The Good Life – January-February 2018

2 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com

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NOT IN MY FAMILY - PART FOUR / HOPE AND DIGNITY 

06 OPIOID ADDICTION TREATMENT AND RECOVERY IN OUR COMMUNITY 

10 

12 

16 

18 

ASK 30 WOMEN 

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF THE PERFECT VALENTINE'S DAY? 

HAVING A BEER WITH / JOHN LAMB 

LOCAL MAN SURVIVES INTERVIEW IN BREWERY 

CAR CARE 

SHAKES, WOBBLES AND PULLS 

ON THE COVER / TODD RUZICKA 

IMMUNE TO THE EXPECTED 

CONTENTS 

JAN-FEB 2018 / VOLUME 5, ISSUE 4 


24 

26 

FATHERS / MR. FULL-TIME DAD 

WINTER IN TODDLERVILLE 

THE LONG, SLOW JOURNEY OUT THE DOOR 

GIVING HEARTS DAY 

MORE THAN JUST RECEIVING 

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NOT IN MY FAMILY // PART FOUR 

“The biggest key 

is to treat someone 

with addiction with 

respect and dignity 

and to not judge. 

And to provide them 

with hope so that 

they can believe in 

themselves.” 

— Connie Longie 


NOT IN MY FAMILY - PART 4 

Hope and Dignity 

WRITTEN BY: BRITTNEY GOODMAN 

Opioid Addiction 

Treatment and Recovery 

in Our Community 

Seventy-eight people die every day in the United 

States from an opioid overdose, numbers that have 

nearly quadrupled since 1999. Although effective 

treatment exists in our community, only one in five 

people who currently need treatment for opioid use 

receives it. 

“The social stigma attached to addiction and 

recovery inflicts innumerable harms to individuals, 

families, organizations and communities,” stressed 

William White, addiction scholar. The Surgeon 

General’s 2016 report called for “a cultural shift” 

regarding addiction: “For far too long, too many 

in our country have viewed addiction as a moral 

failing. This unfortunate stigma has created an 

added burden of shame that has made people with 

substance use disorders less likely to come forward 

and seek help.” 

Connie Longie is a certified addiction counselor 

with Prairie St. John’s. Licensed in Minnesota and 

North Dakota, Longie has been in the field since 

2000. The numbers of people seeking help with an 

opioid addiction, particularly heroin, are increasing. 

Some people, Longie said, also have “an addiction 

to using the needle itself,” which means even a 

blood draw or using a needle because of diabetes 

can be a trigger. 

For many, the hardest part of overcoming addiction 

is the withdrawal. Counseling, coupled with 

connecting people with helping services can be 

essential to recovery. According to Longie, “most 

addicts have other issues in their life that need to 

be addressed. Some people have traumas that 

are unresolved. Many have relationship, social, 

economic and a multitude of other issues to be 

addressed. Some are homeless.” 

The government agency, Substance Abuse and 

Mental Health Services Administration has 

published “Eight Dimensions of Wellness.” 

Longie recommended all eight be addressed for 

“a successful, sustained recovery”: emotional, 

environmental, financial, intellectual, occupational, 

physical, social and spiritual. 

Longie said: “I have seen people recover and I’ve 

seen people have to come back for repeat services. 

Even after near death experiences, people may go 

back to using. The key to success is to have wraparound 

care services that address their needs.” 

“The biggest key is to treat someone with addiction 

with respect and dignity and to not judge. And to 

provide them with hope so that they can believe in 

themselves. They are deserving of respect rather 

than stigma and punishment. They need safety and 

structure and being connected to supports in the 

community,” Longie asserted. 

Longie explained: “I love what I do and I do what 

I do because I have a passion for people who have 

lost their way. I have been in recovery for numerous 

years. I’ve seen people succeed. It is wonderful to 

see the amazing changes in those people and the 

confidence they have in themselves and gratifying 

to be able to guide and connect them to services so 

that they have a continuum of care.” 

Many people addicted to opioids also need help 

with safe housing. Longie said: “We need more 

transitional living services. They need to have that 

safety and structure. Many have burned bridges 

through their addictions and need a second chance.” 

She asserted: “The key for working in the addiction 

counseling field is not to judge. When you see people 

have to come back in, to repeat services, you have to 

show them that you care, do not judge, encourage 

them to change and believe in them. I have people 

who have been through counseling with me come up 


NOT IN MY FAMILY // PART FOUR 

to me and thank me. But I always 

say ‘you did the work.’ I give them 

back the empowerment. Keeping 

humble in the field is important.” 

Longie called for new 

perspectives: “Don’t look down 

on them. Look at it as an illness. 

You don’t label a diabetic because 

their levels are up due to that extra 

pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. It 

happens across all walks of life: 

doctors, lawyers, clergy, teachers, 

mothers, fathers, grandparents.” 

Longie affirmed: “If we treat the 

addict with dignity and respect, 

along with working on the areas 

of wellness that need to be 

addressed, we will have a higher 

recovery success rate.” 

Eric Bailly oversees the substance 

use disorder strategy for Anthem, 

Inc. with an emphasis on opioid 

addiction strategy. He is a licensed 

alcohol and drug counselor in 

Minnesota. Bailly has worked in a 

number of clinical and treatment 

settings for the past 20 years. 

Nationally, Bailly has seen 

creative and improved strategies 

for helping people with opioid 

addiction and other substance 

use disorders. For instance, in 

Connecticut and New Hampshire 

Anthem works with AWARE 

Recovery which delivers treatment 

in the home with psychiatric, 

case management, peer recovery 

support and counseling: “It’s a 

great model that embraces people 

in their home, recognizing the 

impact of social determinants 

of health. It is much more 

effective to work with people 

at home in their own context.” 

