March 2012 - The Senior Reporter

2011 Award 

Winning 

Publication by the 

North American 

Mature Publishers 

Association 

Arvid 

Brekke 

page 10 

The Senior Reporter ■ PO Box 161318 ■ Duluth MN 55816 

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vol. 24 ■ no. 6 ■ march 2012 

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Wes 

Neustel 

page 10 

Dore 

Stubenvoll 

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10 

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vol. 24 ■ no. 5 ■ march 2012 

cover photo 

Arvid Brekke of Esko on a Finland cross-country skiing tour. Wes Neustel at 

Spirit Mountain. Dore Stubenvoll at Spirit Mountain. 

See the story on pages 10-14. 

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3 From the Editor 

4 Cheap Seats 

6 Nature Watch – Evergreens 

John Latimer 

8 North Country History – 

Roscoe Raiter 

Rachael Martin 

10 Arvid Brekke – Skiing for the 

Ages 

Burton Laine 

15 Gardening for All – USDA 

New Plant Hardiness 

Zone Map 

Bob Olen 

18 Better Business Bureau – 

Navigating the Funeral 

Process 

Barbara Grieman 

19 Reflections 

Mary Alice Carlson 

20 Medicare Q&A 

22 Cooking for Your Health – 

DASH to Better Health 

Mary Zbaracki 

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y Burton Laine 

doo-dad 

The doo-dad for February 

was hidden on page 12, on 

the TAXES graphic at the top. 

The winner is Melba Prelesnik 

of Eveleth, Minnesota. This 

month we will hide the image 

of a four-leaf clover for our 

doo-dad. Can you find it? 

By e-mail, 

send your entry to: 

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By mail, you can send it to: 

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The Senior Reporter 

PO Box 161318 

Duluth MN 55816 

Either way, please get your 

entry to us by March 19. The 

lucky winner who is drawn 

from entries with the correct 

location of the doo-dad will 

receive $25. 

Skiing Can Be 

AGELESS 

I remember my dad telling me 

about how he, in his 20s, would ski 

from our farm north of Cloquet 

about two miles, walk across the 

dam on the St. Louis River, and go 

to work at the lumber mill. I still 

have hand-carved skis that I expect 

are the ones he used for his daily 

trek to work. As I drive down our 

road on the way to work, I sometimes 

think about his transportation 

versus the car I’m driving. 

I learned to cross-country ski 

on wood skis, but they obviously 

were more refined than my dad’s. 

Today when I use fiberglass skis, 

I can’t say I enjoy them any more 

than the old ones I started on. 

When I was in my 20s I was 

driving on back roads near Esko, 

and on a snow drift next to the 

road I saw two older friends in 

from the editor 

their 50s cross-country skiing. At 

the time I saw them as being quite 

a bit older than me, and thought, 

“I hope I’ll be able to cross-country 

ski as I get older. Later in life 

I worked for a couple in Duluth 

who also skied in their 50s, and I 

had the same thoughts. Now I’m 

about that age, and my wife and I 

intend to keep cross-country skiing 

as long as we’re able. 

This month’s feature story is 

about resilience as much as it is 

about being active. Because of 

staying fit and healthy, even with 

setbacks the people in this story 

are able to keep active and doing 

the things they like to do. They can 

be inspirations for all of us. 

March 2012 ■ The Senior Reporter ■ 3

cheap seats 

March 1-31 

Grand Rapids — MacRostie Art 

Center’s March exhibits will feature 

Dana Sikkila, printmaking and 

installation, and Adam McCauley, 

acrylic and mixed media. Sikkila is 

pursuing her MA in printmaking 

from Minnesota State University 

Mankato. McCauley received his 

BFA in studio art and MA in art 

history from the University of 

4 ■ The Senior Reporter ■ March 2012 

Wisconsin Superior. He lives in 

Duluth. The MacRostie is open 

Monday through Friday from 10 

a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 

a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s closed on Sunday. 

It’s free. (218) 326-2697. 

March 12 

Superior — The Douglas County 

Historical Society’s (DCHS) final 

History Sunday program of the 

Planning a Surgery? 

Villa Marina Health & Rehabilitation Center 

We will assist you in meeting your goals in a professional and friendly atmosphere to 

assure you can get back to your lifestyle quickly and as smoothly as possible! 

• Over 75 years of combined rehabilitation experience 

• Deluxe private suites available 

• Rehabilitation services available 7 DAYS A WEEK 

• Complimentary transportation to our facility 

• Licensed nursing staff onsite 24 hours a day 

Friendly and caring staff will make your stay 

comfortable and relaxing 

Our knowledgeable benefits specialists can assist you 

with insurance and financial planning. 

Villa Marina Health and 

Rehabilitation Center 

Superior, WI 

(715) 392-3300 

Becky DeCaigny, CSW 

Director of Social Services 

compiled by Sarah Loetscher 

season will feature the trolleys that 

criss-crossed the Twin Ports and 

brought shoppers to downtown 

Superior. Trolley historian Aaron 

Isaacs of the Minnesota Streetcar 

Museum is completing his new 

book “Twin Ports by Trolley” and 

will be traveling from Minneapolis 

to share information and pictures. 

The program will start at 2 p.m. 

at the DCHS, 1101 John Avenue. 

Cost is $3, and it’s free for DCHS 

members. (715) 392-8449 or www. 

douglashistory.org. 

March 13 & 20 

Duluth — Duluth Community 

Education will offer two beekeeping 

classes led by instructor Jon Skalko. 

“Bees: Raising Honeybees for 

Honey or Pollination” will be on 

March 13 and “Bees: Beekeeping 

Intermediate” will be on March 20. 

Both classes will take place from 6 

to 8 p.m. at Woodland Community 

School. Cost is $9 each. To register 

for these classes or to look at the 

current schedule of other classes, go 

to www.duluthcommunityed.org. 

For questions about these classes or 

others, call (218) 336-8760. 


Eveleth — The Laurentian

Chamber of Commerce will present 

PUCK (Patrick/Urho Community 

Kinship) Days. Friday will feature 

Hoagie’s chili cook-off from 7 to 9 

p.m. Saturday’s festivities will feature: 

a vintage snowmobile show at 

noon; a family sliding event from 

noon to 2 p.m. at the RRCC Run 

(it will include a bonfire and free 

hot dogs, chips and hot chocolate); 

a Reading to the Dogs event from 

2 to 4 p.m. at the library (numerous 

therapy dogs will be available 

for cuddling); and a warming 

shack hosted by Eveleth’s Heritage 

Committee from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

at the library (it will include coffee 

and historic information on winter 

in Eveleth). (218) 741-2717. 


Duluth — The Duluth Public 

Library’s iFilms series, which features 

independent and international 

films, will show “The Colors 

of the Mountain.” The film is from 

Columbia (in Spanish with English 

subtitles) and is 93 minutes. It will 

start at 2 p.m. in the Green Room 

at the main library. It’s free. (218) 

730-4200. 


