Stillwater Living May 2014

MAY 2014

HELLOSpring

River Market RefreshHow To: Healthy Soil

Meet the Pole Barn Studio

Prepare to Meet your Maker

“One of America’s Most Influential Winemakers.

She is now regarded as one of California’s

premier makers of Pinot Noir.” Nick Passmore,

Forbes.com

Internationally acclaimed, James Beard Award Winner, Merry Edwards, Vintner

Lakeview Foundation’s sixth annual Benefitto support the Prescription Assistance program.

Live Auction, Great Food, Music and Fine Wine

Winemaker’s ForumThursday, June 5, 2014

6:00–9:00 p.m. Stillwater Public Library Terrace

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Join us at the Lowell Inn’s Garden Room for a special evening with Laura Sobiech and her book, Fly A Little Higher. Call today to reserve your copy. Books go on sale in early May. Discussion and signing the evening of the event.

>Friday, May 30 6:30 pm

217 North Main Street • Stillwater651-430-3385

www.valleybookseller.com

We’ve been voted BEST veterinary clinic

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May 2014

Departments 4 6 814

16

26

EDITOR’S NOTE

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

MAINSTREETNews and Views from the Valley

STUDY ABROAD Part TwoWilderness As A ClassroomBy Emily Gould

TERRA FIRMAIt’s Alive! The Scoop On SoilBy Claudia Morgan

CORNER TABLEA Friendly Conversation WithAngela Mens-Eastman

FeaturesRIVER MARKET REFRESHBY STAFFAN SWANSON, N.C.F.P.18 MEET THE POLE BARN STUDIO -

POWERFUL SISTERHOODBY MICHELLE KIEPER22

contentscontents

Cover photo by Laurie Schneider

I think the Canadian wordsmith is onto something, this is the time of year to roll up one’s sleeves and dig in the yard. How long we have waited to breathe the fresh, warm air and soak in the warmth of the sun – I am feeling like it is long overdue.

Our first department, Study Abroad, brings us the second of four journal entries from Emily Gould. Emily is a SAHS grad and current Bennie studying in South Africa – check it out.

Terra Firma turns its focus to healthy soil. I’d imagine that Claudia Morgan could write about a wide variety of topics but she has chosen to keep her focus local and actionable. The simple steps one can take to improve our local environment are a great reminder to us all that we can and should take action.

Have you heard much about the River Market’s renovation? Our take is that a purveyor of local foods should, every decade or so, do what it can to be current and energy efficient. Rather than hype the benefits of upgrading the store, we decided to take the approach of a somewhat precise outline, detailing what one can expect to see happen in the coming months.

The Pole Barn Studio opened a few months ago with a small amount of fanfare and under a rather heavy load of skepticism. Most of the skepticism we’ve heard comes from middle aged and older women – some of the same folks who have long encouraged others to keep an open mind and gather facts before shaping opinions.

Corner Table returns this issue to meet and talk with Angela Mens-Eastman, the city of Stillwater’s new Event Coordinator. She brings a wealth of experience to the city and I’d imagine we will no longer suffer from horribly managed festivals and events in Lowell Park.

Enjoy the warmth; lord knows we’ve earned it.

Real Good Then


VOLUME 10, NUMBER 5 MAY 2014

Peter McNiffPublisher and Editor [email protected]

Copy EditorMaureen McDonough

EMILY GOULDMICHELLE KIEPERCLAUDIA MORGAN

STAFFAN SWANSON

LAURIE SCHNEIDERLaurie Schneider Photograpy

STEVE (SHOWCASE) SKALMAN

HAWK

JEFF BAGGOT

editor’s note

Copyright 2014Watershed Publishing, Inc. all rights reserved.

Stillwater Living is published byWatershed Publishing, Inc.

P.O. Box 2302 Stillwater, MN 55082651-430-3143 [email protected]

MAY 2014

HELLOSpring

River Market RefreshHow To: Healthy Soil

Meet the Pole Barn Studio

Julie Bourman

Peter McNiff

Curtis Dale

In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt. ~Margaret Atwood


SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2014 • Noon - 4pm

PurchaseTickets Online

www.BrewersBazaar.com

A Beer Tasting Event in Downtown Stillwater Aboard the Avalon Riverboat

8th

Annual

letters to the editor

The Bees Are In Trouble – Indeed!

I was so excited to see a bee on the cover of your April issue because I thought we would be learning more about the issues facing pollinators. What we might learn from Laurie Schneider’s next exhibit could be informative and instructive – one can only hope.

