CMW - JuneJuly13

Sports for Women:

Race Car Driving, Downhill

Skiing, Archery

Thomsen’s Kids Club

for little green thumbs

African Women Dance for Peace

and Forgiveness

Once a Bully...?

What Makes Your Guy Tick?

The Impact ofBig Brothers Big Sisters

Summer Food Belgian-style

Summer Fun Special Section!

Summer Arts and Events!

Pamela McNeillA FABulOuS ArmADillO!

http://www.refinedermatique.com

http://www.scymca.org

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cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} June/July 2013 5

June & July 2013

7} Printed WordsBy Tamera & Natalie

8} must-Do’sBy TaLeiza CallowaySummertime, and the feeling is easy. That’s why you’ll want to mark these events on your calendar right away – Pioneer Place on Fifth’s 100th anniversary celebration, parish and weekly outdoor festivals, and live theatre.

10} Anna marie’s AllianceBy Debra SchroederNot all bullies grow up and out of their habit, as evidenced by this adult bully.

11} COvEr STOrY:Always a rock ‘n’ roll GirlBy Lynn FisherCover photo by Sue DroppArticle photos courtesy of Pamela McNeillFabulous Armadillos’ fans know that Pamela McNeill is the popular group’s party band singer, but can you correctly answer this true or false question? She considered becoming a classical pianist.

15} SPECiAl ADvErTiSiNG SECTiON!Summer Fun!Get out and enjoy your summer at these local venues! Wine, dine, shop, stroll, socialize.

21} Women with a Competitive EdgeBy TaLeiza CallowayPhotos by Barb AabergThree women, three sports, and Audrey “Red” Abraham, Ashley Mehrwerth, and Nicole Bloch have at least one more thing in common.

24} Thomsens Greenhouse debuts Kids Club for young gardenersBy Amy OlsonPhotos courtesy of Thomsens Greenhouse and Garden CenterWhat started as a great pumpkin idea and event has sprouted into a fun gardening club for kids, ages 5 to 11.

26} Taleiza’s Tributes: A Cultural PerspectiveBy TaLeiza CallowayPhotos by Sue DroppSCSU students from Rwanda and Burundi express peace and forgiveness of the unrest they and their countries have experienced in a unique and powerful way.

28} learning as i GoBy Tamera FarrandThe Chain of Pain

29} Focused PhilanthropyBy Crystal NuttPhotos provided by BBBSAre we ready to positively impact a child’s life, forever? Big Brothers Big

Sisters offers an important mentoring program that can do just that.

32} What’s He Thinking?By Doug VagleDoug keeps us in the know about what makes guys – including him – tick.

32} Honorific!By Natalie Miller Rotunda

33} SPECiAl ADvErTiSiNG SECTiON!visit St. Joseph

34} Steppin’ OutArts and EventsBy Natalie Miller RotundaPhotos provided by and in partnership with AroundTheCloud.org

36} Food ExplorerBy Heather RotundaPhotos by Sue DroppHeather takes us on a culinary vacation to Belgium where wonderful new foods await hungry and adventurous food-lovers – a sandwich and pizza with French names, and a delightful dessert you can serve up in multiple ways.

38} Snapshots!By Natalie Miller Rotunda- Good Patina- Joe Town Pizza & Grill

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Pamela McNeillAlways a Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl

6 June/July 2013 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com

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Printed wordsTheme:

SummerFun!Summer is a time for fun and a time to enjoy the wide array

of exciting community events from music to art crawls to fundraising celebrations.

After you enjoy a concert by the fabulous Armadillos, you may even become a groupie! Pamela mcNeill, the Armadillos’ lead singer and our cover story, will leave you wanting more!

Not only will music get you moving this summer, our feature on non-traditional competitive sports for women may inspire you to give one a try. the

women featured in our story love archery, race car driving, and downhill skiing.

And if you have a little tiny green thumb in your family, thomsens’ kids club gives children a hands-on experience to enjoy and learn about gardening.

taLeiza’s tributes introduces us to five African SCSU students who developed a powerful tribute dance to communicate their life story. In our non-profit feature, focused Philanthropy, you will see how Big Brothers Big Sisters impacts lives. And that’s not all...there is more here for you to read and enjoy summer...central minnesota women!

tamera and Natalie

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Must-do’sSummer in central Minnesota means one thing: bring on the festivals, parades and outdoor concerts. Well, there are plenty to choose from this season, with some events commemorating journeys.

100th anniversaryPioneer Place on fifth will return to its roots to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the building the theatre and lounge reside in. the “takin’ it to the Streets” anniversary concert event is slated for August 3 in downtown St. cloud.

dan Barth, co-founder of Pioneer Place, says the journey has been a good one and what better way to pay tribute than with a party. years ago, a block party was held annually.

“It’s the celebration of the 100th anniversary of this building,” dan says. “this building was built in 1913 as an elks club, and we thought it would be fun to throw a big outdoor concert.”

dan says all of 5th Avenue and the house of Pizza parking lot in downtown St. cloud will be blocked off for the 21-and-over event. the concert will run from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and feature four local bands and a food court. the concert lineup includes an elvis Presley tribute by Anthony Shore, the band collective Unconscious, Justin Ploof and the throwbacks, and the fabulous Armadillos.

“It’s going to be quite a party,” he says. “we’re pretty thrilled about it. there will certainly be something for everybody.”

tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the event. Purchase tickets by visiting www.ppfive.com, or by calling the box office at (320) 203-0331.

Parish festivalOutdoor music and fun continuesin the city of St. Joseph next month.the annual church of St. Joseph Parish festival and Joe town Rocks concert will take place on July 3rd and 4th in the city’s downtown. the concert is scheduled for July 3rd,

Summer Fun

By TaLeiza Calloway

http://www.quarrytitle.com


Must-do’shim. the next girl who walks in is miss Sarah Brown, a pure-at-heart Salvation Army-type reformer. the Paramount is at 913 west St. Germain Street in St. cloud.

Wednesdays on the lakeSummertime by George! will kick off another season June 12th at Lake George in St. cloud. Sponsored by the St. cloud Rotary club, Summertime by George! is a free concert and festival put on every wednesday. the free 12-week event features live music, food vendors, artisans, and a kid’s zone (called “Little Georgetown”) for families, according to the event’s website. Summertime by George! runs from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. each wednesday, with bands starting at 6:30 p.m. the band “32 Below” will kick off the first event on June 12th. the series wraps up August 28th. for more information, visit: www.summertimebygeorge.com.

and features several local acts. thousands of people travel locally and statewide for the annual event. the 2013 lineup will include a performance by the fabulous Armadillos. the free concert and festival is open to the public. more information about the event can be found at www.joetownrocks.org.

Lemonade & ArtsAs we welcome summer and the start of festival fun for families, St. cloud State University will offer another opportunity to soak up the sun and sip lemonade. At the Lemonade concert and Art fair, you will find more than 200 artists, including potters, watercolorists, garden artists, jewelry makers, glass work, photography, and painting. children can also enjoy the Little Lemons Art Park, an event that will include art and craft projects, and a juggling show for their entertainment. music will stem from a variety of genres, including harpist Robin Berry, keyboard player John Altenbernd, and the St. cloud All Star Jazz Band, according to aroundthecloud.org. the event is presented by the ScSU department

of campus Involvement, and will take place from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., June 27, on the ScSU campus grounds, rain or shine. the campus is at 720 4th Ave. S in St. cloud. Questions can be directed to the department of campus Involvement at (320) 308-2205.