Another improvement is in rural 

and chronically underserved 

areas. Clinicians are able to 

leverage video case consultation 

to connect with experts. Bailly 

sees a future with increased 

telemedicine for addiction and 

mental health services: “In these 

circumstances, a provider can get 

much of the support they need 

through videoconferencing to 

subject experts.” 

Bailly cautioned against 

treatment centers that can “take 

advantage of vulnerable people” 

by offering big promises and 

beachside resorts but no evidence 

of sound treatment strategies or 

results and calls for holding them 

“accountable for demonstrating 

outcomes and efficacy.” 

Bailly explained his drive to 


working with substance use 

disorders: “I’m a person in 

long-term recovery since 1990. 

Some people will say I hit the 

wall or the bottom at a very 

young age, 18, when I made a 

commitment to turning things 

around. I made a decision 

pretty early on that I wanted 

a career to focus on helping 

those with addictions. The 

underlying thread for me, as 

a recovering person, is that I 

care. I really do.” 

Both Bailly and Longie see 

naloxone training as important. 

Bailly said: “Although the 

jarring mental image some 

people have of addicts is on 

the street, there are a number 

of senior citizens using a lot 

of opioids. For instance, for 

a professional working in a 

senior care center, knowing the 

signs of overdose is important 

and knowing how to administer 

naloxone is also invaluable.” 

Bailly suggested that, under 

certain circumstances, doctors 

who prescribe high levels 

of opioids for pain to senior 

citizens or others should 

prescribe a co-prescription of 

naloxone. 

Bailly recommended the 

National Urban League’s 

website whatsupwithopioids. 

org, supporting community 

conversation about the risks 

associated with opioids. 

There is hope. Fargo-Moorhead 

is making a concerted effort to 

end opioid addiction. The Mayor’s 

Blue Ribbon Commission 

on Addiction recently presented 

emerging recommendations 

for prevention, early intervention, 

treatment and recovery. 

The commission has begun 

expert panels and community 

talks and also plans to create 

transitional housing for people 

in treatment programs. • 


Ask 30 WOMEN 

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF THE PERFECT 

VALENTINE'S DAY? 

Valentine's Day is fast approaching. Causing 

millions of men to go into a gift buying, dinner 

planning panic! 

You spend time in an awkward card buying stance 

next to men with the same card purchasing 

anxiety. You find the perfect card, look at the back, 

check the price and off you go! The perfect card 

in 3.3 seconds. Well done sir! 

But wait... Is this enough? Will she appreciate the 

effort? Fear not gentlemen, The Good Life Men’s 

Magazine is here to help! 

We asked 30 women from various walks of life, 

"What is your idea of the perfect Valentine's Day?" 

flowers 

hitting the gun range 

clean house 

simple dinner 

bottle of wine 

watching movies 

holding hands 

steak 

a new puppy 

LADIES – 

If you would like to participate in 

our next Ask 30 Women, 

follow us on our Facebook 

page at: http://www.facebook. 

com/urbantoadmedia 

10 / THE GOOD LIFE / urbantoadmedia.com 

1. Roses, a heart-shaped pizza and 

a movie. – Jane D. 

2. A home cooked meal at 

home with a little present that is 

homemade and meaningful. 

– Krista D. 

3. Romance is for suckers. 

“Galentines” day all the way. 

– Carlie B. 

4. Jimmy John's delivered for 

lunch, stay home, cook together 

and watch a movie. – Shelby S. 

5. Flowers at work, coming home 

to a dinner made and doing the 

dishes while I relax. – Shanna P. 

6. Going out for dinner and 

spending time with my husband. 

– Sonja 

7. A quiet dinner. – Crystal C. 

8. Any type of small thoughtful 

surprise. A single flower or a 

thought out card. – Pam S. 

9. Holding hands and having a 

glass of wine. – Kathy L. 

10. Being with the person that 

means the most to you. – Cindy C. 

11. Stay in and watch a movie, and 

order in take out. – Alexis N. 

12. A simple dinner somewhere 

quiet, a walk after and a late movie. 

– Jenifer W. 

13. Sitting by the fire, my husband 

cooking my favorite meal, and 

enjoying a bottle of wine snuggled 

up together. – Brie B. 

14. House cleaned would be great! 

– Deniece M. 

15. A nice quiet dinner at home 

that I don’t have to cook and a new 

puppy! – Alex T.

16. Staying in and having someone 

cook for me. And chocolate! 

– Heather T. 

17. A perfect Valentine’s Day is 

with a little surprise for me. Does 

not have to anything big, and a 

little attention. A date in a nice 

restaurant or he cooks something 

delicious and we sit at a fancy 

table setting. – Lena W. 

18. I will never scoff about getting 

flowers or a plant delivered to my 

work. I love flowers and plants 

and will proudly display them. – 

Amanda G. 

19. Having a nice dinner at home 

followed by an evening of watching 

some of our favorite old movies 

together. – Michelle H. 

20. A concert . – Alex S. 

21. Spending the evening with my 

husband, getting some flowers, 

having a nice supper with some 

wine and watching a movie at 

home. – Connie N. 

22. Me and the old man, a concert 

in a small venue, drinks, and a 

really good steak. – Gretchen P. 

23. My perfect Valentine's day is 

spent at home with my husband 

and the dogs. I'd cook a nice 

supper – steak or something – and 

then we'd watch movies and drink 

beer. – Darcy W. 

24. A nice quiet day with my 

husband and zero responsibilities. 

Roses are overpriced and cliché so 

I prefer a more creative bouquet. 

Alongside a bottle of wine. 

– Gina B. 

25. Flowers, perfume and 

chocolate. – Michelle B. 

