpkinfest • 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm. Lake George and Eastman Park will be transformed into a spine-tingling spot for the fifth annual spooktacular celebration. The ghoulish evening in-cludes trick or treat stations, arts and crafts, petting zoo, pumpkin painting, and Monsters Inc. will be featured on the outdoor movie screen at dusk.24-26: Wilderness Navigation, Audubon Center of the North Woods. Details/Register: (888) 404-7743, or audubon-center.org/calendar.25: Dinner @ The Lake, Audubon Center of the North Woods, 6 to 9 p.m. Reservations required: (320) 245-2648, or email [email protected]: Joy Christian Center, Fall Family Fun Fest, St. Cloud Rivers Edge Convention Center, all day. Info: (320) 253-7819, or greatjoy.org.
VISIT cmwomen.com for November Community Events.
Steppin’ Out!
laughing All The way