Theatre funfor lovers of the arts, there’s something for you, too, this summer. Paramount visual Arts theatre will host Rooftop theatre’s presentation of the musical, “Guys and dolls.” Shows will run 7:30 p.m., June 20 through 22; 2 p.m. on June 23; 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., June 28 and 29; and 2 p.m. on June 30. tickets are $22 for adults and $18 for seniors and students, according to paramountarts.org.

featuring familiar songs like “Luck be a Lady” and “Sit down you’re Rockin’ the Boat,” this musical tells the story of Nathan detroit, organizer of the oldest established permanent floating crap game in New york, who bets fellow gambler Sky masterson that he can’t make the next girl he sees fall in love with

TaLeiza Calloway is a freelance writer in St. Cloud, MN. The Ohio native enjoys writing about diversity issues and spending time with her family. Contact her at [email protected].

http://www.bankvista.com


Debra Schroeder is a local. She grew up in Cold Spring, went to college at SCSU, and has worked with Anna Marie’s Alliance since 2000. She gains much energy from talking with people about the issues faced by those experiencing relationship violence. Debra

currently lives in her childhood home with her husband, seven cats, and the occasional bat.

were pushing a girl younger than they and called her the same names Mary’s husband had used on her.

Mary decided that the cycle of violence had to stop, so she left. It wasn’t easy, but with the support of family and friends and the help of advocates at Anna Marie’s Alliance, Mary is making a safer, healthier life for her sons and herself. Now that’s fortitude!

“the behavior we are asking children not to engage in, bullying, is precisely what is being modeled to them.” Amy Burzinski, LISW

website accessed for bullying characteristics and quote is: www.bullyingpreventioninjds.com/characteristics.html

• impulsive and easily angered• little empathy toward students who are bullied• involved in other antisocial or rule- breaking activities, such as vandalism, delinquency, and substance abuse• more likely to report owning a gun for risky reasons, such as to gain respect, or to frighten others

Male bullies tend to be physically stronger than boys in general, and particularly the students they bully.

It doesn’t take much to see these behaviors in adult abusers. Mary’s husband might gravitate towards the most violent movies and sports, kick the family dog, and he didn’t believe rules applied to him. Mary never knew what would start a violent episode. What was okay one day was wrong the next. He kept guns in the house and would display them while yelling at her and the children for something totally irrelevant. The turning point for Mary was when she saw bullying behavior in her sons while they played with the neighborhood children. They

anna Marie’s alliance

A Bully Who Had Gotten Older, But Failed to Grow upWhen a woman confides to me her story of abuse, I always feel honored. It takes great courage to open oneself up to another person. When your trust has been betrayed by the person who claimed love for you, it can take great fortitude to talk with a stranger. This was brought home to me recently while having a cup of coffee with a former colleague.

Mary was always the confident, intelligent, think-outside-the-box colleague. Professional, friendly and outgoing, she didn’t fit the stereotypical image of someone who was being verbally, psychologically, and sexually abused by her husband. As her story unfolded and she began describing what he would do to make her life miserable, I realized that he was nothing more than a schoolyard bully; a bully who had gotten older, but failed to grow up.

According to Amy Burzinski, LISW, students who bully other students are likely to have several of the following characteristics:

• a positive attitude toward violence and the use of violent means• a strong need to dominate and subdue other students to get their own way

If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship,

please call Anna Marie’s Alliance, any time, at (320) 253-6900 or (800) 950-2203.

http://www.jeddelohsnyder.com


Pamela McNeill: Fabulous Armadillos, Rumours and Dreams

By Lynn Fisher Cover photo by Sue Dropp

Article photos courtesy of Pamela McNeillHair and make-up styling for cover photo generously

provided by Michelle Kenric Hair Studio


cover Story

The Fabulous ArmadillosAlways a Rock ‘n’ Roll Girl

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Pamela McNeill with The Fabulous Armadillos. In the background - Luke Kramer, Jay Graf, Jeff Engholm

during the summer months when the band plays outdoors.

“(Greg) had wanted to do a show with a bunch of people that he knew over the years (in the adver-tising jingle business),” says Pamela. “He was one of the first ones to do a variety-type show at Pioneer Place (in downtown St. Cloud).”

Eventually, word got around about the show, and the owner of Pioneer Place suggested the band perform differently themed shows throughout the year.

“Every show is a different theme,” explains Pamela. “One theme may be Motown, one may be ‘80s, one may be heavy metal. We find a list, put it together, learn the songs, and basically do a show. It’s really fun.”

It was Greg’s idea to rotate talented people in the area and showcase them.

“I am the party band singer. There are four themes a year and I usually do two or three, depending on what they want me to do,” says Pamela. “It’s really a great band, and I swear that St. Cloud (where the band is based) is like my second home. People always kid me that I should get an apartment, because I’m there so much.”

Besides the Armadillos’ regular series, Pamela is also in-volved in all of the Armadillos’ festivals, outdoor concerts, and charity events. She has been with the group “unofficially” for six years.

Pamela explains, “The thing I like about the Armadillos is that it gives me a chance to sing all those great songs, just have fun and try to get the crowd going. It’s so fun when you

Pamela McNeill: Fabulous Armadillos, Rumours and DreamsBounding Border Collies. That’s who I was enthusiastically greeted by when I interviewed Pamela McNeill at her and her husband Dugan’s home, in Burnsville, Minnesota. As she and I sat to chat, there was the required ball throwing by me, and parading of things that squeak by them. Pamela shares with me that she’d love to just drive to the nearest shelter and fill her car with homeless dogs, but she hardly has time between teaching and her career as a songwriter and singer.

Radio-listener residents of central Minnesota might recognize Pamela’s voice. She sings several jingles on central Minnesota air waves, written by friend Greg Armstrong. She has sung some memorable advertising jingles for companies, like Westside Liquor and Miller Chevrolet; and in the Minneapolis area, jingles for Pawn America, Children’s Hospital, and Kare 11.

Armadillo: Any of a species of armored mammals...or a great bandThat friendship with Greg led to an invite to sing with The Fabulous Armadillos, a band Greg was forming, especially

cover Storyhave such great crowds, to move them and try to make them feel something. That’s my job, to go out there and make them feel something, whether it’s crying, an emotion, or feeling happy. I can (sing) anything from Janis Joplin and Whitney Houston to Tammy Wynette to…you know, just everybody, whatever the theme calls for. For the party band, we pick the best of Gladys Knight, Olivia Newton-John, Heart, Pat Benatar, Aretha, I mean anything…the sky is the limit.”

Now you can hardly mention summer in central Minnesota without talk-ing about the Armadillos…they have developed quite a loyal following.

Pamela says of the Armadillos: “It’s just a joy. We are such close friends. We have all been through lots of dif-ferent bands and different scenarios; played with so many people, done amazing things…we just have a ball. The guys are like brothers to me.”

Putting on her “rockstar”

Besides a great love of dogs, Pamela has lifted the love of shopping to an entirely new level, as evidenced by her collection of spike-heeled shoes, arm-

loads of glittering jewelry, and beautiful costumes that line her work room

where she goes to “put on her rockstar.”

“I am really old-fashioned when it comes to being an entertainer,” says Pamela. “I couldn’t show up in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt… I’m too old-school.” Fans have often commented to her at the receiving line after an Ar-madillos’ show, “We wondered what you were going to wear.”

Pamela is married to Dugan McNeill, formerly of Chameleon, the popular Twin Cities’ band of the ‘80s. We walk the hall to their recording studio, the walls filled with concert and promo-tional photos for both Pamela and Dugan.

Deeply rooted in music

Her life has been deeply rooted in music, and it began early. Originally from Winona, Minnesota, Pamela got her first experience singing with bands on the weekends at age 16, and never looked back.