26. An alone day with my honey 

doing something we both enjoy. 

– Beth R. 

27. Spend time relaxing, watching 

a movie, or hanging out. – Jojo 

28. Walking the dog, taking a 

trip, hitting the gun range, baking 

cookies - anything that gives 

us time to enjoy each other’s 

company. The best gift is 

something simple and small. A pint 

of my favorite ice cream. 

– Teresa T. 

29. A sweet card and romantic 

dinner with my love. – Patty N. 

30. A nice dinner and a yummy 

dessert. Then head home and be 

with our fur babies the rest of the 

night. – Molly K. 


HAVING A BEER WITH // JOHN LAMB 


Every week, John Lamb, a content provider 

for Forum Communications, supplies the 

F-M area with the latest news on arts, 

entertainment, culture and events in town— 

the things that make Fargo more chic, relevant 

and “hipper” than it was 20 years ago. He’s a 

seasoned Fargoan, and besides his time living 

in the incomparable city of Duluth, Minn., he’s 

always lodged within a mile of the house in 

which he grew up. 

Although Lamb has inadvertently avoided 

eating hotdish his entire life, he wasn’t able 

to elude this interview with yours truly at 

Drekker Brewing Company. Read on to learn 

the usual unusuals about the local writer.

LAMPCHOP • L-CHOP • EL-CHOPO • LAMMERS 

Good Life: Do people perpetually 

annoy you with wordplays of your last 

name? 

John Lamb: Sometimes. Sports guys 

do. The mom of my best friend growing 

up would call me Lambchop. And then 

Lambchop became L-Chop, and then 

L-Chop became El-Chopo—I didn’t 

deserve that one. Some of my friends 

call me Lammers, but they never put 

the B in there. Most people go full 

name: John Lamb. Not even a pause. 

John Lamb. 

GL: Do you beat people up in dark 

alleys for calling you those nicknames, 

or do you like them? 

JL: Oh, I couldn’t beat anybody up. I 

live up to my name with that. I would 

gnaw at people and just eat all their 

food and shed, but I would not beat 

anybody up. And none of the names 

have provoked any kind of fist-to-cuff 

or anything like that. I’d probably drink 

their beer when they’re not looking. 

Sneaky consumption. 


HAVING A BEER WITH // JOHN LAMB 

HOTDISH 

Would you consider 

lasagna a hotdish? 

– John Lamb 

GL: What’s your favorite hotdish? 

JL: Would you consider lasagna a 

hotdish? 

GL: Umm, no. It needs to be more like 

Campbell’s soup mixed with something 

or other. 

JL: Ya know, I grew up in a house 

where my mom never did that, and my 

dad mostly just liked a hunk of meat or 

eggs. We never really did hotdish. 

GL: So never any tator tot hotdish? 

JL: I don’t know if I’ve ever actually had 

that. My girlfriend says we’re going to 

make it sometime, and I’m like, yeah, 

bring it on. Let’s do it. What are some 

other notable hotdishes? 

GL: I can’t think of any names for any 

other ones because you pretty much 

just throw stuff together. 

JL: Like noodle koodle. 

GL: Yeah, like noodle koodle, dippity 

doodle. Just whatever oodle. 

JL: I’m probably going to have my 

Midwest card revoked, aren’t I? I’m 

going to have to go through a remedial 

course, and I‘ll probably have to go ice 

fishing again. 

GL: You’ll be ejected from the Midwest. 

JL: I’ll have my badge or belt buckle 

taken away. They’ll have to sand the 

North Dakota tattoo off my arm. I 

should’ve just eaten the hotdish. 

GL: It could’ve been so simple, John. 

JL: That’s what we should say: Just eat 

the hotdish. Take the hotdish. 

GL: Leave the gun, take the hotdish. 

JL: Yes, exactly. Good catch. 

THE GOOD LIFE 

The good life for me would be 

going to another city, having a 

good day, and being able to come 

back to a job I like, having a place 

where I like to live, and kind of 

just where everything makes me 

happy. – John Lamb 


GL: How do you make your office space/cubicle/quad cozy? 

JL: I don’t clean. There are piles and piles of papers and newspapers, 

lots of empty bottles, and, sometimes, empty coffee cups. On the 

little divider, I post cards that friends have sent or interesting 

postcards for events. 

GL: Which movie has spoken to you in such a way where it’s like, 

“This is my life” or “I can totally relate to that character”? 

JL: It certainly wouldn’t be a super-hero movie. It would be a movie 

about somebody who would interact with people regularly, but 

who would probably do fine just keeping to himself. He could go to 

lunch by himself and read a newspaper and even go out and have 

a drink by himself as he watches a band play at the VFW. This is

why no one is going to turn my life into 

a movie. 

GL: It would be more of a documentary. 

JL: Maybe it would be a music video. 

GL: Which song would it feature? 

JL: Maybe some Hold Steady songs, 

the ones that aren’t so druggy. 

GL: If you had to give us a headline of 

your week so far, what would it be? 

JL: Do I have to use the phrase “local 

man” in there? “Local man gets 

through ‘nother week.” Oh, it would be 

“Local man consoles dog after eating 

brick of Brie.” 

GL: Brick o’ Brie. That should be a 

band name. 

JL: That would be good ‘cause it could 

go either way; it could be about cheese 

or a person. It sounds like bric-à-brac. 

I don’t know what that is, but it’s fun 

to say. 

GL: Exactly. Now I just want to start a 

band called Brick o’ Brie. 

JL: Brick o’ Brie. Do it. I’ll give you a 

good write-up. If only more people 

realized they just needed to buy me 

drinks to get good coverage. 

GL: What’s one of your favorite types 

of writing? 