Duluth — “Why Forget When 

You Can Remember?” Free event at 

6:30-7:30 p.m. at Westwood Terrace 

Community Room, 925 Kenwood 

Ave. Tools and Techniques to 

keep your mind sharp, presented 

by Darryl Dietrich, College of St. 

Scholastica Professor. Call (218) 

723-6405 to make a reservation. 


Superior — The Fish and Game 

League Sport Show will feature 

fishing, hunting and outdoor 

exhibits. It also will include a live 

fish pond, seminars, drawings for 

prizes, a Texas barbecue and more. 

It will take place on Friday from 5 

to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. 

to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. 

to 5 p.m. at the Wessman Arena at 

UWS. Cost is $7, which is good for 

all three days. (715) 394-4982. 


Duluth — The UMD Symphony 

Orchestra’s 11th Annual Concerto 

Competition Concert will start at 

7:30 p.m. in the Weber Music Hall. 

It will feature the winners of the 

2012 Student Soloist Competition: 

Dennis Shuman, tenor, and Sarah 

Knott, mezzo-soprano. Conductor 

Jean R. Perrault will lead the 

program, which will include 

Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony 

“Romantic.” Cost is $7 for seniors. 

(218) 726-8877. 


Cloquet — Cloquet’s Home 

Business and Sport Show will showcase 

local businesses as well as 40 

crafters and home-based businesses. 

It will be on Friday from 1 to 

8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 

p.m. at the Otter Creek Convention 

Center. It also will include entertainment, 

family activities and 

more. Admission is free. (218) 879- 

1551. 


Duluth — The Fourth Annual 

Treasures of the Earth Green 

Goods, Craft and Art Fair will be 

from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Unitarian 

Church, 835 West College Street. 

It will feature more than 25 booths 

of local artists selling one-of-akind 

items made from natural or 

recycled materials. (218) 525-5098 

or www.wendyupnorth.com. 


Ashland — The Annual Bay Area 

Farm and Garden Show and the 

4-H Dairy Breakfast will take place 

from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the 

Bay Area Civic Center in Ashland. 

(The exhibit area will be open 

until 1 p.m.) The show will feature 

4-H displays, the popular “largest 

scrambled egg omelet” dairy 

breakfast, family activities, health 

screenings, a bake sale and more. 

Admission is free. (800) 284-9484 

or www.visitashland.com. 

If you have an event that you’d like 

us to consider for Cheap Seats, 

please send us the details: info@ 

theseniorreporter.com. The next 

deadline is March 15 for the May 

issue. 

When you’re ready to 

relax, we’ll make the 

transition seamless 

The independent lifestyle you want, 

woven together with the assistance you 

need, in the community you love. 

50 E. St. Marie St., Duluth, MN 55803 

(218) 724-5500 • (800) 300-2549 

www.mountroyalpines.com 


nature watch 

March is often the month when the snow cover 

retreats. After several months of white ground cover 

we are suddenly confronted with browns, tans and 

greens. Lots of old leaves and dead plants are brown 

and tan, but what about those green plants? Who are 

they and why are they green? 

Some plants, it turns out, are evergreen. Nearly 

all of the conifers maintain their needles year-round, 

the tamarack being the exception in this area. But 

down at ground level there are some smaller plants 

that remain green just like 

the conifers. Who are they? 

It depends on where you 

are looking. In the swamps 

it is the Labrador tea, leatherleaf, 

bog rosemary and 

bog laurel. All are members 

of the Ericaceae family. On 

higher ground evergreen 

plants include trailing arbutus, 

goldthread, bearberry, 

pipsissewa wintergreen, 

round-leaved hepatica and 

the pyrolas, to name a few 

of the more common ones. 

So why be evergreen? 

What advantages does it 

confer and why don’t all 

plants evolve to be evergreen? 

Most plants that 

become evergreen are 

growing in less than perfect 

conditions. Perhaps 


by John Latimer 

with chemicals designed to defend the leaf from 

attack. Deciduous plants create leaves with high 

quantities of proteins and photosynthetic enzymes. 

Depending on the location and the type of leaves, 

these energy costs turn out to be relatively equal. 

On richer soils deciduous plants dominate. It is 

much simpler to develop leaves that are designed to 

function for the short term. They can be larger, thinner 

and less well defended since their loss is not fatal 

to the plant in most cases. The ready availability of 

nutrients in the soil allows 

the plant to grow new leaves 

easily. Though it would 

seem that having evergreen 

leaves would allow the 

plant to photosynthesize all 

the time, evergreen leaves 

tend to be tough, waxy, 

thicker and smaller. These 

characteristics tend to preserve 

the plant’s water and 

nutrients, while at the same 

time reducing the amount 

of photosynthate produced. 

So they may husband the 

plant’s existing nutrients 

and water but at the cost of 

producing less food. 

The advantages of 

being evergreen include the 

slow but continuous loss 

of leaves. This ensures a 

constant supply of nutrients 

the soils are too acid, or too 

Bearberry. 

as the leaves that are lost 

dry, or they may lack cer- 

decompose. Because the 

tain necessary minerals, most specifically phospho- leaves are usually thicker, stronger and chemically 

rous. The absence of phosphorous has been linked to better defended than deciduous leaves, they 

the development of evergreen leaves. 

decompose slowly, further delaying the loss of the 

One might think that the cost in terms of energy nutrients. The presence of leaves year-round also aids 

used to produce a leaf would be higher in evergreens the plant community by allowing any precipitation 

than in deciduous plants. Oddly, this is not necessar- to leach small quantities of nutrients directly from 

ily the case. Evergreens produce leaves built for the the leaves to the soil. In soils that are nutritionally 

long haul. They use lots of lignin and fibers along challenged, this slow release often coincides with the

nutritional uptake of the plants. A balance develops 

between the food lost and the food required. In 

deciduous systems, the nutrients are dumped into 

the soils in one big leaf fall at the end of the growing 

season. Often these nutrients are leached away before 

the plants can take advantage of them. When this 

happens on poor soils, deciduous plants are not able 

to thrive. 

Because evergreen plants are so effective when it 

comes to retaining the nutrients they pick up from 

the soil, they tend to do well on soils where nutrient 

loads are light. Conversely, in fertile soils 

evergreen species cannot accumulate as 

much food as deciduous species in the 

same amount of time. Litter decomposition 

in nutrient poor and acid soils is 

slow. And evergreen leaves tend to add 

acids to the soils as they decompose, further 

favoring those plants that are parsimonious 

with their resources. So when 

you walk about this spring and notice 

those bright, lovely green leaves, think 

about cost benefits and soil chemistry, 

or just enjoy the moment and realize that 

snow as green as they were last fall. My 

there is more than one path to success. 

Winterberry. 

green-starved eyes spot the bright green 

March 9, 1987 Recent warm weather has melted tufts of the long-stalked sedge (Carex pedunculata) 

the snow cover to nothing. Walking this afternoon, I under the pines in the plantation. A great horned owl 

come across the remarkably green leaves of the gold- has been calling in the early morning for the last sevthread. 