Bravo to Claudia Morgan for her column “Terra Firma” (clever name by the way) because she dove headfirst into the topic of neonicitinoids. I had no idea that the plants I put in the yard every spring were causing the pollinators problems. I found the list of resources at the end of her column to be very helpful – thank you.

Betty J.Lake Elmo

CSA Listings

Thanks for giving us a listing of nearby CSA options in the April issue. Is there any way we could learn more about the function of these options? I’d love to know what exactly these farms provide their members each week and throughout the season.

Perhaps you could survey the members of various CSA farms and then share the results with us. That kind of information would be enormously helpful to the skeptics among us.

Sincerely,Jane P.Stillwater


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The Good Stuff


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How Salt Therapy Works:Salt is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and helps with mucus clearance by decreasing the thickness and allowing it to be expelled. The Salt Room, simulates the effects of salt mines and brings a once inaccessible, natural, healing element from the earth to the doorsteps of our community.

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NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE VALLEY


mainstreet

orld War II veterans Bob Clemens and Vince Parker will be the featured speakers at Stillwater’s Memorial Day Ceremony, to be held at the

Stillwater Veterans Memorial located at Third and Pine Streets, starting at 11:00 a.m. on Memorial Day, May 26, 2014.

This is the tenth anniversary of the Veterans Memorial, which was constructed with private donations in 2004.

A native of White Bear Lake, Clemens enlisted in the Army Air Force in 1942 at age 18. He flew 50 bombing missions over Europe as an aerial navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress. When the war ended, he had been scheduled for a tour in the Pacific as a cruise control officer aboard a B-29.

Originally from Ortonville, Parker served as an 18-year-old tail gunner aboard a B-17, surviving several close calls and a horrific crash in Italy in 1945 that cemented the

bonds among his crew in a way that only combat can.The Memorial Day Ceremony also will include musical selections, the placement of wreaths by representatives of the Armed Forces, and VFW and Legion tributes. Names of service members whose pavers have been installed since Veterans’ Day will be read, and the most recent Minnesota casualties of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will be recognized. The ceremony will take place rain or shine, with refreshments following. Limited seating will be available.

The Stillwater Veterans Memorial honors veterans, living and deceased, with engraved pavers and a “Wall of Honor” which lists the names of service members who attended Stillwater area schools and lost their lives in time of war, from the Civil War to the present.

Pavers are available. For more information, visit www.stillwaterveteransmemorial.org or call 651-344-6245.

Veterans Memorial 10th AnniversaryW

Photo

by D

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Parke

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In 1962, President John F. Kennedy declared May 15 National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and the calendar week that has May 15 within it has become National Police Week. This week allows us to collectively focus our attention in order to honor our nation’s Law Enforcement personel. The week is marked with several special events and activities that honor both the living and fallen Law Enforcement professionals.

National Correctional Officers’ Week In 1984, President Ronald Reagan created National Correctional Officers’ Week. The first full week in May has since been recognized as National Correctional Officers’ Week to honor the work of correctional officers and correctional personnel nationwide.

Law Enforcement Memorial Day ServiceEach year, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office hosts a Law Enforcement Memorial Day service at the Historic Courthouse in Stillwater at noon. The date of the event is May 15. At the event, Peace Officers and Correction Officers honor those who have fallen in the line of duty. This event is open to the public so please come and join us!

Law Enforcement Memorial Day

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Months ago birdhouses, dozens of birdhouses, were distributed to artists throughout the valley by Art Reach St. Croix. The idea it seems, is to begin with the same raw material and... well, that’s where the artistry comes in to play. Each participating artist is free to “complete” the birdhouse in their own way. Last year this event yielded some very fun and unique, not to mention creative, birdhouses and this year should be even better.

Supporting the arts is a fun experience and this birdhouse auction will not disappoint, be prepared to outbid your fellow attendees in both live and silent auctions while taking in the live music. The Barley Jacks Trio blend of original bluegrass, Celtic, and roots played with acrobatic skill and soul. They sing original vocals and play jaw dropping instrumentals in a spirit of excitement and fun – you don’t want to miss this event.

Thursday, May 22Grand Banquet Hall6:00 to 9:00 PM$25 in advance, $35 for procrastinators651-439-1465

Flock to the Birdhouse Auction

A r t R e a c h S t . C r o i x

BirdhouseAUCTION


Every spring many in the Valley talk about this being “the year” that they get out on the river for a paddle. Not everyone has a canoe or kayak of their own and that turns out to be one of the primary obstacles of not spending some quality time on the river.