JL: This may sound really odd, 

but obituaries can be really kind 

of fulfilling. You’re kind of giving a 

little portrait of someone’s life. If 

it’s someone who was noteworthy, 

a newsmaker, you can look through 

their files and find out what they did 

that was remarkable and unique and 

write about why they’ll be missed. 

GL: What does living the good life 

mean to you? 

JL: The good life for me would be going 

to another city, having a good day, and 

being able to come back to a job I like, 

having a place where I like to live, and 

kind of just where everything makes 

me happy. If I’m not there, I’m pretty 

close. I think I got the big ones. I just 

need to figure out retirement funds. • 


WRITTEN BY: MATT LACHOWITZER 

You’re on your way to work, driving your 

normal route and you start to feel a slight shift 

to the right. It’s a windy day so you pass it off 

as the wind, but as the week goes by you start 

noticing the shift becoming more noticeable. 

You now realize it must be more than just the 

wind, and may be something wrong with your 

vehicle. If you start to experience abnormal 

feelings while driving, like maybe you are 

feeling an unfamiliar vibration, an extra 

bumpy ride, or abnormal resistance, be sure 

to keep your hands on the wheel, feet on the 

pedals, and your eyes the road to try and detect 

the issue. Your own body is a great tool for 

feeling out vehicle problems, so it is essential 

to utilize this sense. Below you will find some 

descriptions of some of those uneasy feelings 

that your car might be making, telling you 

something is not quite right. 

Vibrating or Shaking 

If you are feeling some sort of vibrating or shaking sensation, 

it can be coming from several different places so make sure to 

inspect all possible conclusions before making assumptions. 

Check your wheels and tires, the shaking could mean that the tires 

are misaligned or unbalanced. These feelings can also indicate 

suspension failure or warped brake rotors. Vehicle vibration is 

one of the most common and bothersome problems and it can 

sneak up on you gradually or just suddenly happen. 

Pulling or Leaning 

It can be quite a scare if you are driving and your vehicles begins 

to pull itself in an undesired direction on its own. Most often 

this feeling can suggest that there is an issue with the steering, 

tires, failed shocks, wheel bearing, linkage, or suspension. While 

there are several things that can cause this sensation, the most 

common one is low tire pressure, so make sure you check your 

tire pressure and fill up your tires if they are low and see if your 

pull lessens or gets worse. If the pulling persists, bring it in to a 

trusted automotive service center to test the issue. 


Loose Steering / 

Difficult Turning 

If you are experiencing either 

increased resistance with the 

steering wheel or if it feels 

disconnected or loose, it can 

become much harder to control 

your vehicle safely. If this sounds 

like a familiar feeling, then 

you could be facing a steering 

or suspension issue. These 

components work to connect your 

front wheels to the steering wheel 

and chassis of your vehicle, which 

allows you to control your vehicle 

safely. If you are having difficulties 

turning because of resistance it 

could be an issue with the power 

steering system like low on power 

steering fluid, the pump, or the 

belt. 

Spongy or 

Low Brake Pedal 

It is no argument that brakes are the 

most important safety function in 

your vehicle. Routine brake checks 

are vital for vehicle safety. Any 

indication of abnormalities with 

your brakes should be assessed 

immediately. Spongy brakes can 

be caused by air in the brake lines, 

lack of brake fluid, or even old 

brake fluid. Old brake fluid can be 

topped off but if it’s too old the fluid 

will absorb moisture, which will 

make it difficult for your vehicle to 

maintain its pressure which allows 

you to brake consistently. 

It is crucial that you are relying 

on all your senses to help indicate 

any possible issues. Make sure 

you are paying attention to those 

vibrations, extra bumpy rides, 

or resistance. Your safety while 

driving is important, and these 

feelings could be telling you 

something more than just hitting a 

pesky bump. Whether your vehicle 

is shaking, vibrating, or pulling to 

one side too much, it is important 

to stop by your trusted automotive 

service center to ensure that your 

vehicle is safe to drive. • 


COVER // TODD RUZICKA 


WRITTEN BY: MEGHAN FEIR 

PHOTOGRAPHY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

Todd Ruzicka never considered 

himself much of a risk taker, yet the 

thought of spending his life confined 

to a cubicle seemed riskier than 

the many times he’s sacrificed the 

illusion of security and stability. 

What Ruzicka wanted was a story 

to tell. After going on music tours 

with bands and moving to the United 

Kingdom, the Mayville, N.D., native 

has continually returned to the roots 

he laid down in Fargo-Moorhead 

when his family moved for his father’s 

previous position at MSUM. 

Since his last homecoming, he’s 

delved deeper into his solo project, 

Immune System, an industrial 

electronic band, and his music 

licensing company, Immunity 

Productions, as he connects 

more deeply with the community 

surrounding him. 

Music in the Veins 

As a child enveloped in inspiration 

from musicians like Buddy Rich, 

the rhythms of the drums came 

naturally to Ruzicka. From listening 

to records to attending his father’s 

choral concerts, Ruzicka regularly 

pretended to conduct and play the 

drums on pillows. 

Throughout high school and college, 

Ruzicka played in local bands inside 

and outside of school. Although 

music was always his first love, 

he majored in English and mass 

communications at MSUM. But that 

didn’t deter the feral call of music 

from beckoning him. 

“After I got my English degree, I 

did the normal thing and joined a 

country cover band and hit the road. 

I hate country. But it was enjoyable 




ecause I loved the people I was 

with,” Ruzicka said. 

Following a three-year tour in the 

Midwest, Ruzicka joined other 

bands, moved to Chicago and moved 

back home. Eventually, he decided to 

reach out to a successful industrialelectronic 

band from Madison, Wisc., 

to let them know he was available to 

drum. The following day, he’d already 

received a message. “Hey, man. Are 

you serious?” 