They join the club mosses, princess pines, eral days. 

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trailing arbutus and the round-leaved hepaticas in 

adding some hopeful green to the ground cover. 

The first of the American kestrels has returned. 

Bohemian waxwings scramble to glean the last of the 

crab apples from area trees before they turn tail and 

head north. 

March 17, 2004 The fat white buds of the trembling 

aspens are popping out today. A saw-whet 

owl calls just after dark. That unmistakable whistle 

reminds me of the back-up alarm on big trucks. 

I saw a male northern harrier sweeping the fields 

along Blue Heron Drive this afternoon 

as I returned home from work. Autumn 

willows are still holding their catkins full 

of seeds even as the pussy willows are 

opening all around us. 

March 28, 2010 In the swamps, the 

leatherleaf and Labrador tea leaves are 

still deep red and brown. Though the 

plants remain evergreen, they await the 

sun to begin the photosynthesis that will 

return them to green. In the woods, the 

strawberry leaves emerge from under the 


north country history 

Rosco Raiter – 

CLOQUET’S FLYING 

PHARMACIST 

The Raiter Clinic in Cloquet, 

established after World War I by Dr. 

Franklin Raiter and his brother Dr. 

Roy Raiter, has enjoyed a long reputation 

of excellence in health care 

for the community. Now located in 

Cloquet’s Sunnyside neighborhood, 

the Raiter Clinic formerly was on 

Cloquet’s main street, Cloquet 

Avenue. On the corner of Ninth 

Street and Cloquet Avenue adjacent 

to the two-story Raiter Clinic with 

its 35-bed hospital stood the Raiter 

Pharmacy, owned and managed by 

a third brother, Roscoe Raiter. 

Roscoe O. Raiter, the youngest 

of the three brothers, was born 

in 1894 in Stillwater, Minnesota. 

In 1901, when he was about seven 

years old, Roscoe’s family moved to 

Cloquet. Roscoe was about 

15 years old when an illness left 

him entirely deaf. He studied lip 

reading, but realized that he could 

not follow in his older brothers’ 

footsteps to become a physician. 

Instead he entered the College of 

Pharmacy at Marquette University 

in Milwaukee, and after graduation 

he majored in chemistry 

at Northwestern University in 

Chicago. He became a pharmaceutical 

chemist and registered pharmacist 

and worked in Chicago for 

a few years, when he heard about 

the devastating 1918 forest fire that 

swept through Cloquet. 


by Rachael Martin 

Returning to his family in Cloquet after the fire, Roscoe Raiter 

reunited with his oldest brother Franklin, who just returned from serving 

as a physician in the medical corps in France during World War I. Dr. 

Franklin hadn’t heard about the fire and was shocked to see the devastation. 

Cloquet immediately began rebuilding the city with wide streets and 

uniform new buildings. At first Dr. Franklin and Dr. Roy Raiter took over 

the hospital on Avenue D and Arch Street from Dr. Fleming, and then 

moved to a new building on Cloquet Avenue. Roscoe, with his father’s 

help, established the Raiter Pharmacy next to his brothers’ Raiter Clinic. 

The family was together again. 

The Raiter Pharmacy has been described as a fine small drugstore 

with merchandise well displayed, a sparkling fountain and an orderly 

pharmacy case. A card on the prescription room door read, “RAITER’S 

PRESCRIPTION POLICY — no guesswork, no substitutions, absolute 

cleanness, strict adherence to doctor’s instructions, expert registered 

Raiter Clinic, Cloquet Avenue and Ninth Street, Cloquet, MN. 

Photo courtesy of the Carlton County Historical Society.

pharmacist, prompt and courteous 

service, reasonable prices.” Behind 

the counter was Roscoe Raiter, 

described as a polite and businesslike 

man of medium height with a 

light complexion. Customers at the 

drugstore might never realize that 

he was deaf, because of his ability 

with lip reading and his friendly 

manner. 

In 1928, Roscoe Raiter became 

a licensed aero plane pilot, as it was 

called then. By 1931, he owned his 

own plane and stated, “I often fly to 

Minneapolis in an hour.” Quite an 

accomplishment, since automobiles 

back then took four hours to make 

the trip. 

Roscoe Raiter made history on 

May 19, 1938, when he flew his open 

cockpit biplane in cooperation with 

the U.S. Post Office during National 

Air Mail Week to celebrate the 20th 

anniversary of air mail flight in 

America. That week hundreds of 

pilots throughout the country participated 

in making special flights in 

their states to bring air mail delivery 

to regions not previously serviced. 

His special flight, made under very 

adverse weather, was to fly the mail 

from Cloquet to Minneapolis for 

the first time. He left Cloquet and 

made a stop in Moose Lake to pick 

up additional air mail, then flew to 

the Minneapolis airport and delivered 

the mail. 

One of the air mail letters he 

carried on his flight has been preserved. 

Charles E. Olson of Wright, 

Minnesota, sent a letter to his sisters, 

Alice and Olga Olson, in 

Minneapolis. The letter reads: 

Dear Alice and Olga, 

In order to comply with the 

request of the Federal Government 

that each individual cooperate in 

commemorating the twentieth anniversary 

of air mail flying, I hereby 

Roscoe Raiter, pilot, accepting air mail from Cloquet postmaster, Clarence Scheibe, 

with brother Dr. Franklin Raiter and Pine Knot editor, Norman Nelson, on right. 

Photo courtesy of the Carlton County Historical Society. 

write and send you via air mail this 

little note. 

Mr. Oscar Groth, acting 

Postmaster of Wright, has personally 

delivered this letter to special 

air mail pilot, Mr. Roscoe Raiter of 

Cloquet, who flew the mail plane to 

Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May the 

nineteenth, nineteen-hundred and 

thirty eight by special assignment of 

the United States Government. 

The flight is the first one ever 

made from Carlton County carrying 

United States mail and it is hoped 

that in the near future the cities of 

Cloquet, Carlton, Moose Lake and 

others will be on a regular air mail 

route. 

It has indeed been a pleasure to 

me to have taken part in the commemoration 

of the twentieth anniversary 

of air mail flying in the 

United States. 

It is my intention that this letter 

be kept as a souvenir of this flight. 

Yours for progress, Chas. E. 

Olson 

After his famous flight, Roscoe 

Raiter resumed his role behind the 

counter at Raiter’s Pharmacy. His 

brother Franklin died in 1941, and 

Roy carried on at the Raiter Clinic. 

On August 31, 1946, Roscoe married 

Ruth Miranda of Fosston, 

Minnesota, a teacher and principal 

at Leach School in Cloquet. After 

a lingering illness, Roscoe Raiter 

died in Cloquet’s Community 

Memorial Hospital in 1962. The 

last of the three Raiter brothers was 

gone, buried in Fairview Cemetery 

in Stillwater with his parents and 

brothers. Roscoe was indeed a 

unique individual and a Carlton 

County history maker in 1938. 


The Rahalta Rajalle cross-country 

ski tour goes from the Russian border 

across Finland to the Sweden border. 