“I was actually working at the

Ground Round in Winona as Bingo the Clown,” says Pamela, “and this really cute guy was playing a video game. I was dressed as a clown, so he had no idea what I looked like. We started talking, and he said he was in a band…and I said, ‘Oh, I wanna sing. I wanna be a singer!’ So, I asked if I could audition.” Pamela adds, “I think he probably thought, ‘Yeah sure…whatever.’ (Then) I changed out of my rainbow wig, clown makeup, and big floppy shoes…and he said okay.”

That band, Mroz (so named after the lead guitar player’s last name), was the first of many. “It was my very first gig,” says Pamela, “and I remember that my mom and I went out and bought a sparkly dress. We opened for the Suburbs at Winona State Univer-sity. We were so lucky to work during times when it was really [a] thriving scene (musically). There was a lot of work out there, and fans….”

When asked what kind of music she sang: “I sang Pat Benatar, and Jour-ney…all of the things that girls sing in bands because guys can’t,” she laughs. “Girls sing Journey (songs) because guys can’t sing that high…unless you’re in the Fabulous Armadillos.”

Pamela adds, “I had wanted to be a singer since I was three, that’s what I always wanted to do, so I played the piano, the trombone, and the harmoni-ca…things like that.”

She was able to play by ear, early on, so she was given lessons.

“My grand-ma had a Hammond organ, with the pedals,” says Pamela. “I started taking les-sons for it when I was eight years old. I took lessons for the piano (as well) and had 12 years of classical train-ing. At one point, I had considered being a classical pianist. When I was 13, what I wanted for Christmas was the sheet music for Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin.”

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yAt a Paramount Theater show, Luke Kramer, Jay Graf, Pamela McNeill, Jeff Engholm, Mary Jane Alm, Billy Thommes on drum riser.

Fleetwood Mac tribute show at the Paramount Theater in St. Cloud.

See the fabulous Armadillos!www.fabulousarmadillos.com

when Pamela is Armadillo-free, she has her own band. Pamela is currently working on her newest

cd which will be out August 2013.www.pamelamcneill.com

Pamela mcNeill video:“Not Giving Up” www.youtube.com/

watch?v=fe1JBvnZc1A

Rumours and dreams – A fleetwood mac tribute (Pamela mcNeill,

mary Jane Alm, and Jeff engholm)June 1, October 10-11, 2013 – chanhassen dinner theater

www.chanhassentheatres.com/concertseries.aspx

also: See The rumours and dreams Show at the Paramount Theater’s

annual Gala event Oct. 5th!

catch Pamela at the rock ‘n’ roll X-mas Spectacular, every year!

the mcNeills teach at minneapolis media Institutewww.mediainstitute.edu/

minneapolis-media-institutecountry singer Buffy Lawson

recently recorded one of Pamela’s songs, Rainy Night in memphis.

You can find it on iTunes



cover Story

Lynn Fisher is a freelance writer from Champlin, Minnesota. Visit her website: www.lynn-fisher.com, and her blog, http://onandoffthepage.blogspot.com

Although her family wasn’t musical, there was always music of all types playing in the house. “…My mom would either be playing Simon and Garfunkel, Lesley Gore, the Supremes, and Elvis Presley. My dad always played country music, so I have the best of the pop and country world on all the time. I was lucky that they love music and always had it on. That re-ally made an impression on me.”

“Some people make a hot dish...”

In her early 20s, Pamela had a chance to sing backup for British singer Rick Astley, and lived in London dur-ing that time. She left when her own songwriting career had gotten notice at home.

“I had some interest in LA for me as a songwriter,” says Pamela, who has even written lyrics for Yanni. “For me, that’s really where my heart is. I came back and was signed to a major pub-lishing company and started working on my own.”

Recently, Pamela started working on her fifth CD. She also created her own tribute performance, along with singer Mary Jane Alm, called Rumours and Dreams, highlighting the music of Fleetwood Mac.

“There is nothing quite like having an idea, thought, or an emotion, and then you’ve got only three or four minutes to make it become something that moves other people,” says Pamela. “You do that, and you get to have other wonderful people contribute to it, and you put it out in the world and get to do shows and see people con-necting with it. There is just nothing like that in the world.”

Much of songwriting is a part of Pamela’s nature. “If something hap-pens, I write a song. Some people make a hot dish, I write a song. I love to be able to say, I know how you’re feeling, and this is my contribution. I hope you get something from it, I hope that it moves you, or you can relate to it. Everything else is icing on the cake.”

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cover Story


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women with a competitive edge

Story by TaLeiza CallowayPhotos by Barb Aaberg

Audrey “Red” Abraham, Ashley Mehrwerth, and Nicole Bloch have never met, but the three women have one thing in common. They like to be active and don’t let being a girl stop them from hanging with the boys in sports where few competitors look like them.

The central Minnesota women partici-pate in non-traditional outdoor sports and are award-winning competitors. Audrey is an archer. Ashley is a race car driver, and Nicole is a downhill skier. They recently shared what drew them to the sports they love, and what others should know about the activity if they plan to join them someday.

Nicole has been a competitive down-hill skier since she was in the fifth or sixth grade. What started out as family recreation became a passionate inter-est for the St. Joseph teen. The speed of the slopes is what hooked her.

“I like the feeling of going fast, and the challenges you can get on some of the courses they set,” Nicole says. “The people that are in it make it fun, too.”

The 16-year-old is a member of Three Rivers Racing Club (TR2) based in the Twin Cities’ area and a member of the St. Cloud Breakaways, a team combined of students from several area high schools. The sophomore is the

only Apollo High School student on the team.

Races have taken her to Colorado, Michigan, and Canada. In 2011, she qualified and competed in the Junior Olympics.

Nicole competes at the US Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) and

International Ski Federation (FIS) levels. USSA is the national governing body of Olympic skiing and snow-boarding.

When it comes to competitive skiing, time and gates are a part of the scor-ing process, she says.

For those interested in skiing, you’ll need the essentials: boots, skis and poles. Nicole says it can be expensive equipment. New skis can cost about $1,000, but used ones can be rented for about $200. Boots may run $300, or more. If you find a good ski swap, prices can be lower.

The colder the temperature is, the better, because skiers have more of an edge for turns.

When issues occur on a course, she says short-term memory is handy. “One of the best feelings is when you know you had a good run,” Nicole says. “I also like that it’s an individual sport. If you mess up, it’s on you. You just keep going.”

Women who are involved in non-traditional outdoor competitive sports

Women with a Competitive Edge

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Nicole Bloch Ashley Mehrwerth Audrey Abraham


Skiing means one word for Nicole: fun!

Making tracksAshley has been driving a race car since she was 14 years old. Yes, it is legal.

Her family would always go and watch her cousin, Justin Jones, race. One day, her uncle asked her if she’d

like to try driving the race car.

“He threw me out on the track and I was addicted,” Ashley says. “It only took one time.”

The 20-year-old competes in the Mid-west Modified class, one of several car types used for racing. Another exam-ple is the 4-cylinder class.

She named the car she drives “Jim-my,” because the name had a nice ring to it. It’s the same car she watched her cousin compete with years ago. He was number 7. She is 17.

“I just added a one to his number,” Ashley says. “I wanted to keep his number on it since he kind of got me started.”

She has certainly made it her own with more than 25 wins during her tenure. She races at North Central Speedway in Brainerd, Granite City Speedway in Sauk Rapids, and tracks in Willmar, Ogilvy, and Glyndon.

While other women race in different classes, she is the only female who races in her class, a class with more than 4,000 drivers, nationwide. Where she races locally, there are about 30 drivers and few women on the track.

Being the only girl in her class, she was still able to take third place in track points out of 56 drivers who competed at North Central Speedway (NCS) in 2012. She was named rookie of the year in the Midwest Modified class at NCS. Her season stats con-sisted of 13 top 10’s, four top 5’s, 17th place in overall rookie national stand-ings, and 137th in overall national

points out of 846 drivers who were registered.