Two days later, Ruzicka arrived in 

Madison. “I got there, we practiced 

once, and then the next time we 

played was in Denver for the first 

night of our national tour,” Ruzicka 

said. “That was a little nervewracking, 

but it was so much fun.” 

Making Music Work 

Although many musicians are 

hesitant to turn hobbies into 

professions for fear of it becoming 

more a drudgery than a passion, 

making music his work has always 

been Ruzicka’s goal. 

“When I was living in the UK, there 

was a good chunk of time where I 

didn’t have an outlet at all. That was 

my most imbalanced time in life, 

creatively speaking. I was unhappy 

and physically unhealthy. I didn’t 

realize how important it was to me.” 

After suffering from that long lull, 

Ruzicka had to power his creative 

outlet once more, and in 2005, 

Immune System was born. It featured 

industrial-electronic mixes and 

exuded darker sounds and emotions 

than his past endeavors. 

“I didn’t have much of an idea of what 

I was doing when I started,” Ruzicka 

said. “I just had some software and 

went for it.” 

Since he began mixing music, his 

sound has evolved. His desire to 

continually learn has added maturity 

and depth to his projects. 

Idols. I’m just experimenting with 

orchestral instrumentation. Writing 

a bassoon part—that’s new. I’m 

sort of branching out and my dad 

didn’t hate it, so it means it’s all 

right,” Ruzicka said with a laugh. 

After living in the UK for six years, 

Ruzicka returned to Fargo in 

2011 and started a music 

licensing company called 

Immunity Productions, 

the more commercial 

offshoot of his solo 

project. He began the 

company out of interest 

and necessity as the 

music industry continued 

to grow more untamed and 

unpredictable. 

“Right now, music is my job, 

but it doesn’t mean I can 

always rely on it. I don’t think 

anyone can really count on it 

anymore in the music industry, 

even the bigger bands,” Ruzicka 

said. “A lot of people now call 

the music industry the Wild 

West. You do what you have 

to do. There are no record 

sales. A lot of bands now see 

themselves as traveling T-shirt 

salesmen, and they survive on 

merch. The reason I found my 

way into licensing is because it’s 

one of the remaining ways musicians 

can still make money from their art. 

I started studying it and just kind of 

jumped in to see if anybody could use 

my stuff.” 

While his work remains 

unpredictable, Ruzicka has 

had several pieces featured in 

video games, business videos, 

documentaries and indie films. 

“Often in films, a little bit of a 

song plays. That’s licensed 

music. The first company that 

used my music was for a film 

called ‘Kessler’s Lab.’ They 

used a huge chunk of one 

of my songs,” Ruzicka 

said. 

“I recently started a neo-classical 

ambient project called Altars and 



That’s what he now calls beginner’s 

luck. Due to the difficulty of being 

discovered in the ocean of fellow 

musicians, networking is a vital 

aspect of survival in the industry, and 

persistence a necessary virtue. But 

the unknowns add to the intrigue of 

his calling. 

“Ninety-nine times out of 100, 

you’ll either get 

ignored or rejected. 

You’re usually ignored 

completely. But every 

now and then you strike 

gold,” Ruzicka said. “You 

can’t take it personally, but at 

first you do.” 

Following the first indie film, the 

documentary and a video game for a 

company out of Singapore, Ruzicka 

licensed his music for a short film 

called “Free Ride” that circuited film 

festivals around the globe. 

“I got a call one night. 

The guy said, ‘Hey is this 

Todd from Immune System? This 

is Kevin. I make films. I’ve always 

wanted to use your music and now 

I can. Would you consider licensing 

something?’ I was like, ‘Let me think. 

Yeah.’ Sometimes you’re really firing 

on all cylinders, and other times it 

seems as though nobody wants your 

stuff at all. It’s up and down.” 

Paying It Forward 

While producing and licensing 

music is a daily part of Ruzicka’s 

routine, teaching drum lessons and 

interacting with his students adds 

another layer of joy and fulfillment. 

“I always thought I would like 

teaching drums, but it turns out that 

I really love it,” Ruzicka said. “I’m 

insanely proud of all my students. 

When you connect with them and see 

that spark and that they get it, I get 

goose bumps.” 

Ruzicka hopes to pass along the 

same passion and knowledge that 

his great inspirations and colleagues 

have given and stirred in him. 


"My father had a huge influence on me, in terms 

of discipline and musical professionalism. My 

first drum instructor, Mike Blake, was also super 

influential. He taught me the concept of having big 

ears and always listening to the other musicians 

I might be playing with,” Ruzicka said. “I’ve had 

a lot of people higher up in the industry who have 

been very generous to me and very willing to help 

when I’ve had questions, though they didn’t have 

to. It’s kind of along the lines of teaching drums; 

I want to share what I know. I'm still learning 

and it's a huge learning curve, but I'd like to help 

anyone who might be interested in this area of the 

music business.” 

Taking the Right Path 

While Ruzicka never knows what will be on the 

next page, the mystery and challenge drives his 

curiosity and keeps him persistent as he follows 

his unique pathway in life. 

“I’m naturally kind of anxious, and I don’t see 

myself as a risk taker. But in looking back, that’s 

completely wrong because I’ve done a lot of 

weird things,” Ruzicka said. “Certainly, there’s 

an element of security that I don’t have that was 

instilled in me that I should have, but that’s not 

the route I chose. I’ve tried the everyday, 9-to-5, 

cubicle jobs, and they make me miserable. I can’t 

do it. This is really the only way I can be.” • 


FATHERS // MR. FULL-TIME DAD 

WRITTEN BY: BEN HANSON • PHOTOGRAPHY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

At one point in my life, I held firm to the philosophy that if 

you can’t get ready to go — shower, shave, get dressed, etc. 