Sitting in Arvid Brekke’s home in Esko, 

talking about his experience doing this 

trip, he says, “It’s about the same as skiing 

from here to Fargo. The route is 

about 50 kilometers south of the Arctic 

Circle.” 

Arvid Brekke went to Finland to 

do the Rahalta Rajalle in March 2010. 

He heard about it from two other Esko 

residents who have skied the event, Bill 

and Kelly Rogers. As he planned it, he 

and a Cloquet cross-country skier, Bob 

Anttila, decided to both ski the same 

timetable. They traveled separately to 

get to Finland, and met there. 

The event is set up so a different 

group starts on consecutive days 

on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday and 

Sunday. There are up to 100 people in a 

group. Arvid was in the Sunday, March 

25th-starting group, and there were 

about 80 people. “Most of the people 

were older and retired. One couple 

was in their 80s. Several people had 

done this several times. Our group was 

mainly European, and there were only 

eight Finns,” Arvid says. 

They stayed mainly in small towns 

along the way. “Sometimes we stayed 

in really nice hotels and sometimes 

on the floor of a gymnasium. In one 

town we stayed in two smaller schools. 

There was a sauna every night. Even 

the schools have saunas,” he says. The 

cost was about $800 euros in addition 

to transportation there and back. All 

the food and lodging was included. 

“You could pay a person to hot wax 

and put on a kick wax every night, so 

the waxing would be right for the snow 

and temperature conditions. They 

would charge a little bit, and it was 

worth it.” 


continued on page 13 

ARVID BREKKE 

Skiing for the Ages 

story by Burton Laine 

Arvid Brekke.

Looking toward Russia from Finland on the first day. 

Wes 

NEUSTEL 

If there is any sign of slowing down at the age of 91, you can’t see 

it in Wes Neustel. The founder of Ski Hut in Duluth has lived the skiing 

lifestyle. “I ski three to five days a week — when the sun shines all 

week, I ski all week,” he says. “It’s the fact that I can do it, so I do it.” 

Wes had a ski accident two and a half years ago that would have 

stopped a lot of people of any age from skiing again. He and his 

daughter were skiing at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, and a skier that 

was going full speed down the hill knocked him out. “It broke my 

collar bone and pelvis, and I had to relearn to walk,” he says. After 

two months of rehabilitation at Lakeshore, “I thought that was an 

achievement to learn to walk again at 89.” The following year, he was 

back on the ski hill. “Some people overdo it. I tried it one day, and it 

felt okay, and then I went another day. Then I was pretty much back 

to normal.” 

“Every year I put together this trip to Bozeman, Montana. This 

year we have 75 rooms so far. One year I had 300 people out there,” 

Wes says. “Before that I go to another resort at White Sulfur Springs 

for a week.” 

Wes has also been an avid biker and dancer over the years. He 

says, “One day last summer Carol and I rode 42 miles on the Munger 

Trail, and after came back to her apartment for something to eat. 

She said, ‘We should go for a walk.’ So we went for a walk on the 

Lakewalk. Then we went dancing that night from 7 to 11.” (Carol 

Cohen was featured in the biking story in the January 2012 issue of 

The Senior Reporter.) 

In the summer, Wes and Carol go biking three to five times a 

week on the Munger Trail and average 20 to 30 miles a day. He says, 

“I’m very fortunate.” 


Dore Stubenvoll has devoted much of her life to 

teaching others informally. A lifetime 

skier, when Spirit Mountain opened in 

the 1970s, she was invited to be on the 

ski patrol. Within a couple of years she 

was doing ski instruction. In the 1980s, 

she was trained in the Professional Ski 

Instructor America program. That was 

when she was in her 40s, and now at the 

age of 86 she still is at Spirit Mountain 

four days a week teaching skiing. Her 

most consistent group is a women’s 

group that skis on Wednesday mornings. 

Visiting the ski hill on a Wednesday 

morning, you can find Dore leading her 

class indoors doing Feldenkrais exercises 

first, and then they move out onto 

the ski hill. On this day she had seven 

students. “I have them do exercises with 

turning their toes and feet, so they have a better feel 

on the ski hill,” she says. Dore has them visualize their 

feet, arms and body position indoors while lying on the 

floor. At one point, she had them practice getting up as 

if with skis on. 

Dore has had a wide range of fitness experience in 

her life. She learned yoga in the 1940s, and when she 

moved to Duluth taught the first yoga class in the area 

in 1972. She learned Feldenkrais in 1983 and has been 

teaching that ever since. 

On some days when there are no classes to teach on 

the ski hill, she goes to a fitness center in Superior and 

works out on fitness machines. 

Dore is as busy in the summer as in the winter, but 

her exercising is closer to home. She has rollerbladed as 

recently as a couple of years ago. And she does biking, 

kayaking and sailing. “The kayak is my favorite now.” 

“I also do a lot of walking and just started doing 

Nordic walking. It makes me walk a little straighter, but 

I don’t quite have the technique down yet,” she says. 

She expresses enthusiasm, however, when talking 

about winter sports. “I love to ski. I started when I was 

eight or nine in Chicago. And I’ve kept skiing all the 

way through my life.” 


Dore (right) teaches a student on the ski hill. 

Dore 

STUBENVOLL 

At one soup stop, Welcome was written in 

Finnish and English with pine boughs. 

The outside of a school where they skiers stayed one night.

continued from page 10 

Buses took the group to the trail start and 

picked them up every day. Luggage, including 

sleeping bags, was transported to the 

next lodging location by the buses. “What’s 

impressive is that there are groomed trails 

the whole way. There is only one lane. There 

were a few Russians that thought it was a 

race, so they took off ahead every day. The 

rest of us spread out. I was one of the slower 

skiers,” he explained. “The scenery most of 

the way was similar to northern Minnesota 

in lake country with travel across lakes and 

lowlands, thickets and forested areas. There 

would be a patch of trees and a big open 

area. The weather was about 20 degrees and 

sunny the entire time. We would go 65 kilometers 

a day, which is about 35 miles or so. 

The longest day was 80 kilometers. Someone 

with a snowmobile with a sled monitored 

how the skiers were doing and was there if 

anyone needed to be picked up to be brought 

to the bus.” 

Arvid had a rough start to the trek. He 

traveled to Helsinki and went directly to the 

start location. He ate something along the 

way that caused him to be sick, so he had to 

start the first day of the trip with an empty 

stomach. The scenery on the first day was 

hillier by the Russian border. 

“At the soup stops, a lot of elderly farmers 

would be there in their rubber boots,” 

he says. It was mostly men 

doing the cooking and 

serving. There were lots 

of pickles and chocolate 

and coffee. I’ve never eaten 

so many pickles, but they 

are supposed to be good 

for recovery. There were 

three or four rest stops a 

day. There was really good 

food all the time. Food at 

the rest stops ranged from 

soup to reindeer sausage to 

Swedish pancakes. 

Going up the first hill near the Russian border. 

continued on page 14 In a school gymnasium, the skiers slept in their sleeping bags. 