Eric is a man with a plan. If you can find your way to Interstate Park in either WI or MN, then he can put you and your crew in the water. You have a handful of planned trips to choose from and you have the option of either canoe or kayak, single kayak or double kayak.

If you are feeling like a total novice, Eric and his people will give you all the pointers needed to make a safe and fun voyage. On the other end of the scale, if you want a sea kayak or a speed racer canoe – you’ll find them in stock. Take a look at his web site; if his canoes are good enough for Bill Murray and his buddies, they’re probably good enough for you too. 651-270-1561www.ericscanoerental.com

Come Paddle With Eric

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The 5K, 10K and 1/2 Marathon all start at 8:00 a.m. at St. Croix Bluffs Regional Park, 2 miles north of the Nature Center on County Road 21. Arrive early, park and register at Carpenter Nature Center by 7:30 a.m., then enjoy a chauffeured ride to the starting line. Water, portable toilets, route maps, starting instructions and complimentary clothing check available at the start. All races finish in front of the Nature Center’s interpretive center. Race shirts and refreshments provided

at the finish. Age classes will be 12 & under, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70 & up – this is literally for everyone!

Awards given to overall winners of each race and race sweatshirts will be awarded to each CLASS WINNER in the 5K, 10K and ½ Marathon. Medals will be awarded to all half marathon finishers. The overall male and female winner (ages 12 and under) of the 2K Fun Run will receive a race sweatshirt. Results posted and awards presented at ceremonies 30-45 minutes after each race.

Proceeds From This Event Will Benefit Environmental Education At Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center This event will be held rain or shine. Bring your extended families, friends, and spectators. Oh, and also bring a blanket and a picnic so you can spend the day on the banks of the St. Croix River. Carpenter Nature Center strives to make this a “zero waste” event – so do your part too.

www.CarpenterNatureCenter.orgwww.frontrunnerusa.com.

Apple Blossom Race – the Race of the Decade

What great service! From quality workmanship to the dependable, prompt service it is clear we found the right security company to perform our security needs. Amy and her team are always looking out for our best interest. We really enjoy working with ISSI and I would recommend them to anyone.

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Abby BrownReveals Her

StoryHere is what Abby has to say about her new book. What about the hair down there? When you see chemo patients in hats and scarves, I bet you’ve never really wondered. I never did, until my own hair began leaving my body after my first chemo infusion. With additional treatments and the passing of time, the skin of a cancer patient is smooth as a polished agate from the shores of Lake Superior. There aren’t any nubbins to be found anywhere.

Writing is something I have always enjoyed but a busy lifestyle as a teacher and mother hasn’t allowed time for even as much as letter-writing. Being on a medical leave during my cancer treatment brought my fingers to the keyboard. The intention was to share with family and friends how my days were going. I didn’t enjoy the cancer treatment, but I found joy in applying the writing strategies I teach my students for effective narrative stories. There’s more to it than simply saying, “I feel like crud.”

The upcoming book, to be released on my 55th birthday, is the result of a desire to let others know what a cancer patient endures. This book is a PG-13 version of a cancer story, the title makes my family squirmy, but it’s real life. Join Abby and friends at the Valley Bookseller for an author hosted book signing event.

Friday, May 16 at 6:30 PMValley Bookseller



study abroad

This new department is intended as a journal of Emily Gould’s observations while studying in South Africa. For most college students, getting off campus and crossing the ocean to study in a foreign land is the pinnacle of their college career. We expect three or four journal entries from Emily before she pulls her experience together in a feature story.

hen I told people I was going to South Africa, the first thing most of them asked was, “Do you get to go on a safari?” I’ll even admit that when I first

heard about the study abroad program to South Africa, one of my immediate thoughts was about going on a safari. I think it comes from watching the Lion King so many times.

The first stop was Addo Elephant National Park. Addo is the third largest national park in South Africa and is home to over 500 elephants, lions, buffalo, zebra, antelope and more. Our group was loaded into a bus and as we drove on the winding roads through the park trying to spot large brown lumps amidst the thick green bushes and trees.

Suddenly, we rounded a corner and saw a beautiful teenage male elephant right in the middle of the road up the hill. We

slowly approached the elephant in our bus and came to a stop about 30 feet from it. The elephant didn’t mind our presence at all; he just went about his day, grazing on some grass for a snack.