— within 15 minutes, you should consider yourself a mild 

failure. No matter how tired, stressed, lazy or hungover I 

might have been, I could always muster the wherewithal 

to get cleaned up and out the door on time. But that was 

before fatherhood really set in. 

For the first year or so of his life, Macklin was an immobile 

pile of dough that was relatively easy to manipulate. He 

maybe added five minutes to my 15-minute rule. His life 

was onesies, formula and spare diapers. It was predictable 

and entirely manageable. At the age of two, the process 

of getting us out the door is still manageable, but rarely 

predictable. 

Winter, however, has changed the game even more. Cold 

conditions coupled with Mack’s expanding awareness of the 

world around him means we could be stuck in our entryway 

half the morning trying to wrestle on 72 layers of winter 

gear. The challenges are many… 

Winter Boots 

Getting velcro booties onto a limp newborn used to be my 

daily challenge, and it was cute. Winter boots are only cute 

once they’re walking out the door. At one point, Mack had 

four different pairs of winter boots, all of which were about 

as easy to get on as one of those full-body suits Olympic 

swimmers used to wear. 

We’ve since found a pair that were designed by what I’m 

going to call a modern day Isaac Newton, built with parents’ 

sanity in mind. Thanksgiving may be long over, but I will 

never stop giving thanks for these easy-on boots that Mack 

can now put on by himself. That one pair has given me back 

about eight minutes of my morning. 

Two Sizes Too Big 

Emily and I are a pragmatic couple. When you combine my 

frugality with her forward thinking, you end up with things 

like three pairs of snowpants that are all two sizes too big. 

Bought on sale with the future in mind, theoretically Mack 

should be set for at least one more year, with our wallets 

none the wiser. 

The problem comes in the daily execution of pulling on that 

extra foot of leg room. It’s a multi-step process that involves 

a few rounds of sitting then standing, then sitting again, and 

a whole lot of wiggling (and, on a good morning, a helpful 

amount of giggling). The oversized snow pants are too 

long to stand and put on, and, ironically, too long to put on 

sitting. It’s a weird in-between-world of I don’t know what. 

Parenthood. 

Myriad Mittens 

If a child’s wealth were measured in mittens, Mack would 

be king of winter wonderland. He’s got spare pairs at 

home, at school, in his diaper bag, in my jacket pocket and 

probably under the ottoman. Thankfully, I have convinced 

myself this is inevitable, as the first piece of winter gear 

to become soggy and utterly useless is whatever pair of 

mittens Mack puts on first. Spares are a necessity. In fact, 

“things you need duplicates of” should be the first chapter 

of any parenting book. 


Abundant Excitement 

You can’t fault a kid for wanting to get outside and play,

ut trust me, I’ve certainly tried. Getting dressed to go 

outside in the winter may be the greatest test of a kid’s 

patience there is. Mack usually passes with flying colors, 

but there are days when his feet are already stomping 

the frozen snow before we even get down the stairs. 

The fact that I often would prefer to stay comfortably 

warm in my recliner instead of putting on my own snow 

pants also complicates things. “Begrudgingly” is a word 

Mack will learn years before his peers. 

Overstuffed Car Seat 

The last hurdle to going about our day is getting 

Mack, fully winter clothed, into his carseat. Everything 

gets bigger in the winter, except the car seat. It’s like 

squeezing toothpaste back into the tube. Arms get 

stuck, buckles go missing and minds get lost. 

I remember the day when I learned kids aren’t supposed 

to wear big winter jackets when strapped into their 

car seat, but that’s just not realistic here in the Upper 

Midwest. No rational parent would ever consider 

bringing their child out to the car without a jacket on 

in the middle of winter. Graco’s safety precautions 

be damned. I’d rather Mack be immobilized and 

uncomfortable than frozen and purple. 

I suppose the lesson I’m learning is one of patience. 

Like everything else in this life with a toddler, I’m forced 

to slow down and pay more attention than I otherwise 

would. Mack’s laser-like focus on fun helps me reconnect 

with all those things that also brought me joy at his age. 

For that, I am grateful… albeit not as punctual. • 


WRITTEN BY: KRISSY NESS 

Teaming up with Dakota Medical Foundation and 

the Impact Foundation, Giving Hearts Day has been 

making an impression in our region for more than 

10 years. Over 41 million dollars have been raised 

through GHD with 571 profiled charities and 100+ 

volunteer opportunities. 

“It is not just a giving day, we are trying to grow 

them to be exceptional charities for the long haul,” 

said Pat Traynor, Executive Director, Dakota Medical 

Foundation & Impact Foundation. 

This is not about how much you can or are willing to 

donate it is about helping your neighbor. GHD takes 

place every February right around Valentines Day, 

this year it falls on the 8th and takes place online. 

This was strategic because Valentines Day about 

showing others that you love and care for them. 

“We find people are generally good, and they want 

to help, but if you don’t ask it wont happen,” stated 

Traynor. “People want to give and we kind of create a 

platform for that to happen.” 


Working alongside Traynor is Scott Holdman, the 

director of the Impact Institution. 

“It is not just a giving day, 

we are trying to grow them to 

be exceptional charities 

for the long haul.” 

– Pat Traynor, 

Executive Director 

Dakota Medical Foundation and 

Impact Foundation 

“Scott and I have been working together for 10 

years and he is pivotal in all of this,” said Traynor. 

Holdman is an innovator in nonprofit fundraising 

who, through training and coaching, helps charities 

as they solve complex community challenges. “ I am 

so grateful and exceedingly proud of Scott and the 

work he has done here,” boasts Traynor. 