Arvid started cross-country skiing at the age of 35. “I went to Spirit Mountain with 

a pair of wood skis. I saw this woman that I thought was really old and she just ran away 

from me. So I bought a pair of racing boots and skis. I’m probably older than she was 

now. I’ve done the Birkebeiner (in Hayward, Wisconsin) a few times, but nothing like this 

before.” 

This year Arvid hasn’t been skiing because he had 

rotator cuff surgery this year. “My shoulder is about 

75 percent now. The doctor is being cautious. I’ve 

started walking with poles. Right now for rehab I’m 

doing some swimming.” 

Arvid didn’t change his skiing regimen to prepare 

for skiing in Finland. “I usually do 10 to 20 kilometers 

in Pine Valley in Cloquet three or four days a week. 

The trek was pretty flat land most of the way, so the 

hills in Pine Valley were good preparation.” 

In the summer he rows and rides bike, and walks 

with ski poles. He says he rides a minimum of 20 

miles or two hours. Last summer he put on about 

2,000 miles, which he says is less than usual. Last summer 

he also rode in the Habitat 500 from St. Joseph 

to Bemidji and back, and is contemplating doing that 

again. 

Looking ahead, Arvid says, “I’d like to do the 

Rahalta Rajalle again in about two years. I may do this 

first and then do the Norwegian Birkebeiner. I went 

there once before and because of high winds, it was 

the only time it has ever been canceled. In a couple of 

years I’ll be 71, and the senior division (over 70 years) 

can start earlier at seven o’clock in the morning before 

the elite skiers.” 

Bob Anttila ( left) and Arvid Brekke. 


School children cheering on participants in a community along the trail. 

The map of the Rahalta Rajalle cross-country ski tour. 

One of the soup stops on the cross-country trail across Finland.

Maps courtesy of USDA. 

Warming to the 

Idea of Warmer 

Weather 

USDA 

NEW PLANT 

HARDINESS 

ZONE MAP 

story Bob Olen, Horticulturist 

The weather is always a great topic of conversation 

in the Northland, especially this year with 

a very mild winter and record warm temperatures. 

All the climate statistics indicate that we are 

in a warming trend. Now the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture has even updated its Plant Hardiness 

continued on page 16 



Zone Map. The last time this was 

done was in 1990. 

This map is an aggregate of 

minimum winter temperatures 

divided into zones numbered from 

1 to 13, with one being the coldest. 

Each zone is a 10-degree Fahrenheit 

band, which is further divided into 

a 5-degree Fahrenheit band labeled 

“a” and “b” with “a” being the colder 

area. 

The map covers all 50 states 

and the island of Puerto Rico. The 

new map is notable in that two 

new zones were added, indicating 

a warming trend. These are zone 

12 with minimum winter temperatures 

of 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit 

and 13 with temperatures of 60 to 

70 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Most areas of the country 

appear to have warmed up by about 

half of a zone since the map was last 

revised in 1990. 

Brief History of the USDA 

Plant Hardiness Zone Maps 

The first plant hardiness zone 

map was published in 1927 in a 

book about trees and shrubs written 

by Alfred Rehder, titled “Manual of 

Cultivated Trees and Shrubs.” 

The original map had eight 

zones based on the average minimum 

temperature in the coldest 

month of the year. All of the plants 

listed in the manual were assigned a 

hardiness zone. Since that time there 

have been five revisions including 

the 2012 edition. The basic concept 

remains the same. The map is a 

representation of minimum winter 

temperatures and is used as a guide 

to winter plant hardiness. The new 

edition was specifically designed to 

be Internet-friendly and for the first 

time has the provision to enter a zip 

code and get the plant hardiness 


zone. America’s 80 million gardeners will be the most frequent users and 

beneficiaries of this new map. 

The new map includes many more data points and for the first time 

takes into consideration the location’s elevation and proximity to many 

more bodies of water. Both of these factors are significant in the Northland 

with the influence of Lake Superior and the change in elevation associated 

with rivers and rock formations. 

To see the new map, just Google “USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 

2012.” Click on Minnesota to get our state map. The most notable change 

is that all of northern Minnesota is either zone 3 (-40 F. to -30 F.) or 4 (-30 

F. to -20 F.) Contrary to popular rumor, even our warmest regions along 

Lake Superior are not zone 5! The most notable change is the elimination 

of some zone 2 (-50 F. to -40 F.) areas which were part of the 1990 map. So 

our northern climate may be warming, but we are still one of the coldest 

parts of the United States and, for that matter, in the world. 

For comparison, you may be interested in the following European 

plant zones: 

City Zone 

Amsterdam, Netherlands 8 

Helsinki, Finland 5b 

Munich, Germany 7 

Paris, France 8a 

London, England 9a 

Moscow, Russia 4 

Oslo, Norway 6 

Stockholm, Sweden 6a 

Zurich, Switzerland 7 

This comparison reinforces the idea that we have a very cold climate 

and must be careful to select winter-hardy trees and shrubs. 

My take on the winter hardiness of plants: 

Several factors other than just the absolute coldest temperatures influence 

a perennial plant’s ability to survive through the winter. 

1. Select zone 3 or 4 plants depending on your location. 

2. Plant in an area where there is good soil drainage. 

3. Plant at higher elevations if possible. 

4. Plant in an area that is protected from the wind. 

5. Maintain good plant health during the growing season. Minimize 

all stressors including drought, insects, disease and low soil fertility. 

6. Protect tender plants with appropriate mulching and wrapping. 

If you pay attention to these growth factors as well as to the new plant 

hardiness map, you are nearly guaranteed to successfully overwinter a 

large variety of perennial plants. With spring nearly here, we will soon 

know how our plants survived one of the warmest winters on record.

NEW SENIOR 

RESOURCE GUIDES 

AVAILABLE 

Harbor Centers and The Senior 

Reporter have recently released three 

new senior resource guides: 

• 2012 Douglas County (WI) Senior 

and Caregiver Guide 

• 2011-2012 Duluth Senior and 

Caregiver Guide 

• 2011-2012 Northeastern MN 

Regional (Seven-County) Senior 

Housing Guide 

The Douglas County guide is cosponsored 

by Senior Connections at 

1805 North 16 th Street in Superior, or 

call 715-394-3611. 

Local county senior guides and 

the Regional Senior Housing Guide 

are available free from area nonprofit 

senior volunteer agencies, including 

Volunteer Services of Carlton 

County in Cloquet, ElderCircle 

in Grand Rapids, Elder Services 

Network in Virginia, CARE in Aitkin, 

Northshore Area Partners Living At 

Home/Block Nurse Program in Silver 

Bay, Community Partners Living At 

Home/Block Nurse Program in Two 

Harbors, the Grand Marais Senior 

Center, Koochiching Aging Options 

in International Falls and Northwoods 

Hospice Respite Partners in Ely. 

The senior resource guides are 

also available in many other locations 

including medical social workers, 

parish nurses, medical equipment 

businesses, home health agencies, 

the Senior LinkAge Line of the 

Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging 

and county social and financial workers. 