I could have watched that elephant for hours. At one point, he was only about 15 feet from our bus. He was so gentle, wrapping his trunk around patches of grass, plucking it from the ground and slowly bringing it to his mouth to munch on. However, after awhile we decided to move on and explore the rest of the park.

There were several splendid elephant sightings on this day. We were fortunate enough to see a whole elephant family. We silently watched as the baby elephant hid to the left of its mother with only its head visible underneath the mother’s belly. We also saw several elephants tramping around through the bush and drinking from the watering hole.

Our next stop was Schotia Private Game Reserve, a park neighboring Addo. Our safari there was exactly like I imagined it would be. We got to ride in open land rovers on a dirt path

By Emily Gould

W

Wilderness As Classroom part two


that wound its way through the green, open land surrounded by bluffs and mountains. We were fortunate enough to see more elephants as well as lions, a variety of antelope, warthogs, giraffes and hippos.

One of my favorite animal sightings was of the only two rhinos in the park. They were incredible to see close up, but their story is even more incredible. These rhinos had their horns cut off by poachers and were left tranquilized. If one of the Schotia staff hadn’t found them, they would have died.

Luckily, the rhinos are resilient and continue to live. Their horns will grow back in about six years, as they are made from keratin which is the same material as our fingernails. That detail is what gets me. Poachers are willing to sacrifice the life of an animal so they can make money on something made from the same material as our fingernails.

To see animals in their natural habitat gives you a better understanding of their life. Just like us, they snack, sleep and have families. To see such a wide variety of animals in their natural habitat was a true testament to their uniqueness and highlighted the importance of their conservation.

Writer Wallace Stegner says, “We simply need that wild country available to us, even if we never do more than drive to its edge and look in. For it can be a means of reassuring ourselves of our sanity as creatures, a part of the geography of hope.” This quote came alive for me on my excursion to Addo and Schotia, and I know it will come alive again when I return to the pleasures of the beautiful St. Croix River. Emily Gould is a graduate of Stillwater High School and a Communication Major at the College of St. Benedict.


terra firma

hat is completely familiar yet largely unknown, but sustains virtually every life form on earth?

If you guessed soil, give yourself a star!

Another fun fact: There are more living organisms in one tablespoon of soil than there are human beings on earth!

We treat it like dirt, but there are some very good reasons to give our precious soil a lot more respect—like the fact that everything we eat can be traced back to soil. Or that healthy soil equals healthy water and both sustain life. We would not exist without either water or soil. It stores carbon, purifies water and regulates atmosphere: it provides the ultimate ecosystem service.

It all goes back several millennia when this “living skin” of our planet was in another form. Soil began as rock, and through eons of wind and water, it slowly transformed, creating what we know today as soil.

As we know from our history lessons, the dust storms that removed so much topsoil from the Great Plains all the way to the east coast were a result of opening up wide swaths of land without using buffer strips or wind blocks. These

storms resulted in the loss of tons of valuable soil from some of the best farmland in the country. Franklin D. Roosevelt, our president during some of these events, was quoted as saying, “A nation that destroys its soil, destroys itself.”

Unfortunately, some of those lessons have not been learned. According to soil scientists, as much as one third of our soil has been lost from arable land since 1960.

The good news is that soil is resilient and can be rebuilt, but it is a process that takes several years. The big chemical companies have used synthetic fertilizers to add nutrients to the soil, but this use of heavy metals in our soil has lowered the nutritional value of the nation’s food supply. In contrast, a sustainable approach creates “living soils,” which make for food with higher nutrient content.

In other words, the foundation of good health is really the soil in which our food is grown. Respecting this valuable part of our earth and treating it with care can be a big part of the solution to some of the most pressing environmental problems we face today.

We are all stewards of the land. It is up to us to know and consider the far-reaching effects of the biology of our soils

By Claudia Morgan, Photo by Laurie Schneider

W

Sustainability- Part 2 of 4It's Alive! The Scoop On Soil


so that we can grow healthy plants without ever resorting to chemical warfare. Maximizing the good microorganisms in soil helps strengthen plants so they can resist disease and insect infestations.

Five tips for home gardeners:

1. Follow the rules of organic gardening. Build your soils by rotating your crops from season to season. Make sure that certain plant families are not planted in the same location more than every three years to help maintain a healthy balance of nutrients, organic matter and soil microorganisms. Break the disease cycle and prevent the loss of nutrients in the soil. 2. Avoid synthetic fertilizers. Many healthy alternatives such as Espoma organic products can be found at most good garden centers.

