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Brainerd Dispatch, December 16, 2014 • Echo Journal, December 18, 2014Brainerd Dispatch, December 16, 2014 • Echo Journal, December 18, 2014Brainerd Dispatch, December 16, 2014 • Echo Journal, December 18, 2014Brainerd Dispatch, December 16, 2014 • Echo Journal, December 18, 2014

Sue Hardy, right, hugs library patron Dorothy Johnson at her retirement open house held earlier this month. Hardy retired from the Brainerd Public Library after 38 years on the job.

BRAINERD DISPATCH/STEVE KOHLS

CHELSEY PERKINSBrainerd Dispatch Staff Writer

Nearly 50 years ago, a young Sue Hardy traveled to a mysterious palace in Lebanon to visit an eccentric great-aunt, soon to realize it might be difficult to leave — or escape.

Well, she did not physically travel to Damascus; instead, she was transported via the magic of the written word, for the adven-tures of Christy Mansel and her cousin, Charles, in Mary Stewart’s 1967 novel “The Gabriel Hounds.”

The book was one of many Hardy recalls discovering on the shelves of a college profes-sor for whom she babysat while in high school in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

“Her house was full of books,” she said. “She said I could read anything I wanted. So I started picking up books while the two little girls were taking their naps, and I fell in love

with reading.”Hardy’s love for reading led her to a career

where she could pass that love along, one as a library assistant for almost four decades at Brainerd Public Library.

In late November, Hardy helped library patrons navigate the shelves for the last time after announcing her retirement.

“It’s been a pleasure serving the Brainerd community,” she said. “I’m still around, but I

just won’t be behind the desk.”Despite her status as bookworm, Hardy did

not always plan to become a librarian. After graduating from Brainerd High School in 1968, she first attended college with the intent of one day working as a certified public accountant. Until she found out she’d have to take calculus, that is.

“Calculus and I do not get along,” she laughed.

She shifted direction and instead focused on teaching English, although that career path was not meant to be, either. Halfway through her time at St. Cloud State University, Hardy decided to pursue library science as well, and after two years of teaching English saw a job opening at Brainerd Public Library and applied.

“It was right in town, and I thought, I’ll go for it,” she said. “Well, I did, and I was hired. My first day of work was Aug. 1, 1976.”

Hardy has witnessed many changes for the library since that day, from a move across Washington Street to the current location in 1986 to a shift away from card catalogs in favor of computer databases. She said despite the dramatic changes in how she does her job, the information people need help finding has

Brainerd woman helped many gain knowledge for 38 years

Nearly 50 years ago, a young Sue Hardy traveled to a mysterious palace in Lebanon to visit an eccentric great-aunt, soon to realize it

Well, she did not physically travel to Damascus; instead, she was transported via the magic of the written word, for the adven-tures of Christy Mansel and her cousin, Charles, in Mary Stewart’s 1967 novel “The with reading.” just won’t be behind the desk.”

on teaching English, although that career path was not meant to be, either. Halfway through her time at St. Cloud State University, Hardy decided to pursue library science as well, and after two years of teaching English saw a job opening at Brainerd Public Library and applied.

for it,” she said. “Well, I did, and I was hired. My first day of work was Aug. 1, 1976.”

Brainerd woman helped many gain knowledge for 38 years

“It’s been a pleasure serving the Brainerd community”

~Sue Hardy

See SUE HARDY, Page I5

See FIA, Page I5

BY TRAVIS GRIMLEREcho Journal Staff Writer

In Minnesota, everything gets harder in winter.

There are groups throughout the lakes area, however, to help seniors with money, small chores, driving and more.

Faith in Action offers varietyFaith in Action (FIA) for Cass County

offers a variety of services to hundreds of people annually, especially seniors.

“We are very happy to pick people up who don’t drive the winter roads or put the car away in the winter,” said Theresa Eclov, FIA executive director. “The vol-unteers will take them to medical appointments as far away as St. Cloud if needed. We are happy to take people shopping. If someone is looking for companionship, we can set up compan-ionship and take people out for lunch.”

Eclov said the group offers other cus-tomized services depending on need. This can include housekeeping and small chores. During the winter, they some-

times assist with shoveling sidewalks, though they aren’t always able to offer that service. Since snow shoveling in the winter contributes to injuries every year, Eclov said FIA would offer more shovel-ing if it had younger volunteers.

“Our volunteer population is aging, so snow shoveling is a little harder for us to find people able to do that on a regular basis,” Eclov said. “We try. We will keep working on that. We also have resource lists of people they can hire. A lot of older adults don’t necessarily know who to call other than going through the want ads.”

One of the biggest things FIA can offer to seniors and others is time.

“If a caregiver needs to get out of the house … our volunteers can stay with their person for three or four hours at a time, maybe longer depending on the situation. The caregiver can get out, but

our volunteers are not able to do any medical care, so it has to be non-medical visiting,” Eclov said.

“If people are concerned about being alone during the winter, we also do tele-phone reassurance calls,” she said. “We can have someone call them to check in once a day or so.”

Winter can be a lonely time, espe-cially for those stuck at home. Eclov recognizes that.

“We just want to make sure people are safe and know they are not alone,” she said.

New group works to collaborateFIA is not the only group serv-

ing seniors and those in need in the Cass County area. In 2013, the St. Agnes and Sacred Heart Catholic

Service groups offer winter help to seniors

Younger volunteers sought

Younger volunteers would enable Cass County FIA to help seniors with shoveling snow.

METRO FILE PHOTO

brainerddispatch.com | Brainerd Dispatch • pineandlakes.com | Echo JournalI2 December 16, 2014•December 18, 2014

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BY DAN DETERMANEcho Journal Staff Writer

Jerry Frank had never por-trayed Santa Claus in a public setting.