Every weekend for Ashley is booked, from the end of April through Septem-ber. She often has races every weekend throughout the state, and her family is right there lending support. Her father, Dan, and her grandfather serve as her pit crew, and her mother, Marlo, is the photographer/videographer. After every race, they come home and view footage to see what worked, what didn’t, and plan for the next race.

Ashley admits that driving the car is fun, but there is more to it. Those who want to try it have to be mechanically inclined, having some experience with cars. They should be willing to take the time to learn about their vehicle and research track conditions. Condi-tions vary. It is also important to note that it is a pricey sport with class regis-tration, maintenance of a vehicle, fuel costing about $10,000. Sponsorships assist in the cost.

For her, the best part of racing is con-

necting with other drivers. However, the competitive edge never subsides.

“The people you meet make it a lot of fun. You’re like a family,” Ashley says. “Once you’re out on the track, it’s a whole different story. Everyone wants to win.”

Ashley studies nursing at St. Cloud Technical College. She is the oldest of three children, and lives in St. Ste-phen, Minnesota.

Ready, set, aim

Audrey got the nickname “Red” not just because she has red hair.

When she started shooting a bow in 1996, she wore her late father’s western belt on the range.

On the back of the belt, “R-E-D” is engraved. Organizers didn’t know her


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first name, so that’s what they called her. It just stuck.

“It’s just something I’ve seen, and I wanted to do it,” Audrey says of archery. “They said once you start with a bow and you like it, you never go back.”

It’s true. She shot a bow a few times for fun and eventually went out and bought her own. She owns a long bow, a compound bow, and a hunting bow.

“It takes instinct to shoot the long bow because there are no sights,” she says.

Long bows typically have about 40 pounds of draw length weight, while a compound has 42 pounds, and a hunt-ing bow has 52.

There are more men than women who participate in archery, but women are present. The 55-year-old has competed in more than 20 competitions and has lost track of how many awards she has won.

There are regional, indoor and out-door state, 900-round target, and 3D

(animals) competitions. All must be completed before an archer can go for Grand Champion. She’s done it all.

Audrey practices in a 13-week indoor 300 league to prepare for competition. She recently took first place in a re-gional indoor 300 competition for the senior female bow hunter/freestyle. The highest “X” count in archery is 60 and the highest score is 300. At one of the shops she shot at, she has the high score of 341X.

What she likes most about the sport is improving her shooting.

“I always want to see how I can beat my own score,” Audrey says. “When I shoot the 3D, I like to beat the guys.”

Audrey encourages anyone to “jump into archery with both feet.” The first step is learning how to hold the bow. The trick is to pretend you have on a shirt with buttons and keep your body straight. When you pull back the bow, it should feel like you have wings. If it does, you’re holding it right, she says.

Another attractive component to the sport is that it’s a family-friendly activ-ity. She is not the only archer in her family. Her whole family participates in the sport for recreation. She and her husband Jim have two children, Troy, 11, and Tonya, 14.

“It’s not a sport you have to do at a certain time of year, and anyone can do it,” Audrey says.

She previously served as president of the St. Cloud Archers Association and participates in Minnesota State Archery Association events. These organizations are very helpful in learning about archery. Learn more by visiting stcloudarchersassociation.com, or the Minnesota Archery store in Litchfield’s site: www.minnesota-archery.com.

TaLeiza Calloway is a freelance writer in St. Cloud, MN. The Ohio native enjoys writing about diversity issues and spending time with her family. Contact her at [email protected].


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Thomsens’ Kids club

Thomsens’ Kids ClubThomsens Greenhouse Debuts Kids Club For Young GardenersBy Amy Olson

Photos courtesy of Thomsens Greenhouse and Garden Center

Do you remember working in the fam-ily garden or farm fields when you were a kid? Perhaps you followed your mother as she created straight rows in the rich black dirt. Maybe you placed the seeds in the soil, or gently showered them with water, taking care not to wash away what had been sewn. Gardens were a way of life years ago. Most adults have a child-hood memory of working alongside their parents; planting seeds, weeding, and harvesting the fruits of their labor. Some-times considered a chore, gardening was a necessary means to provide fresh food for the family. Today, gardens are considerably smaller. Not so surprising, most kids aren’t as aware of how or where their fruits and vegetables come from.

An idea sprouts

About four years ago, Arno Shermock, owner of Thomsens Greenhouse and Gar-den Center, decided to plant pumpkins.

Arno grew up with a great enthusiasm and love for pumpkins, instilled by his

father, a school teacher. His father enjoyed gardening and grew

pumpkins to give to students. At the time he planted his own pumpkin seeds, Arno knew he would plan an event, on some level, so that kids could come

and find the same enjoyment in the pumpkins. That event came to be

known as Pumpkin Day. In its first year, 100 kids came and picked out pumpkins; last year, 400 kids flocked to Thomsens and took home pumpkins they had chosen.

When you arrive at the greenhouse, the first thing your kids will do is head to the “pumpkin patch,” or the pumpkin pile, where they’ll pick from pumpkins of many sizes, shapes, and colors. “There is a misconception that biggest is always best,”



Thomsens’ Kids clubtake part in a scavenger hunt, and collect leaves they’ll use to create a nature print.

They’ll also enjoy a catered picnic by the pond. The pond and fountain are big draws for visitors to Thomsens, who welcome the chance to walk the scenic path, taking in the earthy shades of green and brown provided by nature. The kids’ curiosity will undoubtedly be piqued by the fish and turtles swimming leisurely in the water.

Since the first Pumpkin Day, the Thomsens staff has seen varying levels of energy in the kids who have come through. They find that the older the kids get, the more interested they are and the more questions they have about gardening. Kids are amazed when they step inside the greenhouse and see table after table of flowers and plants. This usually prompts the question, “How many plants are there?” Kids Club Coordi-nator JoAnn Fleischhacker answers that the number is in the thousands, then she tells them how many plants are in a tray and how many trays are on a table. Imagine opening a box of crayons and choosing from the dif-ferent shades of orange, yellow, red, green, or purple. As you look around the greenhouse, you’ll see these beau-tiful colors. A question JoAnn likes to ask is, “What is your favorite color?” Often, that answer is blue, one of the most difficult colors to hybrid. JoAnn explains that there are very few true blue, or indigo, flowers; more turn out purple. Regardless, JoAnn says, “Any time kids can plant, they love it, espe-cially a plant with a flower on it.”

More Kids Club sessions to come...

The fall session happens in September with the annual Pumpkin Day, which remains a free event. Pumpkins will be available to each child (while sup-plies last).

The winter Kids Club session will be held in January when Club members will enjoy a Winter Wonderland (more details to come).

Thomsens Greenhouse can accom-modate a crowd of 400 kids. Parents are welcome to join their kids during

their session, or enjoy a free, one-hour session of their own. This month, parents will learn about hummingbird and butterfly gardens.

Kids Club, a beginning for young gardeners

Another goal for starting Kids Club is to encourage a resurgence of big gardens. Arno would like to see kids take an interest so they will be excited about gardening, which is a way to encourage them to explore where their food comes from. Children who have come through on tours have learned about soil as a plant-ing medium, and they’ve learned the difference between perennial and annual plants. After listening to staff, the kids make the connection that things planted in the fall come up in the spring.

“This is a fun place to start something different,” says JoAnn. Jackie has no-ticed that her boys are more interested in gardening since they started going to Thomsens. They like helping their dad in the vegetable garden, and her with the flower garden.

Amy Olson is a freelance writer and storyteller living in Cold Spring, Minnesota, with her family.