In addition, copies are available 

free at the Harbor Centers and Senior 

Reporter office at 1105 East Superior 

Street in Duluth ($3 charge for mailing), 

or call 218-624-4949. 

Wellness half page March 30 2012 GRAY:Layout 1 2/21/12 2:52 PM Page 1 

Health and Wellness Fair 

for 50+ Age Adults 

Free Screenings 

Blood Pressure 

Medication Review 

Female Heel Bone Density 

Glucose & Cholesterol 

combined profile 

(fasting preferred) 

Helpful Exhibitors • Information & Learning • Healthy Snacks 

Friday, March 30 

9:00 am - 12:00 pm 

Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd 

1325 N. 45th Ave. E., Duluth 

525-1922 

Smoke-free building 

Sponsored by: Lutheran Church of 

the Good Shepherd 

Experience Senior Living at its Best! 

The Lincoln Place Apartments are perfect for adults 55 and better 

who demand quality, comfort and convenience. 

1 & 2 bedroom apartments include: heat, water, sewer and 

trash removal. All appliances including full-size washer and 

dryer in each unit. Optional underground heated parking. 

801 McKinley Ave., Eveleth, MN 

(218) 744-3488 

lincoln@greatlakesmc.com 


etter business 

by Barb Grieman, Vice President, The Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota 

Tips for 

NAVIGATING THE FUNERAL PROCESS 

At an average cost of $7,000, 

funerals are one the more expensive 

purchases made by consumers. 

During an emotionally-charged 

time it can be easy to spend more 

than might be necessary. The Better 

Business Bureau of Minnesota and 

North Dakota (BBB) recommends 

the following advice for navigating 

the funeral process. 

Most funeral providers offer 

a variety of package plans that 

include products and services that 

are most commonly sold. However, 

it’s important to remember that no 

package is obligatory and it’s important 

to take the time, even though 


it may be constricted, to find the 

individual products and services 

that you prefer. The “Funeral Rule,” 

enforced by the Federal Trade 

Commission, requires funeral 

directors to give you itemized 

prices in person and, if asked, over 

the phone. 

As outlined by the Funeral Rule: 

• You have the right to choose 

the funeral goods and services that 

you want (with some exceptions). 

• The funeral provider must 

state this “Rule” in writing on the 

general price list. 

• If state or local law requires 

you to buy any particular item, the 

funeral provider must disclose it on 

the price list, with a reference to the 

specific law. 

• The funeral provider may 

not refuse, or charge a fee, to handle 

a casket that you bought elsewhere. 

• A funeral provider who 

offers cremations must make 

alternative containers available. 

One way to reduce stress during 

a time of grief is pre-planning. 

The National Funeral Directors 

Association offers a “Bill of Rights 

for Funeral Preplanning” (www. 

nfda.org/planning-a-funeral/preplanning.html) 

that its members 

follow. You do not have to prepay 

for a funeral in order to preplan 

one, although there may be financial 

benefits to doing so. 

The BBB has Business Reviews 

on more than 1,350 funeral homes 

and mortuary service providers 

across North America, available for 

free at www.bbb.org/search. 

For more consumer tips you 

can trust, visit www.bbb.org/us/ 

bbb-news. 

The mission of the Better Business 

Bureau is to be the leader in 

building marketplace trust by 

promoting, through self-regulation, 

the highest standards of business 

ethics and conduct, and to 

instill confidence in responsible 

businesses through programs of 

education and action that inform, 

assist and protect the general 

public. The hours of operation are 

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through 

Friday. Contact the BBB at www. 

bbb.org or 651-699-1111, toll-free 

at 1-800-646-6222.

y Mary Alice Carlson 

Over the past couple of months, 

I noticed an enormous lack of 

laughter and joyfulness in my dayto-day 

activities. I’ve been toiling 

away at various activities and seem 

to have temporarily misplaced my 

funny bone. So I thought I’d make 

an effort to lighten the mood of 

my various activities and share that 

with others. Hence, the following 

story. 

Three weeks ago I was 

out in the barn doing chores. 

Our barn is old. It was built 

roughly 70 years ago and has 

the “patched up” look. The 

inside consists of a free stall 

area for the horses, hay storage 

and an area where I keep 

my gardening supplies. It was 

a warm, sunny afternoon, and 

I thought I’d spend some time 

with the horses and get a few 

things done. Curiosity is the 

bane of my existence when 

I’m working with the animals, 

so I have a tendency to look 

everyone over, “check the oil” 

(is there enough water and 

food available), and “kick the tires” 

(pick up each hoof and clean it out). 

So I busied myself with activity and 

with a carefree heart opted not to 

tie anyone up. This proved to be a 

significant error on my part. 

Laddie weighs about 1,200 

pounds and, for the most part, is 

pretty relaxed and easygoing. I 

noticed as I was circling him in the 

corral that he had a small cut on the 

back of his right front hoof. He was 

busy eating and seemed to be ignoring 

me, but I got the impression 

that he was starting to view me as a 

fly buzzing around him because he 

appeared a little irritated. Ignoring 

all the signs and in a carefree way, 

I sashayed over to him, turned my 

back to his face, bent over, and 

asked him to give me his foot. 

Laddie refused. So I asked him 

again to give me his foot, and while I 

was bent over with my hand around 

his hoof he nipped me in the fanny. 

I went nuts! I started yelling and did 

what we call the “big horse body 

posture.” I threw my arms in the air 

and waved them all over the place 

and jumped up and down. This is 

supposed to remind the horse of 

who is in charge of the herd. 

My husband, who had been 

watching football in the house, 

heard all the commotion and 

thought I’d been electrocuted. He 

came running out of the house as 

though he’d been shot out of a can- 

reflections 

non. He kept yelling, “Are you all 

right?” When I finished my “big 

horse dance” I told him exactly 

what had occurred. He got a funny 

look on his face. It was sort of a look 

of shock and awe and then much to 

my surprise, he started laughing. 

I’m not talking a little giggle. I’m 

talking about the kind of laughter 

where you go weak in the knees and 

double over. I’m talking about 

laughing so hard you have to 

hold onto something to stay 

upright. I’m talking about the 

tears running down your face 

kind of laughter. I was so mad, 

I did the “big horse dance” to 

my husband. This tickled his 

funny bone further, and I felt 

as if I’d lost control of everything. 

My husband went into the 

barn, got Laddie’s halter, put 

it on him, and had me hold 

him. He then checked all of 

his feet and announced to me 

that all was well. He was very 

smart not to remind me that 

I should have tied up Laddie, 

but he kept smiling and swallowing 

waves of laughter. 

It took me several days of sitting 

sideways in a chair to find 

the humor in this experience. My 

grandson put it all into perspective. 

He put his hands on my knees 

and said, “Laddie bit you in fanny… 

that’s so funny.” And then he doubled 

over in laughter. Despite my 

sore backside, I saw in his face how 

funny he thought it was, and I had 

to admit, it was pretty funny. 


dear marci 

Dear Marci, 

I have cataracts, and I would 

like to set up an appointment with 

my eye doctor. When does Medicare 

cover eye care? 