3. Get back to basics. Compost your yard and kitchen waste in bins or piles in your yard and create a steady supply of organic matter to add to your gardens every season. If that is not an option where you live, consider buying organic manure and compost and adding some every season to your gardens and pots.

4. Support organic farming. Buy a share or partial share in an organic CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and buy locally grown vegetables and meats from reliable farmers who understand and practice good soil conservation methods.

5. Share your knowledge. Help your children and neighbors to perpetuate these positive steps toward protecting our already- endangered planet. And above all, enjoy the process of growing and sharing food that comes from nutrient-rich soil. You will taste the difference!

Claudia Morgan has been in the green industry for over 20 years and is a certified Nursery and Landscape Professional. She co-owns Gardenside Landscaping.

Resources:A Garden Primer by Eliot Coleman, a well-respected organic gardener who devised a foolproof rotation method after decades of research and trials. His books are readily available at libraries and bookstores.

www.localharvest.org www.mda.state.mn.us/food/minnnesotagrown

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Northwoods golf experience, 5 minutes from the lift bridge!


By Staffan Swanson, NCFPPhotos by Aimee Christenson

Refresh the River Market

love the River Market. The staff is welcoming, helpful and pleasant – every time. The foods are as locally sourced as possible in every food category found within the market. One fall I had a solid “stop and chat” with an

apple orchard owner who was in the market on a Saturday just to see how things were going. You know, I feel better about my food and maybe even a little more connected to it after that conversation. It’s uncommon in today’s world to spend time with the man who picked the apples and hand carried the bushel baskets to the retailer. I’m in. This is not the typical grocery store experience – and, I’m in.


Over time I noticed the staff working with vendors in many River Market departments - local folks who, like Charlie of Whistling Well Farms, really care about the product. Even in the frozen section you’ll find food made with love, er should I say LUV. Susanna and Ilya are a Stillwater couple that wanted to make great ice cream without sugar. Mission accomplished with delicious results, LUV ice cream is awesome. The examples are endless; suffice it to say that the River Market is a “of the people, for the people” gem.

The other day I noticed an architectural rendering of a newly designed, sleeker version of the River Market standing on an easel near the entrance. I’m not a big fan of change so naturally my initial reaction was less than positive toward the remodel. This market has charm; even the refrigeration cases invoke a nostalgia that I find

comforting. As this old community co-op is currently configured, I can find everything just great. I dug into the “I don’t need no stinking remodel” attitude for a few trips to my favorite market.

Again, over time I noticed the staff stocking fresh foods on the old shelves. The deli staff seems to have an unspoken square dance type of routine worked out as they navigate the small kitchen area. While I do like the old school design of the refrigeration cases, upon further reflection they look as if they were built during the LBJ administration. And I think I say “excuse me” to folks that I’ve neither offended nor interrupted more often than in any other part of my daily life. It just feels like the social norm as I navigate blind corners and narrow isles - “excuse me” - seems fair warning to folks that I may bump into them even if I do so with a light touch.

So, what’s this about the remodel then? Can we maintain our connection to the locally grown, high quality foods while getting some modern traffic flow through the isles and checkout? Can we get a larger offering from the deli when I’m in a hurry? How about the lighting? Can something be done about that?

Yes, yes, yes and yes. If I would have slowed down enough to read what the good folks who manage the River Market had been sharing with us I would know that all of this is included in the plan for the future River Market. It has been fourteen years since the market opened its doors downtown. Other than automated entrance and exit doors not much has changed in that time.

When I asked the River Market’s marketing and membership guy, Andre Bessette, how they developed the plan he was quick to reply. “We visited other area co-ops to get ideas and inspiration. Nearly every other co-op in the metro area has undergone or is undergoing a project similar to River Market, though many are even larger in scope.”

His story checks out. It seems that Seward is opening a second store near Powderhorn Park as well as a food production facility near their Franklin Avenue store; the Wedge is opening a second store on Nicollet Ave as well as a commissary kitchen; Mississippi Market is working on opening a third store on East 7th St, and the list of projects goes on from there.

I feel like I may be a little late to the party on this stuff when I learned that the cooperative movement has a long history of being embraced in this region, a trend that continues today. These projects are all taking place because each co-op is thriving. Many factors likely contribute to that: people yearning for a sense of connection with their communities again; more awareness of health issues related to food; a desire for more transparency regarding how crops are grown and how animals are raised.

"This remodel project is another step in our sustainable growth, and it enhances our ability to positively impact our community.”