Kids club Sessions:June 22nd: Nature day

September 21st: Pumpkin day

January 25, 2014: winter wonderland

registration information:call thomsens at (320)

363-7375, or register online at www.tgreenhouses.com

Iroquois legend speaks of three inseparable sisters who

grow and thrive together. the three Sisters Garden consists of planting corn, beans, and

squash together.

says Arno. “A child will choose the pumpkin that resonates with them.” Maybe it’s the shape or color that speaks to the child, but smaller chil-dren typically choose a pumpkin they can carry by themselves. No matter what the reason for their choice, Arno has seen the excitement in children’s faces when they choose that special pumpkin.

Jackie Ettle has been attending Pump-kin Day with her two boys, ages four and five, for the past two years. She says she’d rather do pumpkin painting at Thomsens because they supply all of the paint, and the staff sprays the pumpkins with a protectorate. Her boys, Seth and Connor, pick out their pumpkins themselves. Other kid-centered activities they take part in include a bounce house, face painting, pumpkin painting, and, of course, the greenhouse itself. When fall rolls around, Jackie says, and her kids see pumpkins, they ask if they are going to Pumpkin Day. They plan to go back this year.

Pumpkin Day’s success over the last four years encouraged Thomsens creative team to dig deeper, think broader, to come up with new excit-ing ideas to offer young gardening enthusiasts.

Kids Club debuts

“Plant and Play,” that’s the fun theme behind Thomsens new Kids Club. It kind of makes you want to grab a pot and dig in the dirt. Arno’s idea is to help “children to find entertain-ment in gardening.” One of the club’s goals is to introduce it (gardening) into young children’s lives so it isn’t considered work. If kids find enjoy-ment, they’ll want to do more. Kids Club features four seasonal, two-hour sessions for children, ages 5 to 11. The cost is minimal at $3 a session.

Thomsens creative staff has de-signed each session so that it offers a hands-on way for kids to connect with nature and learn about planting in a fun environment. Back in April, during Planting Day, the children cre-ated their own Three Sisters garden; sowing corn, beans and squash seeds in a clay ball and placing it in a pot to take home to their own garden. This month, kids can enjoy Nature Day,


The smiles on their faces as they dance represent the pride in their hearts. The waving movements of their arms as they sway serve as an invitation to join them.

Darlene Munezero, Sybille Nsengiyumva, Carmen Somambike, Mika Ndayiziga, and Inga Mumukunde are among a group of students who choreographed the tribute dance with Eddah Mutua-Kombo, a profes-sor at St. Cloud State University. The dance is called “Twese Hamwe,” the Kinyarwanda word meaning, “All of us.”

The dance group is called “Amahoro,” which means peace. Members hail from the African countries of Rwanda and Burundi, places where peace is not the

TaLeiza’s Tributes:Students promote peace through dance tribute to their homelandsBy TaLeiza Calloway Photos by Sue Dropp


TaLeiza’s Tributes

The “Amahoro Dance” L. to R., Mika Ndayiziga, Darlene Munezero, Sybille Nsengiyumva, and Inga Mumukunde. (Carmen Somambike not shown)

L. to R., Sybille, Darlene, TaLeiza, Inga, Mika. (Carmen not shown)

L to R, Darlene, Inga, Mika, Sybille, TaLeiza (Carmen not shown)

first attribute that comes to mind when the countries are mentioned. Through dance, they hope to change this perception.

“We call it Amahoro. (It) means peace,” Darlene says of the group. “We decided to call it peace because our country is known for the war. A lot of people think there are still wars over there. We just want to show peo-ple that, even if we have war because of the different ethnicities, we have peace, and we all come together and dance as all Burundi and Rwanda.”

Rwanda’s population consists of three ethnic groups: Hutus (88%), Tutsis (11%), and Twa pygmies (1%). Through ethnic division and a civil war between the Hutu and Tutsi, the country was torn apart. An estimated one million people were killed within a three-month period in 1994, accord-ing to globalsecurity.org. Memories of this war-torn past are what motivate the women to promote a message of unity.

Peace and forgiveness

Eddah got interested in post-genocide Rwanda in 2004 when she went there as part of a group of educators from the California State University education system. They were there to learn about the reconciliation process after the war and incorporate that in their classrooms. The communication professor does so in her courses.

“I am interested in the way the women are involved in the reconcili-ation process,” Eddah says. “They were the victims of the genocide, and now they are the ones in society who are really leading the peace process. And for me, that is amazing. To see how they’ve translated their pain and found strength from broken places is impressive.”

After viewing the show, “Dancing with Many Voices,” an intercultural dance, last year, she went up to the director to congratulate him on the performance. He invited her to join them in 2013.

She recruited students from Rwanda to share their story through the dance

he invited her to do. She, too, per-forms with the students.

“It’s a commitment to them to teach about peace,” Eddah says. “These are the same bodies that were damaged, the same bodies that damaged other bodies, and yet the dance brings all these bodies together to perform for peace.”

During the performance, there is a de-liberate message for audiences. There are four parts to “Twese Hamwe.” It opens with a soft scene of the girls with their grandmother and inviting dances, then shows the entrance of war, a request for forgiveness, and ends with a unified dance. They don’t speak during the performance. Their movements speak for them.

“We wanted to change the picture of our countries,” Sybille says. “People from Africa don’t only know violence. They know love.”

When Inga is performing the dance, her heart thinks of positive flash-backs.

“When I’m dancing, I’m really happy because it reminds me of when we were back home and we learned those movements,” Inga says. “Because I miss home, it kind of brings me back to those memories which are happy memories.”

When Darlene is performing, her focus is on the present and improving today’s image of Africa. She doesn’t think about the war. She admits one will never forget the war and its impact, but, through dance, she hopes to show the unity that resides in her home.

“You can’t forget what happened,” Darlene says. “They killed our people, but we still try to forgive them and build (up) our country.”

An emotional lesson

Sybille says the dance can be very emotional to perform, as it is not a scene from a movie they are acting out. This is their life.

“It’s so emotional because it is something that really happened,” Sybille says. “It may have been a hard

moment, but there’s always hope. We should thank God that we survived, and try to give an example to other people.”

For Mika, performing the dance was cause for great reflection. Dance is such an integral part of African culture that its power to evoke change can be missed.

“Where we come from, we dance a lot. It’s something we take for granted and sometimes we don’t even realize,” Mika says. “When we came here, we were asked to actually do the dance. We had to reflect on what we’re do-ing. This is very important. We’re trying to speak for peace. We’re trying to speak for everything that happened back home…we don’t want them to take away just the negative, but we want them to know that love is still there.”

The students say they have learned so much through this experience.

“It taught us how to be creative and how to express our story and our feelings through dance,” Sybille says. “That’s something we didn’t know.”

While their country’s history is part of the dance’s inspiration, the goal is also to educate beyond war stories. The feedback they’ve received show a range of emotions from silence to tears. Those tears reflect a human connection to their story.

So much is packed into the 10-minute display, but it is rich in content, Eddah says. The story of genocide in Rwanda and Burundi is told in bodies that hold the experience, yet perform beautiful and peaceful dance movements that invite all to imagine peace.

“It’s depicting that, to find peace, we’ve all got to be together, whether you’re a killer or a survivor.”

TaLeiza Calloway is a free-lance journalist in St. Cloud, MN. The Ohio native enjoys writing about diversity issues and spending time with her family. Contact her at [email protected].

TaLeiza’s Tributes



Learning as I Go

The Chain of PainBy Tamera Farrand

my husband and I were going back and forth the other day, “I said - no, you said - no, you said-no, I said.”