“Last year we had almost 22,000 individuals give, we 

had over 300 charities and they raised almost 10.7 

million dollars,” Said Traynor. “This doesn’t happen 

unless you live in a very generous region, so our 

fundamental philosophy is you need to create those 

mediums for people to ask; people need to know 

about these causes.” 

Both Minnesota and North Dakota and ranked in the 

top 15 stated for volunteer rates based on the pooled 

data from the last four years and over 70 percent of 

the top 15 are from the Midwest region, which show 

that we are living in the most generous region in the 

United States. 

PHOTO urbantoadmedia.com BY: KAYLEIGH / OMANG THE GOOD - DMF LIFE / 27

PHOTO BY: KAYLEIGH OMANG - DMF 

“Charities are doing a spectacular job, 

credit goes to them for getting the 

word out and following their 

own path for fundraising or this 

wouldn’t happen.” 

There are many ways in which the DMF and GHD 

work to gain as much notoriety as they can. First, they 

begin with the 5 T’s: Transformation – Trends, Tactics, 

Tools, and Team. By transforming the minds of the 

organizations and teams, following trends, and using 

appropriate tactics and tools they are able to reach 

many more people. 

Next, they utilize social media. #GIVINGHEARTSDAY 

and #COUNTME are connected to this event and 

raise a lot of awareness. “Our job is to bring social 

media around; that is exciting because the 

fundamental thing is that people will give if they 

are asked,” reaffirms Traynor. “Charities are doing 

a spectacular job, credit goes to them for getting 

the word out and following their own path for 

fundraising or this wouldn’t happen.” 

Then, they follow up with the location of the event 

— online. Holding the event online makes hosting 

the even so much more convenient for people to 

donate. 


Finally, the finish with the three R’s: Recruiting, 

Retaining, and Reaching. By finding earnest charities 

they are able to keep them in their inventory for GHD 

and the right volunteers are able to reach people 

willing and wanting to give back. 

Giving back doesn’t have to happen once a year, and 

we know that here in Fargo-Moorhead. You can find 

something charitable happening every day whether it 

is a food drive, riding motorcycles to raise awareness, 

or receiving free food, beer, or merchandise just for 

participating in events around the community. But it 

is events like GHD that really reminds you that when 

you have all of the right ingredients at just the right 

time you can make a big splash in the community 

and raise more than just money, but the spirits of 

those giving and receiving. 

Medical Foundation or the Impact Institution. They 

will gladly speak with you about options in regards to 

your favorite charity. 

Most people want to give to what they are passionate 

about, and other want to find something to be 

passionate about. With Giving Hearts Day you can 

search through variety of causes and charities that 

are just waiting to hear from you. What is unique 

about it is that there is something for everyone. After 

all there is a reason it is called Giving Hearts Day, it 

attracts giving hearts. • 

If you have a particular charities you want to see a 

part of this event don’t hesitate to contact the Dakota 


LOCAL HERO // JAIL CHAPLAINS 

PHOTO BY: BEN WHITE 


WRITTEN BY: DANIELLE TEIGEN 

PHOTOGRAPHY: URBAN TOAD MEDIA 

JAIL Chaplains 

Bringing Jesus 

to Jail... 

and Changing Lives 

in the Process 

On a Thursday afternoon in November, the 

Cass County Sheriff’s Office team gathered at 

the jail for a lunch hosted by Jail Chaplains, a 

local nonprofit focused on providing inmates 

with spiritual support and sharing the gospel 

of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus and jail? 

You read that right. Jail Chaplains is a small 

organization with a big mission, and God is 

literally changing lives through their work. 

At the lunch, officers and administrators 

chatted easily with one another as well as 

with Mike Sonju, full-time chaplain with the 

organization. He’s been with Jail Chaplains 

since 2007, and he’s seen countless inmates 

get involved in the organization’s programs 

in the Cass County Jail and walk out at 

the end of their sentence with a renewed 

purpose and a heart for Christ. Sonju works 

with a team of 30 volunteers who help lead 

the 20 hours of faith based programs offered 

weekly. 

“Jail is the end result of a problematic life 

that didn’t occur overnight, and it won’t go 

away overnight,” Sonju said. “The message is 

greater than the messenger. We want people 

to walk with God, and we help them get to 

that relationship, in any way we can.” 

One person who has been helped is Wil Dort. 

A Haitian native who came to Fargo in 1997 

with his mother and two sisters, Dort’s early 

childhood was influenced by a voodoo priest 

father who required his children to attend 

church every Sunday (even though his father 

didn’t attend). Dort obeyed, but didn’t really 

believe in the message. His aunt was the only 

Christian he knew in Haiti and family often 

ridiculed her for her beliefs. 



“Anything good from these programs 

doesn’t come from us; it comes from 

God and the hope of His message.” 

Chaplain Mike Sonju, Jail Chaplains 

Then, in 2006, he was arrested 

and jailed on drug charges and 

sentenced to nine months in the 

Cass County Jail. A light bulb went 

on. 

“I didn’t want that to be my life,” 

Dort said. So he immersed himself 

in the Jail Chaplains Bible study 

and met Sonju, setting in motion 

a friendship that would lead to 

Sonju officiating at his wedding 

and speaking on his behalf to a 

pardon board. 

“We were brought together on this 

journey, and Mike has been very 

involved with my walk with Christ,” 

Dort said. He recalled reading the 

Bible in jail - it was the first book 

he’d ever finished. 

“I was praying for change and a 

better heart,” he said. “I wanted a 

sense of purpose.” 

During those first Bible study 

sessions together, Sonju saw that 

the young man was serious about 

making a new start. 