• New energy efficient freezers and

refrigerated cases

• New shelving

• Entire deli / kitchen area remodeled

with new equipment and capacity for

more production

• New walk-in cooler and freezer, tile used

is 100% recycled

• New bulk bins and fixtures

• New checkstands for registers

• New floor, sealed from back room

to prevent temperature loss

• Floor will also eliminate use & disposal

of 200 gallons of wax & stripper

chemicals per year

• New lighting, will eliminate 25% of

wattage

• Paint free of VOC’s

• New, open look throughout the store

A cooperative business is owned by members of the community, and this is of course true here with our River Market with over 4,300 active owners. “We help local residents start community gardens; we donate to area schools; we seek volunteer opportunities to share with our owners at non-profit organizations in the community; we pay our employees fairly and treat them with respect; we strive to diminish the negative impacts on our environment; we embrace the national treasure that is the St. Croix river literally outside our back door. This remodel project is another step in our sustainable growth, and it enhances our ability to positively impact our community” says general manager Mead Stone.

In addition to upgrading the physical space, increased sales for River Market increases the money that stays in the immediate community compared to a national chain. This effect is dramatic and it has an impact in ways that are hard to measure. For instance, when we buy vegetables from a small-scale farmer in the St. Croix Valley - that farmer likely buys their equipment and supplies locally, gets their tractors repaired locally and generally spends their money in this community. More than enough evidence to convince me that I should loose the negativity and believe that these good folks know what they’re doing.

Ok, so tell me some more about the remodel. “With pleasure” says Andre “The deli department will see a significant change, with more room to work and more equipment to produce a greater variety of products. We will have a salad bar and a few hot options, enticing news to our heavy lunch time traffic. The produce and bulk departments (the east side of the store) will be much more open, with large cases pushed against the exterior walls and shorter fixtures on the floor. This will increase visibility and make it feel more welcoming and spacious. All the cases, bins and other units will be new, as well as all the shelving throughout the store.

The checkstands at the front of the store will be new as well, and arranged in a more convenient manner for increased traffic flow. The entire store will have improvements made, virtually every section of the store will have something changed or added.” That sounds great to me, I’m in.

I don’t doubt for a second that we’ll maintain a strong connection to the local food producers, in fact it sounds like we’re planning to do more business with them. And soon I’ll be able to see across the market and not bump into folks as I move about the place. Join me in supporting this initiative; just ask any of the friendly staff members at the market how you can buy a c-share, they’ll know how to help you – it’s what they do.

Staffan Swanson, NCFP is a frequent contributor to Stillwater Living magazine.


Pole BarnStudioA new option to your traditionalexcercise facility.By Michelle KieperPhotos by Aimee Christenson

TheEmily, Rochelle, Chelsea, Angie and Abi

trong is the new sexy. Say that phrase out loud – “strong is the

new sexy” apropos, isn’t it. When women dedicate their collective efforts toward a common objective, great things happen. We don’t need to be fit to impress anyone or fit into certain fashion, that is the baggage of previous generations. Today we want to be fit in order to feel great about ourselves and, perhaps connect with a sense of empowerment. Pole Dancing is what’s going on in today’s female fitness market – and we have a great studio right here in river city.

Currently there are six Pole Dancing fitness studios in the twin cities area, most offer classes five nights a week and on weekends they have a large following of regulars. Many mainstream dance facilities offer classes similar to those offered at pole studios, such as flexibility, ballet and modern dance. Pole Dancing fuses modern dance and fitness, making it a unique and somewhat exacting form of exercise. Where else do we get to make use of decades of dance classes in our adult life? Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that he Pole Dancing community is a very tight-knit, powerful group of women.

Rochelle Jacobs is the owner of The Pole Barn Studio in Stillwater, she had danced from the time she was 3 until she was 18. As an adult, she tried many types of exercise from bootcamps to boxing but never really felt a connection to anything until she tried pole fitness. After her first class, she was hooked and after her second class she bought her first pole. “It has really been a sport that I can feel like I excel at, using my dance background along with my passion for fitness. Pole dancing is not something that a lot of people truly understand until

S

they try it, but once you do, you never go back to traditional exercise again” shares Rochelle. “The Pole Barn Studio is a non-intimidating empowering environment for women of any age, shape or size”

With women traditionally putting focus on their husbands, children and work, they tend to put themselves last. Pole Dancing is a way to take an hour out of your day and become sexy, strong and take your mind off the stress of your busy lives, if only for an hour a day, it will very well be the best hour of your day. Most women wear a tank top and yoga pants but to truly master the more difficult moves, you need to have some exposed skin. The skin itself is how your body grips to the pole. Many people don’t understand that while in class one needs to dress scantily because they must in order to perform the moves properly and safely, it is not an effort to show off their bodies.