As we played our game, I pretend-ed to blow up. “I did not say that…yOU said!”

then we laughed. Getting worked up and angry about little things is so far off our charts. we both remember being in volatile relation-ships based on fighting, anger, and frustration. Although we laughed, it’s sad to think that people remain in these relationships far longer than they should…some, for a life-time. Not just husbands and wives; relationships with friends, family members, and associates can also be explosive.

I constantly try to figure out why we are attracted to and why we stay with people who cause us stress.

my experience and research show that, growing up with erratic relationships means we’re highly likely to seek them out as adults. we become dependent on our discomfort. Because we have so little control, our egos can become inflated: We think the power of our love will change the other person.

No amount of love will change another person.

what we can do is set boundaries: physical, emotional, and spiritual.

write them down, adhere to them,communicate them to the other person. these limitations will restrict contact that causes us distress.

though breaking the chain of pain is not easy, it is necessary in devel-oping healthy relationships with ourselves and those around us.

when I counseled with my clergy about an abusive relationship I was in at the time, he told me, “you need peace.”

he was right…I deserve peace. And so do you!

Tamera publishes CMW with her amazing and wonderful partner, Doug Solinger. “Doug is there when I need him with insight, knowledge and experience. Trust is the foundation of a great partnership. I am grateful for Doug.”

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ning to develop patience and a sense of accomplishment.

Despite the positive effects of these relationships, the need for more volunteers persists.

“The average waiting list is any-where from 170 to 200 kids,” says Ann.

So who are these bigger-than-life superheroes who are needed to come to the rescue of nearly 200 children? While Batman or Wonder Woman may come to mind, more than likely, it is your neighbor, co-worker, or friend. It may even be ordinary you. And the children aren’t asking you to come to their rescue; they’d rather you not. Instead, they would simply like you to pay attention. To listen. To care. To be their friend.

Cases in pointJulie Hentges – 2013 Minnesota Big Sister of the Year

Excuses no more. This mom of four says she used to think she didn’t

have time to volunteer until some-one at BBBS suggested the school-based program, offering the oppor-tunity to meet with her Little while on her lunch break at Kelly Services. Seven years later, Julie has seen her Little take some tremendous strides, and feels he is a part of the family.

Holly LeeIntroduced to BBBS through her employer, Coborn’s, Holly became a Big Sister in 2009. Since that time,

Focused Philanthropy

Compassion Kindness Concernassssiiiiiiiiiiiiiiion

Who was your mentor? Maybe you had more than one. Did they inspire you, provide guidance, introduce you to a new hobby? Did you create fun memories together?

I see my grandma teaching me how to precisely measure flour while baking gingersnap cookies in her fluorescent-lit farmhouse kitchen. I hear my volleyball coach instructing me on the fundamentals of serving the ball in an old gym on a hot fall day.

But it’s more than that, isn’t it? It’s how they made you feel. You trusted them. Looked up to them. They chal-lenged you. Supported you. And look-ing back, you were forever changed by their presence.

So, too, are the children participating in the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Central Minnesota programs. The organization knows exactly what kind of impact a positive role model can have on a child, and it strives to create this kind of lasting effect, every day.

“Research shows that positive rela-tionships between Littles [children]

and Bigs [teen and adult mentors] have a direct im-pact on children’s lives,” says Ann Matvick, Pro-gram Director at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota. “By participating in

our programs, children are less likely to make destructive choices, like use drugs and alcohol, or skip school. They are also more likely to gain confidence about their school perfor-mance and get along better with their families.”

Families from all walks of lifeLike the Little with an incarcerated loved one who, as a result of his Big’s influence, wants to be a Big himself.

Or like the Little who simply needs a consistent and positive role model, and, with the help of his Big, is begin-

Starting Something Big in the Lives of YouthBig Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota

Promotes Mentor RelationshipsBy Crystal Nutt Photos provided by BBBS

ann Matvick

Julie Hentges

{Central Minnesota Women} June/July 2013 29


Focused Philanthropyshe has gained a new perspective, not only on the challenges faced by today’s youth but also the diverse backgrounds that exist right here in central Minn-esota. This experience has motivated her to further her commitment to the organization’s mission by joining the board of directors in January 2013.

Program optionsBigs are asked to commit to volunteer-ing for a minimum of one year, and there are a variety of program options for folks to choose from.

Community-Based Program: Commu-nity-based Bigs spend two to five hours per week with their Little, doing activi-ties in the community. A few activities that community-based matches enjoy are going to movies, grabbing a bite to eat, and going to the park.

School-Based Program: School-based Bigs spend about one hour per week with their Littles at the child’s school. School-based Bigs stay in contact with their Littles via phone or mail over the summer months. A few activities that school-based matches enjoy are play-ing board games, doing arts and crafts, and playing on the school playground.

Non-mentoring opportunitiesBBBS has several other ways in which you might support the organization, such as events, committees, office or operations support, and monetary con-tributions. Here are a few highlights:

Events• 2013 Golf Fore Kids’ Sake – August

5, Territory Golf Club, St. Cloud. For more information, contact Sharon at [email protected],or (320) 253-1616, or visit bbbscentralmn.org.

• 2013 Bowl For Kids’ Sake – October 4 - 5 and October 11, South-way Bowl, St. Cloud. For more information, contact Shari at [email protected], or (320) 258-4511. Register online at firstgiving.com/BBBS-CM.

• 2014 Magic Moments Ball – April 11, St. Cloud River’s Edge Convention Center. For more infor-

School districts currently served in-clude Becker, Big Lake, Foley, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, St. Cloud, and Upsala.

Site-Based Program: Site-based Bigs spend about one hour per week with their Little at a designated site in the community. A few activities that site-based matches enjoy are playing board games, doing arts and crafts, and playing sports. Current sites include Bel Clare Clubhouse and Boys & Girls Club.

2012 Golf Fore Kid’s Sake

Birdhouses decorated by friends of BBBS

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Focused Philanthropy

mation, contact Shari at [email protected], or (320) 258-4511. Register online at magicmomentsball.com.

DonationsOftentimes, youth-serving mentor or-ganizations get overlooked by donors. But keep in mind that there are costs involved with the screening process, ongoing support, various activities, etc. To donate, visit bbbscentralmn.org.

Call to actionAre you ready to positively impact a child, forever? Contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Minnesota today at (320) 253-1616, or visit bbbscen-tralmn.org.

Crystal Nutt is a Develop-ment Manager at WACOSA and serves on the BBBS public relations advisory committee. Contact her at [email protected].

about Big Brothers Big Sisters of central Minnesota

Since 1969, Big Brothers Big Sisters of central minnesota has operated under

the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life. As a member of the nation’s larg-

est donor and volunteer-supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters of central minnesota makes meaningful, monitored matches

between teen or adult volunteers – Bigs – and children – Littles – ages 5

through 14 (once matched the match can continue until the child turns 18), in communities across a five-county

service area, including Stearns, Benton, Sherburne, morrison, and the northern tier of wright county. BBBS develops

positive relationships that have a direct and lasting effect on the lives of young

people.

2012 Magic Moment Ball

http://communitygiving.org/WOS/2013

http://www.facebook.com/uniqueportrait

a guy can’t go golfing, he can’t go golfing. The brother from anoth-er mother is not won-dering why he’s not important enough, or what he did wrong to make his bud not want to go golfing. But when emotions get involved, we guys become scared and don’t want to say anything that’ll make things worse. Because we all know anything we say can and will be used against us…FOREVER!! So we run and find other seemingly mindless tasks to work on when things get uncomfortable. Many times, the emotions come quickly and require a very speedy transition that might seem impulsive and abrupt.

Wow...I am sweating right now. I need to go sweep my garage…or something. Talk to ya soon.