—Miriam 

Dear Miriam, 

While Medicare will not generally 

pay for routine eye care, it will 

pay for some eye care services if you 

have a chronic eye condition, such 

as cataracts or glaucoma. In that 

case, Medicare will cover: 

• Surgical procedures to help 

repair the function of the eye due 

to these conditions. For example, 

Medicare will cover surgery to 

remove the cataract and replace 

your eye’s lens with a synthetic 

intraocular lens. 

• Eyeglasses or contacts 

only if you have had cataract surgery 

during which an intraocular 

lens was placed into your eye. 

Medicare will cover a standard pair 

of untinted prescription eyeglasses 

or contacts if you need them after 

surgery. If it is medically necessary, 

Medicare may pay for customized 

eyeglasses or contact lenses. 

• An eye exam to diagnose 

potential eye disease. If you are having 

vision problems that indicate 

a serious eye condition, Medicare 


will pay for an exam 

to see what is wrong, even if it turns 

out that you don’t have an eye disease. 

Medicare will cover yearly eye 

exams only if you have diabetes or 

are at high risk for glaucoma. 

—Marci 

Dear Marci, 

I’m 64, self-employed and have 

health insurance as an individual. 

If I don’t take Medicare Part B when 

I turn 65, can I enroll without penalty 

during an eight-month Special 

Enrollment Period after I retire? 

—Miguel 

Dear Miguel, 

No. If you are self-employed and 

have health insurance as an individual 

and are not part of a group 

plan with at least one other member, 

your coverage does not qualify 

as a group health plan (GHP). 

Therefore, you would not qualify 

for a Special Enrollment Period 

(SEP), and you should enroll in Part 

B as soon as you become Medicareeligible 

— in your case, when you 

turn 65. If you delay enrollment, 

you will have to wait for the General 

Enrollment Period in January to 

apply for Medicare, and your coverage 

will not begin until the fol- 

lowing July. You will also have to 

pay a premium penalty for every 

12 months you delay enrollment. If 

you are self-employed, approaching 

65, and thinking of delaying 

Part B enrollment, you may want 

to consider joining either a group 

health plan that is part of a multiemployer 

plan or an association, 

such as the National Association 

for the Self-Employed, that offers 

group health plans to its members. 

If you are enrolled in such a plan, 

you are entitled to an SEP. 

—Marci 

Dear Marci, 

I would really benefit from a 

Medicare Savings Program, but I am 

slightly over the income limit for the 

programs in my state. Should I still 

apply? 

—Wendy 

Dear Wendy, 

Yes. If your income is above 

the income and asset guidelines, 

you should still apply. You may 

still qualify for a Medicare Savings 

Program because certain income 

and assets may not count. 

Please remember that income 

and asset guidelines vary from state 

to state. In all states, the following 

income will never be counted:

• The first $20 of all income. 

• The first $65 of monthly 

wages. 

• One-half of your monthly 

wages (after the $65 is deducted). 

• Food stamps. 

Some states may not count more 

income, or may exclude things from 

your income, such as the money 

you use to pay health insurance 

premiums (like Part B premiums). 

Some states allow you to have a 

higher income if more than two 

people live in your household. 

In all states, the following assets 

will never be counted: 

• Your primary house. 

• Your car. 

• Household goods and wedding/engagement 

rings. 

• Burial spaces. 

• Burials funds for you and 

your spouse valued up to $1,500 

each. 

• Life insurance with a cash 

value of less than $1,500. 

Many states do not count other 

types of assets. Some states have no 

asset test. 

Call your local Medicaid office 

for exact rules on how to apply for a 

Medicare Savings Program in your 

state. 

—Marci 

For further information on 

Medicare: 

■ Senior LinkAge Line® 

(800) 333-2433 

■ Senior Connections 

(715) 394-3611 

■ (800) MEDICARE 

■ www.medicare.gov 

Monthly Mobile Resource Centers 

Northshore Area Partners will be hosting monthly Mobile 

Resource Centers in Finland and Isabella, Minnesota throughout 2012. 

Thanks to a grant from The Mardag Foundation and funding from Lake 

County Human Services, these Mobile Resource Centers will allow rural 

elders and their caregivers access to congregate dining, healthcare information, 

assessment and follow-up, and emotional support as well as 

intergenerational socialization on a regular basis. The Mobile Resource 

Centers will support senior citizens living independently and those caring 

for others with chronic conditions, and it will encourage neighbors 

to support elderly neighbors. 

The Resource Centers will be held at the Claire Nelson Center 

in Finland on the first Tuesday of every month and at the Isabella 

Community Center on the third Tuesday of the month. The Resource 

Centers will offer health and wellness information beginning at 10 a.m., 

serve a free hot meal to those 65 and older and then present entertainment 

or a speaker following 

lunch, with 

everything wrapping 

up at 2 p.m. Those 

under the age of 65 are 

encouraged to attend 

and will be asked to 

contribute to the cost 

of the meal. Reservations for the meals are required and transportation 

is available. 

Please call Northshore Area Partners at 226-3635 for further 

information and to make reservations. 

a 

healing 

place for 

�� 

�� 

�� 

�� 


High blood pressure or hypertension quietly 

increases the odds of having a heart attack, stroke or 

kidney disease. Some 68 million Americans have high 

blood pressure, and more are likely to develop it as the 

population ages. Prevention or treatment of hypertension 

begins with consideration of lifestyle modification, 

whether increasing physical activity, reducing 

weight, moderating alcohol consumption or quitting 

smoking. 

Nutrition intervention is a key part of these efforts 

and may include the DASH diet. Nope, not a race-tothe-finish 

quick weight loss scheme, DASH stands for 

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It’s a common-sense 

approach that emphasizes veggies, fruits, 

whole grains, low fat dairy and lean protein, while limiting 

high calorie portions of fats and sweets. Named 

the best overall diet in 2012 by U.S. News and World 

Report, it can be reviewed in detail at www.nhlbi.nih. 

gov. 

DASH calls for a reduction in sodium and supports 

an increase in foods high in calcium, magnesium 

and potassium. The average potassium intake of most 

Americans falls well short of guidelines released by the 

Institute of Medicine, as well as DASH, recommending 

4,700 mg potassium per day. A list of potassium 

sources extends well beyond potatoes and bananas 

to include spinach, kale, squash, most beans (such 

as Great Northern beans), apricots, raisins, zucchini, 

cantaloupe, salmon, low fat yogurt and more. In addition 

to having a favorable effect on blood pressure, the 

form of potassium in fruits and vegetables may help 

reduce the risk of kidney stones and bone loss. 

As with any diet plan, check with your doctor to 

determine if DASH is right for you. 