The connection of a childhood spent dancing and grown women making a connection with each other at Pole Dancing classes is widespread. Chelsea tells us “I teach "Badass Ballet" at The Pole

Barn Studio. I've been training in ballet since I was 8. Dance continues to be a passion of mine. I have spent my whole life learning various disciplines in dance - I focused primarily on ballet but did jazz, tap, lyrical, and modern dance too. Pole dancing was a natural fit for me but came with a whole new set of challenges, namely upper body strength.”

Angie, who is an instructor at The Pole Barn, shares “I believe it would be important to include the fact that there is no limitation to what size, shape, or age a woman is to experience feeling beautiful, sexy, confident, and joy living in and celebrating life in their own bodies. The work I do is more than just pole fitness, it goes deep into the soul and helps pull out that sexy, empowered woman inside us all. The lessons don't end once we leave the studio, women go on to feel more confident and fulfilled in other aspects of their life. Its the difference between just lingering and waiting to being able to thrive and find happiness; being able to play and have fun is important part of finding joy. I believe that happiness is what you create within yourself.”

Angie is convinced that the most powerful element within pole fitness is the satisfaction that you can lift yourself up. This may not sound exciting for a man, who has most likely been able to do pull ups and rope climb at gym class with ease. But, for women, upper body strength is something not built into our genetics since our center of gravity is so much lower than men's. There are always spins and combos to learn and something new to work on.

Abi takes classes at The Pole Bard and when I asked her if this was empowering for her she replied “Oh yes. More than I thought possible. I was definitely one of those people who said "I don't have the upper arm strength". And after my first 6 weeks, I was upside down already. It only gets better the more time that goes by. I've really enjoyed watching myself grow and learn new skills. I haven't been lucky with anything else in my life yet. I've really gained confidence in not just my physical well being but how I view myself. It used to be "I don't think I can do that" now it's "Hey! I want to try to do that!" I was hesitant and afraid of even TRYING. Now I at least know I should try. I'm capable of things I never would have imagined before.”

The instructors at this studio care very deeply about the development of the sport and their common goal is to create an environment that any woman, regardless of age, size, or ability can come to get a great workout, meet new people, and leave feeling more confident and sexy than when she walked in. I would like to say “welcome to Stillwater” to the ladies of The Pole Barn Studio.

Michelle Kieper is a frequent contributor to Stillwater Living magazine.

Rochelle Jacobs

zzzzzzClasses & PartiesCurrently classes are offered :Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdaysfrom 5:30-8:30 pm and Saturday mornings from 9am - noon.

www.thepolebarnstudio.com

"Hey! I want to try to do that!"

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corner table

PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF My name is Angela Mens-Eastman and I live in Stillwater with my husband, Bob, and my two teenage children. Currently I am working part time as an Emergency Management Specialist for Ramsey County Emergency Management and Homeland Security. I also co-manage an event planning company, Events by Eastman, Inc., with my husband and I am now working as the City Event Coordinator for the City of Stillwater. I enjoy keeping busy doing events, scrapbooking and golfing.

HAVE YOU BEEN IN THE EVENT MANAGEMENT FIELD LONG? I have been planning events since I was in college at the University of St. Catherine back in the 80s. During that time, I was working for the City of St. Paul Parks and Recreation Department where I planned many events for families and children at local recreation centers. In 2003, I took over management of Harriet Island in St. Paul and worked with event planners on all of the large festivals and events. In 2006, I took over all citywide events, including parades, races, runs and large festivals. I really enjoyed it.

PLEASE TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT SOME OF YOUR EARLY EVENT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCES I managed Town Square Park for a few years and was used to doing events for fewer than 1,000 people. When I was

transferred to Harriet Island, my first event was for about 40,000 people for the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration and Fireworks Extravaganza at Harriet Island. I was completely overwhelmed. Fortunately, I had a very kind person and expert event planner who taught me the ropes of big events. A few years later we celebrated another big event…our wedding.