By now, you’re pretty familiar with what goes on here – that it’s my job to give you ladies a comical insight into a man’s way of thinking.

Maybe some of you have already figured this one out, but I’m here to tell you that a man’s brain is the most complex, yet simple, life processor to be found anywhere on Planet Earth – maybe even the entire universe! For example, if a guy asks another guy a question, it’s gonna be pretty simple and straightforward. It can normally be answered with a basic yes or no. Like this:

“Wanna go golfing?”

“Yes!!”

“Have time to go golfing today?”

“No!!”

In which the one who asked the ques-tion would just follow protocol and say, “That’s cool.” Part of the Bro Code is to keep it simple and straight-forward, like I already said. Efficiency is very important to a man!

But maybe you ladies have noticed this – when you’re talking to a man and emotions get involved, we panic. That’s the ol’ Deer-in-the-Headlights Look we give you when we say, “Huh??”

Most men are like mascara...we run at the first sign of emotion. See, when


what’s He Thinking?

Doug Vagle and his wife Peggy live in Sartell. They have three children, Abby, Nathaniel, and Sophie. Doug is pastor at The Waters Church in Sartell. www.thewaterschurch.net.

By Doug Vagle

HONORIFIC!By Natalie Miller RotundaOur own doug vagle had unexpected visitors one morning recently. “A couple of ladies came in from the [Sartell] chamber of commerce, carrying balloons, and they gave me a certificate,” he says. That unexpected surprise was followed by a bigger one: he had been named Sartell chamber of commerce’s citizen of the year. cmw account rep, melissa mumm, nominated Pastor doug. here’s part of her nominating letter:

“doug, wife Peggy and three children moved to Sartell 5-1/2 years ago with a dream to start a church for those families that felt church was irrelevant. In September 2007, that dream came true with their first service held at mulligan’s event center here in Sartell. Over the first three years, they grew to over 300 people attending the two services each Sunday.” they have since built an auditorium that accommodates 300.

… “doug is known for his kind compassionate heart. what people love most about him is how real he is when he preaches.”

congratulations, doug, from the cMw Team!

Visit St. Joseph

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Visit St. Joseph


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title

ARTS

June3-7: Theatre Camp – Charlotte’s Web, Sauk Rapids-Rice Middle School Community Arts Center, 9:30 to 11:45 a.m., M-F. Fee: $57. Info: (320) 258-2787.

3-7: Theatre Camp – Doro-thy Meets Alice, ages 6 to 8, Sar-tell High School, 12:30 to 2:45 p.m. M-F. Fee: $57. Info: (320) 258-2787.

6: S.C.R.A.P.S. (St. Cloud Recycled Arts Project Shop), 3 to 6 p.m., Seberger Park, 2001 2nd St. N. Free and open to public. Info: (320) 650-3148.

7: Ballroom Dance Party, Studio Jeff, 701 W. St. Germain, Ste 201. Group dance, 7 p.m.; dance party, 8 to 10 p.m. All skill levels welcome. Adults, $10, students, $5. Info: (320) 266-4137.

9,23: Music in the Gardens, Munsing-

er-Clemens, Granite City Brass, 3 p.m. Free concert – and dollar root beer floats. Info: munsingerclemens.com/events/music-in-the-gardens

10-26: Robert E. Culligan – A Sense of Place, SJU Art Center. Free admis-sion. Hours: Daily – Noon to 6 p.m., Thu., noon to 9 p.m. Info. (320) 363-5777.

14: Downtown Art Crawl, 5 to 9 p.m. Free parking after 6 p.m. Info: art-crawlstcloud.com

15: The BoDeans, 7:30 p.m., Para-mount. Info/Tickets: (320) 259-5463,

or paramountarts.org.

17-21: Theatre Camp – Much Ado About Nothing, ages

12 to 18, CSB Bene-dicta Arts Center, Colman Theater (Black Box), 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., M-F. Fee: $175. Info: (320) 258-2787.

17-21: Theater Camp – Newsies, Sauk

Rapids-Rice Middle School Community Arts

Center, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fee: $195. Info: (320) 258-2787.

20: S.C.R.A.P.S. (St. Cloud Recycled Arts Project Shop), 3 to 6 p.m., Se-berger Park, 2001 2nd St. N. Free and open to public. Info: (320) 650-3148.

20-30: Guys & Dolls, Paramount. Per-formance Times/Info/Tickets: para-mountarts.org, or (320) 259-5463.

21: Okee Dokee Brothers - Summer Solstice Concert, St. John’s Arbore-tum. Info/Tickets: (320) 363-3163, or csbsju.edu/arboretum.

27: Lemonade Concert & Art Fair, SCSU, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call (320) 308-2205 for event times and loca-tions.

July9-10: Don Williams, 7 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. Paramount. Tickets/info: (320) 259-5463, or paramountarts.org

14,28: Music in the Gardens, Munsing-er-Clemens, L’unica String Quartet, 3 p.m. Free concert – and dollar root beer floats. Info: munsingerclemens.com

15-19: Theater Camp – The Jungle Book, ages 8 to 14. Fee: $87. 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Info: (320) 258-2787.

15-19: Theater Camp – Dorothy Meets Alice, ages 6 to 8. Sauk Rapid-Rice Middle School Community Arts Cen-ter, 12:30 to 2:45, M-F. Fee: $57. Info: (320) 258-2787.

18: Art Fair in the Gardens, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Munsinger-Clemens Gardens. Art for sale, food and beverages for sale, free music, and more at this free event. Info at munsingerclemens.com, or call Mary Ann, (320) 743-2663.

18: S.C.R.A.P.S. (St. Cloud Recycled Arts Project Shop), 3 to 6 p.m., Se-berger Park, 2001 2nd St. N. Free and open to public. Info: (320) 650-3148.

25-27: The Wedding Singer, Para-mount. All performances, 7:30 p.m. Tickets/Info: (320) 259-5463, or paramountarts.org.

COMMUNITY

JuneSt. Cloud Farmers Market, Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon, Bremer Bank parking lot (downtown). Info: stcloudfarmers-market.com.

by Natalie Miller Rotunda

Steppin' Out Local Arts and Local Community Events

St cloud is dedicated to building a diverse community through the arts. Art crawl St cloud expands the arts by taking it to the streets and

into the local shops to provide downtown visitors with an engaging artistic experi-

ence. meet your friends, stroll through historic downtown

and buy some great art.

Art Crawl St. Cloud

June 14 5 pm • 9 pm

Downtown SC


Steppin’ Outjust feet and wheels. Fun, healthy activities till 4 p.m. Info: (320) 257-8601.

July3,10,17,24,31: Summertime by George, Lake George, 5 to 9 p.m. Live bands, local food vendors, artisans, fun for the whole family! Info: stcloudrotary.org.

3-4: Church of St. Joseph Parish Festival presents Joe Town Rocks Festival, St. Joseph. Hear the Fabulous Armadillos perform in concert. Info: Joe Townrocks.org.

4: 66th Annual St. Cloud Fireworks! Hester and Wilson Parks. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m. Military members, vets, and your

families, call for reserved seating, (320) 650-3175.

7: 33rd Annual Tour of Saints, “a heavenly little ride,” College of St. Benedict. Check in, 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Info: Michael Doyle, (320) 266-7579, or [email protected]

20-21: St. Cloud Airshow, St. Cloud Regional Airport. See the Blue Angels! Info: stcloudairshow.com

20-21: Thomsens’ 17th Annual Summer Gardens Tour, a self-guided excursion through 8 beautiful, unique private gardens in the St. Cloud area. Info/tickets:

tgreenhouses.com.