“Some people rise to the top and 

show a sincere desire for a new 

life and getting on with the life God 

has for them,” Sonju said. “I could 

see it in Will that he walked the 

walk and talked the talk. He had a 

lot going against him, but a life for 

Christ was what he wanted.” 

Looking back on that time, Dort 

can see various ways God was 

working in his life - like when 

he was cutting a client’s hair on 

work release (from jail) at the 

local barber college and lamented 

that his financial aid was being 

revoked; the client asked him to 

join him in a barbershop he was 

opening even though Dort didn’t 

yet have a diploma. 

Or when he felt God telling him 

to visit Haiti in 2012, so he did, 

having been reassured by social 

services that he’d be fine to travel 

on his green card despite having 

two class A felonies on his record. 

When he returned to the United 

States, he was detained and 

should have been incarcerated. 

But he wasn’t. 

Dort said God was at work there, 

and when he applied for a pardon 


“God made a way for 

me, and I need to 

take it serious while 

I’m here...I believe 

the reason we are 

here is to share the 

Gospel and its truth 

and light.” 

Will Dort, 

Jail Chaplains 

returned citizen 

from the governor. Sonju and Capt. 

Andrew Frobig, Cass County jail 

administrator, spoke on his behalf, 

as well as former Gov. Ed Schafer. 

Despite the impressive lineup, the 

outlook for recommendation for 

a pardon seemed bleak, and only 

Dort’s faith in God buoyed him. 

And his faith came through for 

him. On the way back to Fargo 

from the Bismarck hearing, Dort 

received a phone call that he would 

be recommended for pardon. 

“Things like that just don’t 

happen,” Dort said. “God made a 

way for me, and I need to take it 

serious while I’m here...I believe 

the reason we are here is to share 

the Gospel and its truth and light.” 

As the jail administrator, Frobig 

sees firsthand how inmates benefit 

from being in the Jail Chaplains 

programs. 

“They’re skeptical at first, but 

they’ll check it out,” Frobig says. “A 

lot of them haven’t had any support 

before so they don’t know what to 

expect. They have to be willing to 

be open and talk about their faith 

and personal issues with others; 

it’s counter intuitive.” 

While Jail Chaplains hosts an array 

of programs that seem typical for 

a religious organization - Bible 

studies, ALPHA, church services, 

anger management, Stepping Up 

- it’s one of the atypical programs 

that seems to also have a profound 

effect on participants. 

Frobig said the knitting program 

offers inmates an opportunity 

learn a new skill and practice 

socializing, which can offer a 

constructive outlet for many of the 

individuals. 



For Jail Chaplains to achieve its 

mission, Executive Director Gerri 

Leach serves as a driving force. 

She’s been with the organization since 

May 2012, and she considers the role 

a “God appointment.” 

She had worked for a seed company 

for 27 years and then for The Salvation 

Army during the historic floods of 

2009, 2010 and 2011. 

“God changed my heart (at The 

Salvation Army), and I didn’t realize 

how much he was preparing me,” she 

said. 

In her role at The Salvation Army, 

Leach had created relationships 

with churches, businesses, and law 

enforcement officers - all of which 

have been crucial in her role with Jail 

Chaplains. 

The core team of volunteers, staff 

and board members attend 16 

different congregations in the area. 

The volunteer time invested equals 

more than 1,600 hours or 41 40-hour 

workweeks. 

Last year, attendance at Jail 

Chaplains programs was more than 

11,000, which is an average weekly 

attendance of 300 inmates. 

For Leach, the good life is seeing the 

lives of men and women change. 

“I see the barriers some returning 

citizens (former inmates) have to 

overcome, and the joy and tenacity 

they approach it with is incredible,” 

she said. 

“It’s surprising, but we often 

have more men than women 

(in the program),” Frobig said. 

In an environment often fueled 

by testosterone and sadness, 

Frobig said it’s great to see 

many men laughing and enjoying 

themselves while they knit. Plus, 

it’s a special moment for them 

to be able to create something 

themselves they can offer as a 

gift to a loved one. 

Frobig said the officers and 

administrators watch for inmates 

who may benefit from talking 

with a chaplain, but they never 

impose any beliefs on anyone; 

additionally, they can connect 

inmates with a person from a 

different faith, if they request. 

The connections Jail Chaplains 

offers are extensive. 

“The community connections 

are really starting to turn lives 

around,” Frobig said. “They 

never give up on anyone.” 

To show his gratitude to the 

organization that led him to a 

new life in Christ, Dort gives 

back to Jail Chaplains any way 

he can, whether that’s through 

volunteering for events, offering 

financial donations, sharing his 

story to encourage others, or 

connecting with other inmates 

and returned citizens through 

Bible studies. 

Sonju is quick to point out 

that people like Sheriff Paul 

Laney, Frobig and the other law 

enforcement and corrections 

officers are a “tremendous asset 

to this community.” 


“I don’t know how they do 

it,” he said. “Without them, 

we wouldn’t have these 

programs...For people who 

are incarcerated, these 

(programs) are like bringing 

light into the darkness.” 

When it comes to the good 

life, Dort’s answer is simple: 

It’s a Christ-centered life. 

“A good life is finding 

contentment with the life 

God gave you, with the 

happiness God put in you 

because no one can take 

that from you,” he said. 

Sonju agrees. “A new life in 

Christ is a good life,” he said. 

“Jesus didn’t die on a cross 

to make bad people good 

but to make dead people 

live...the good life is abiding 

in Jesus Christ. Anything 

good from these programs 

doesn’t come from us; it 

comes from God and the 

hope of His message.” • 

“A good life is 

finding contentment 

with the life God 

gave you, with the 

happiness God put 

in you because no 

one can take that 

from you.” 

Will Dort

The Good Life – January-February 2018

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