WHAT IS THE DRAW OR ATTRACTION TO THIS FIELD FOR YOU?I love that every event is different and I am constantly learning new things. As a Certified Emergency Manager for the State of Minnesota, I am able to incorporate many things I have learned in the field into event planning. After Hurricane Katrina, my husband and I were presenting at an International Festival and Events Association Conference in Texas and things were bad in the event planning industry with the onset of the recession. The CEO of IFEA gave a speech and said that when many of the displaced victims from Hurricane Katrina were asked what they wanted or needed, they said all they wanted was to see their children laugh. So a number of event planners in Texas got together and threw a huge carnival event on a military base where the families were staying. The children laughed and had fun for the first time in weeks. That is why we do what we do. There will always be a need for events, in good times and in bad times.

Photo by Aimee Christenson

A Friendly Conversation with Angela Mens-Eastman, City of Stillwater Event Coordinator


WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT YOU'VE PRODUCED THAT WE MIGHT KNOW ABOUT? In my role as the Citywide Event and Security Manager for the City of St. Paul, I was able to work many great events like Cirque du Soleil, the Extreme Makeover television show, Irish Fair of MN, Winter Carnival and RibAmerica, to name a few. My husband and I have produced many events locally and nationally and are currently working on a Drag Racing Fan Experience to be held August 14-17 at Brainerd International Raceway. We have also signed on as a hospitality sponsor for two-time World Champion Funny Car Driver Tony Pedregon while he is racing in Minnesota this year.

I was happy to work on marquee events like the Grand Excursion, Taste of Minnesota and the Inline Marathon. In 2006, I took over all citywide events, including parades, races, runs, and large festivals. I had a major role in the 2008 Republican National Convention, which was quite an experience. Prior to leaving my role in St. Paul, I secured a bid for the Red Bull Flug Tag event where people flew homemade “aircraft” into the river. It was the largest crowd ever on Harriet Island. That relationship eventually led to Red Bull Crashed Ice coming to St. Paul for the last three years.

WHEN DID YOU START WORKING WITH THE CITY OF STILLWATER?I started working for the City of Stillwater in mid-March 2014. It has been a whirlwind getting up to speed and meeting

everyone I will be working with. I have had some great meetings with the Stillwater/Oak Park Heights Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Independent Business Association and the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. Everyone has been very supportive of my new role.

HOW MANY OF THE STILLWATER EVENTS WILL YOU WORK WITH? This year I will be working with the Rivertown Art Festival (May 31-June 1), North Star Grand Prix Bicycle Race (June 15), the Jon Francis Foundation 5K and 10K (July 19), Stillwater Log Jam (July 18-20), the Fall Colors Fine Art and Music Festival (October 4-5) and Stillwater Harvest Fest (October 11-12). WHAT SHOULD WE LOOK FOR IN THESE EVENTS NOW THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED?I am hoping to bring my 30+ years in event planning experience, along with some suggestions for policies and procedures that will ultimately help the event planners, the businesses and the residents who are affected by large events in the community. It is not the intent to bring more large events to Stillwater, but instead capitalize on the great events we already have!


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perspective

DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS LOCATION? Win a dinner for two! Email the correct location to [email protected] by the end of this month. A lucky winner will be drawn from a pool of correct answers. Each month we will run a new Perspective, so don’t get discouraged if this one stumped you. Congratulations to last month’s winner, Sam Weisner of Stillwater. When your curiosity overwhelms you, visit curtisdale.com or facebook.com/CurtisDaleCreations each month to discover the location of this month’s picture.

STILLWATER LIVING OCTOBER 200515

May 24th ~ Sudden Lovelys’ in concertMay 31st ~ “Taste of Italy” dinnerWeekly~ art studio classes

Upcoming Events

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STILLWATER LIVING OCTOBER 200514

Introducing the new HealthEast® Stillwater Clinic Weight Loss Program

Like diabetes or arthritis, obesity is no one’s fault – it’s an actual disease process and may require medical treatment.

The HealthEast Stillwater Clinic Weight Loss Program can help any individual looking to make a change – permanently – and ultimately, live a healthier life.

Our approach is different because our philosophy is built on a strong medical foundation and consists of a three-phased approach; active weight loss, maintenance and relapse prevention.

What have you got to lose?

Learn more by attending our FREE seminar on the third Wednesday of every month from 6 to 7 p.m. at the HealthEast Stillwater Clinic. You’ll meet our team, learn about the program, get answers to your questions and find out if it’s right for you and your lifestyle. To learn more about this program, contact HealthEast Stillwater Clinic at 651-471-5622, or visit healtheast.org/stillwater-weightloss.

A programthat’s worth the “weight”

2900 Curve Crest Blvd. | Stillwater, MN 55082 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Stillwater Living May 2014