25: Halfway Jam, Royalton. Premier Rock &

Roll festival! Info: halfwayjam.com

30-Aug 4: Benton County Fair, Benton County Fairgrounds. An annual tradition! Info: bentonfairmn.

com

enjoy a St cloud summer tradition. visit over 100 booths featuring fine pottery, watercolor, garden

art, jewelry, glass work, photography, clothing and more. check out the numerous food vendors, Little Lemons Art Park, farmers

market, and relax at the end of the day with an outdoor performance

from the St cloud Symphony Orchestra.

Lemonade Concert and Art Fair

June 27 11 am • 9 pm

SCSU Campus

celebrate the fourth of July holiday at central Minnesota’s largest firework display launched from a barge on the mississippi River. hester and wilson Park offer a family friendly en-

vironment for enjoying the entire day including the St cloud municipal

Band concert 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm.

St. Cloud Area Firework Spectacular

July 4 Hester Park & Wilson Park


St. Joseph Farmers Market, Fridays, 3 to 6 p.m. through September 13. Info: stjosephfarmersmarket.com.

Memories in Miniature Exhibit, Stearns History Museum through 12/31/2014. Members: Free admis-sion. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., noon to 5. Closed holi-days. Info: (320)253-8424.

7-8: Sartell Summerfest. Fun for the entire family! [email protected].

7-9: Birding Bonanza Weekend at Audubon Center of the North Woods (located 90 miles from St. Cloud). Info/Register: audubon-center.org

8: Lake Wobegone Trail 14th Annual Caramel Roll Ride, starts at Albany Trailhead, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sign up: lakewobegontrail.com/events#CRR

9-15: Waite Park’s 49th Annual Family Fun Fest. So much to see and do! Info: ci.waitepark.mn.us.

12,19,26: Summertime by George, Wednesdays, 5 to 9 p.m. at Lake George. Live bands, local food vendors, artisans, fun for the whole family. Info: stcloudrotary.org

20-22: Rapids River Days, Sauk Rapids’s annual family festival. Parade and so much more. Info: ci.saukrapids.mn.us

22: Kids Club Nature Day at Thomsens Greenhouse, Avon. Kids take a learn-ing nature hike and participate in a craft activity afterwards. Modest fee. Reservations preferred. www.tgreen-houses.com, or call (320) 363-7275.

27-30: Granite City Days, St. Cloud’s annual family festival, including Lemonade Arts Fair, and more, more, more! Info: www.granitecitydays.com

29: Downtown Walk About follows the Granite City Days’ Parade. No cars,

http://www.rejuvmedical.com

Heather Rotunda has been actively exploring the world of food for the past nine years and is at work on her first e-book. Find her at [email protected]

and http://pinterest.com/sorrowfulflower/

Heather, you did it again! I am a pizzaholic and this was delicious!! So unique with the sour cream! The cookies and spread and sandwich were

also amazing. The spread is very versatile and tasty! I would love it on my morning toast! Good job!

Sue Dropp Says!

title


Combine flour, brown sugar, baking soda, and spices in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add butter and mix until the crumbs are the size of small peas; add the milk and combine until the mixture comes together. Transfer dough to plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a cookie sheet or line with parchment paper or a nonstick mat. On a lightly floured surface, roll out cookie dough to ¼ inch. Cut with floured cookie cutters and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 8 minutes. Cool on baking sheet a couple of minutes before remov-ing to a cooling rack.

To make cookie butter: Crush eight cookies in a food processor until the crumbs are as fine as possible. Add 2 Tablespoons canola oil and 1 Tablespoon sugar and process until combined. In the top of a double boiler, melt 1/3 cup white chocolate chips with 2 Tablespoons honey and 6 Tablespoons milk. When the mixture is smooth, stir in the cookie crumb mixture. Transfer to a lidded con-tainer and store in the refrigerator; mixture will thicken as it cools.


Speculoos

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a baking sheet. Toss pota-toes with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; spread out on prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15 minutes, turn potatoes, and bake another 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, mustard, and honey.

Slice the chicken breasts into strips and divide evenly between the sub rolls; top with baked fries and some of the honey mustard sauce. Serve immediately.chicken Mitraillette

• 3 chicken breasts, baked or poached• 2 potatoes, peeled and cut into fries• 1 Tablespoon olive oil• Salt and pepper to taste

• 4 soft sub buns• 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard• 1 teaspoon honey

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place pizza crust on a baking sheet. Spread sour cream evenly over the crust, going almost all the way to the edge. Sprinkle onions over sour cream, followed by the bacon and, finally, the cheese. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and just beginning to brown in spots. Allow to cool a few minutes before cutting.Flammekeuch

1 pre-baked 10 inch pizza crust½ cup sour cream½ cup diced onions8 slices bacon, cooked,

drained and coarsely chopped2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

1 1/3 cup flour¾ cup brown sugar, firmly packed1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon cinnamon½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

¼ teaspoon ground ginger¼ teaspoon ground cloves10 Tablespoons cold butter, cubed4 Tablespoons milk

Food explorer


Snapshots!

912 Regency Building • St. Cloud(across from Paramount Theater)

(320) 290-5909Kelly Zaske, Proprietor

[email protected]

Open: every weekend, Thu./Fri., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Starting June 1st, Good Patina’s kelly Zaske and J~whitty creation’s Joy Landeen-Shea (former business neighbors in Sauk Rapids) are combining their businesses into one retail location at downtown St. cloud’s Regency Building. A short 13 days later, they’ll take part in the downtown Art crawl. kelly will be the store’s featured artist.

these two entrepreneurs have created something unique and offer a great shopping experience for old and new customers. each shop’s merchandise complements the other’s, all of it to be intertwined throughout the store, with just one checkout station. Both shops will retain their own identities, as before.

Speaking of unique. Not to overdo, but it is the word that flashes to mind at the mention of Good Patina. Not ordinary home décor and furnishings, but unique home decor and furnishings. Some that are french farmhouse style. “Not everything is old and rickety,” kelly says. Not everything is repurposed. her home-centered boutique offers plaques, and kelly builds time-worn appeal into her jewelry organizers. fall in love with even more must-haves. People tell kelly that Good Patina is “so different…so cool.” what you find at Good Patina reflects Kelly’s tastes. we’re back to that word again: unique.

14 College Ave. N. • St. Joseph(320) 363-7900 • Joetownpizza.com

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., 7 days a week

do people who must eat gluten-free love pizza? Absolutely yes!! If that’s you, then you’ll love this good news: Joe town Pizza has you covered. Order their 11-inch pizza – the only gluten-free size they have right now – and eat healthy!

matt Roquette recently took over ownership of this delicious eatery. Just hearing him tick off all the foods they serve brings on immediate hunger.

they have pizzas, of course, but what if you’re in the mood for something Other than Pizza? Order a ham and Swiss sandwich, a french dip, or BLt; order a specialty burger, or flatbread sandwich (matt’s fave), feast on a half sub for just you, or share a whole sub with your lunch buddy or buddyette. Joe town’s wraps are so good they’ve put them on special for $5.99 and that includes choice of fries (waffle, curly, regular, or onion rings). Joe town Pizza and Grill is a popular lunch-time spot, so matt adds extra staff to make sure you eat hearty and get back to work on time. And kids – they have their own menu: corn dogs, mac and cheese, chicken nugs. eat in – there’s seating for 35 -- or carry out. Or have your pizza or fabulous sandwich delivered. whichever works best for you. matt does it your way!

SnapShots!These small snapshots feature businesses we’re pretty certain you’ll want to know about.

By Natalie Miller Rotunda

http://mycmcu.org/careers


http://www.cedarcreekchiropractic.com

http://www.artcrawlstcloud.com

http://www.redefiningseniorliving.me

http://www.minnesotapersonalinjury.com

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