Here are a couple recipes to enjoy that incorporate 

good food sources of potassium: 


cooking for your health 

by Mary Zbaracki, RD, LD, CDE 

St. Luke’s Hospital 

DASH to 

BETTER HEALTH 

2 Servings 

Ingredients: 

1 medium banana 

1/2 Tbsp margarine 

1 Tbsp brown sugar 

1/2 tsp cinnamon 

1 6-ounce carton thick Greek yogurt, plain 

1 Tbsp chopped walnuts, if desired 

Directions: 

Melt margarine in a small pan. 

Add brown sugar and cinnamon. 

Stir until smooth. 

Slice one medium banana and add to mixture. 

Coat banana with brown sugar mixture and heat 

until just bubbly, about 1 minute. 

Layer yogurt and bananas in a parfait glass. 

Optional: Top with chopped walnuts. 

Nutrition information per serving: 

25 grams carbohydrate, 9 grams protein, 3 grams fat 

and 163 calories.

2 servings 

Ingredients: 

1/2 of a 1-ounce fajita seasoning mix packet 

1/2 cup water 

2 tsp chili powder 

1 Tbsp olive oil 

10 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into about 1-inch pieces 

1/2 red bell pepper, chopped 

1 small to medium-sized zucchini, sliced 

1/2 cup sliced onion 

1/2 cup salsa 

1 cup frozen whole kernel corn 

1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained (canned or cooked from dry) 

2 cups cooked brown rice 

1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese 

Directions: 

1. Using a medium-sized bowl, mix fajita seasoning, water, chili powder and oil. 

Add chicken, and allow to marinade for about 15 minutes. 

2. Meanwhile, using a large skillet, spray with nonstick coating. Using medium heat, add pepper, 

zucchini and onion. Stir for 3 minutes (tender crisp) and remove from skillet. 

3. Spray pan again. Drain chicken (discard marinade) and add to skillet. Brown for about 6 minutes. 

4. Add veggies, salsa, corn and beans. Heat mixture thoroughly, stirring gently. 

5. Serve over hot rice and sprinkle with cheese. 

Each serving contains: 

40 grams carbohydrate, 22 grams protein, 6 grams fat and approximately 300 calories. 


fun stuff 

#1 

#2 

Sudoko 

Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure 

that every row, column and 3-by-3 box 

includes all digits 1 through 9. 


All puzzles presented by 

THEME: U.S. PRESIDENTS 

ACROSS 

1. Three square ones a day 

6. Feline sound 

9. Slope or hillside 

13. Muslim God 

14. Spermatozoa counterpart 

15. “Little Deuce _____,” song 

16. _____ Boothe Luce 

17. “Lake” in Provence 

18. Taken by server 

19. Where most Presidents went to college 

21. He was famously Catholic 

23. “He ___ and drank the precious words...” 

24. Fool 

25. Toy maker 

28. “The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical” 

30. Interstellar cloud 

35. Like sinister side in “Star Wars” 

37. Mountain goat terrain 

39. Ranked or graded 

40. Used in fencing 

41. Luciano Pavarotti, e.g. 

43. Actress ____ Sofer 

44. “Your Body Is a Wonderland” performer 

46. ____ Lee 

47. Hat part 

48. Popular flowering shrub 

50. Do over 

52. Feared by illegal immigrants 

53. “Far and ____” the best 

55. It fought British rule 

57. Like a snake 

61. Tallest President 

65. Hoppity-like board game 

66. 35 is the minimum ___ 

68. Embryo sacs

©2011, StatePoint Media, Inc. 

69. Type of flu 

70. Chewbacca’s sidekick 

71. Like yellow polka dot bikini 

72. Not nice 

73. R&R spot 

74. Plural of suffix denoting female 

DOWN 

1. One of these is approximately 

equal to speed of sound 

2. Famous female scat singer 

3. Having or resembling wings 

4. Caterpillar precursor 

5. Holder for #40 Across 

6. Result of dampness 

7. Actress Longoria 

8. Mad or crazy 

9. Pres. Coolidge was “____ on the 

Fourth of July” 

Solutions on page 26 

10. Ill-mannered 

11. Imitated 

12. Suggestive of supernatural 

15. Talk it over 

20. Respond 

22. Longest division of geological 

time 

24. Grain storage 

25. Organ swelling 

26. Largest city in Bolivia 

27. Goddess of love, Norse 

mythology 

29. Wraths 

31. Aggressive remark 

32. Wombs 

33. Most famous Bolshevik? 

34. First White House inhabitant 

36. ____ over 

38. He won popular but lost 

fun stuff 

electoral vote 

42. Exact halves of diameters 

45. Oldest elected President 

49. Hole punching tool 

51. Like baroque 

54. Indian nursemaids 

56. Highest points 

57. It featured George Michael 

58. Enthusiastic review 

59. Hipbones 

60. FBI agent 

61. River in Siberia 

62. Singles 

63. Drawn in the sand? 

64. They oppose the yeahs 

67. Generation ___ 

• Oxygen 

Including the Newest Technology of 

Homefill Units & Battery-Operated 

Portable Oxygen Concentrators 

• CPAP/BiPAP 

• CPAPCare Program 

• Oximetry 

• Nebulizers 

• Hospital Beds 

• Wheelchairs 

• Ambulatory & Bath Aids 

Clinical Assessments & Education 

www.providacare.com 

Our vision at ProvidaCare is to be a leader in 

Healthcare by showing compassion for our 

patients, referral sources, and employees. 

(218) 727-5555 

831 E 2nd Street 



fun stuff 

Puzzle #1 Sudoku (Page 24) Puzzle #2 Sudoku (page 24) 

Answers to Puzzle (Page 25) 

26 ■ The Senior Reporter ■ March 2012

Advertiser Index 

Benedictine Health Center . . . . . . 21 

Golden Oaks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

Interim HealthCare . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 

Lincoln Place . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 

Lutheran Church of the Good 

Shepherd Health Fair . . . . . . . . . . 17 

Mount Royal Pines III . . . . . . . . . . . 5 

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St. Francis Health Services . . . . . 28 

Villa Marina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

Western Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 

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H eritage M anor 

Acknowledging human worth 

in a friendly & beautiful environment. 

F ranciscan H ealth C 

Enhancing lives with professional & 

caring services on scenic Park Point. 

321 NE 6th Street 

Chisholm, MN 55719 

218-254-5765 

enter 3910 Minnesota Ave. 

Duluth, MN 55802 

218-727-8933 

1500 East Third Ave., Hibbing, MN 55746 

218-263-7583 

Specializing in Short-Term Rehabilitation 

in an incredible environment. 

Caring for the people you love. 

V iewcrest H ealth C enter 

3111 Church Place, Duluth, MN 55811 

218-727-8801 

St. Francis 

Health Services 

www.sfhs.org 

Care Centers • Spiritual Care • Assisted Living • Short-Term & Long-Term Rehabilitation 

Live life to the fullest! 

50 E. St. Marie St., Duluth, MN 55803 

218-724-5500 • 800-300-2549 

www.LifePride.com 

The assisted living you choose from people who really 

care. Seeing is believing. 

2400 Washington Ave. 

Scanlon, MN 55720 

877-878-1180

March 2012 - The Senior Reporter

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