The East Gull Lake resi-dent has donned the coat and beard for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren for years, but the notion of play-ing the part for children out-side his family was never taken seriously.

That is, until Nisswa American Legion Commander Jim Starkey asked him for a favor.

So on Sunday, Dec. 14, Frank—who has frequented the Nisswa Legion for rough-ly four years—dressed up as the big guy in red, sat in the basement of the Nisswa

American Legion and lis-tened to the Christmas wishes of area children.

“That is what Christmas is about. It’s for the kids,” said Frank, 81. “I have got five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren - being as old as I am. It is a lot of fun. I just love to see their eyes light up, how they all look at you. When I played Santa (for my great-grandchildren) they didn’t know who it was, and that was great.”

Frank moved to the area in 1975 from Minneapolis. After enforcing the law in Hennepin County, he became chief of police - first in Lake Shore and eventually in Breezy Point.

When asked about his time

on the police force, he called it “just a job,” but he said it taught him to appreciate the lighter side of life.

“I can’t imagine living without a sense of humor,” Frank said. “Especially in that line of work, if you don’t have a sense of humor, it is a long, long lifetime.”

This being his first time playing Santa in Nisswa, Frank was met with a very positive response when the news broke, notably from members of the women’s auxiliary and his competitors at bingo games on Sundays and Wednesdays.

“(Auxiliary members) have been coming to me and saying, ‘Jerry, I hear you are going to be Santa. Good for

you!’” Frank said. “When everyone found out I was going to play Santa, they would come up to me say, ‘Ho, ho, ho’ instead of, ‘Hi, Jerry.’”

Though the Nisswa Legion is his usual spot, Frank admits he would have been Santa for any place in the area that

might have asked, but it is nice to help out a place with friends.

“It is always a lot of fun there. It is always the same group all the time,” Frank said. “We play bingo there, but we always go more to socialize than anything else. It is a bunch of nice people.”

Dan Determan can be reached at 855-5879 or dan.determan@pineandlakes.com. Follow at facebook.com/PEJDan and on Twitter @PEJ_Dan.

East Gull Lake man enjoys first time as SantaJerry Frank of East Gull Lake spent Sunday, Dec. 14, dressed as Santa Claus for the Nisswa American Legion.

PHOTO BY DAN DETERMAN/ECHO JOURNAL

BRAINERD DISPATCHIf Santa brings a new tab-

let, e-reader or cellphone this year, learn how to use it and find interesting apps from tech-savvy Brainerd High School students.

From 1-3 p.m. on Dec. 30, members of the KEY Club, a high school group focused on volunteerism, will hold “Technology Time” in the Great Room at The Center, 803 Kingwood St.

Bring iPads, laptops, smart phones and other devices and the students will try to answer any questions and give advice on using the new technologies. Looking for an app for entertainment, health information or some-thing else? They’ll try to help with that, too.

KEY Club adviser Wendy Vandeputte said the students have volunteered in other ways at The Center and are hoping the technology event can become a regular occur-rence.

BHS students to tutor seniors on tech

brainerddispatch.com | Brainerd Dispatch • pineandlakes.com | Echo Journal

Jerry Frank has dressed as Santa Claus for his children and grandchildren for several years, but this December marked the first time he donned the suit for area children.SUBMITTED PHOTO

brainerddispatch.com | Brainerd Dispatch • pineandlakes.com | Echo Journal December 16, 2014•December 18, 2014 I3

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Dear Senior Legal Line:I am 92 years old. My daughter

Julie is my power of attorney and has been for many years. Julie and I are not getting along and I don’t want her to be my power of attorney anymore. I would like to name my son instead. What can I do?

Signed, ClaraDear Clara:As the principal of your power of

attorney document, you are in control. You get to decide who your agent is. Your agent is supposed to follow your wishes. If you don’t want Julie to be your agent anymore, there are things you can do to change that. But do not act in haste. It may be wise for you and Julie to talk about what is bothering you before you make a decision about your power of attorney document. Perhaps Julie doesn’t know that you are unhappy with her performance as your agent. Perhaps she will change her ways after learning of your unhappi-ness.

If you don’t think it is necessary to talk to Julie or if you have and it didn’t work out, you can revoke the power of attorney that named Julie as your agent. To revoke a power of attorney, you need to fill out a revocation form and sign it in front of a notary public. Be careful - the revocation is not complete until Julie has actual notice of the revo-

cation. “Actual notice” means that Julie actually gets the revocation. You can prove that she got the revocation by sending it to her via registered mail or giving it to her when you are among witnesses. Always keep a copy for yourself. Once Julie gets the revoca-tion, the revocation is complete. To be safe, you should also give a copy of the revocation to any place you think might have a copy or knowledge of the power of attorney that named Julie as your agent. For example, give your bank a copy of the revocation for their files, in case Julie continues to try to gain access to your accounts. With the copy of the revocation, your bank will know that Julie has no authority in your financial matters and the bank should block her access to your accounts and keep your account information private.

In the alternative, instead of revok-ing the power of attorney, you can have a co-existing power of attorney naming your son, but this is probably not wise. You would be setting your children up to argue with one another. Such dueling powers of attorney will confuse your bank and other places that get both power of attorney documents. Under the law, they have to honor a power of attorney that is valid on its face, so things would get very confusing if Julie and your son contradict one another. In my view, it’s probably better to have

one power of attorney and revoke the other one.

There are ways you can put both of your children on your new power of attorney document, such as having them be joint agents (making decisions together) or having one be a successor agent when the primary agent cannot act.

Note: If Julie is also your health care agent in your health care directive, you should consider creating a new direc-tive naming a different agent.

You can see Clara, that there are many ways to deal with your dissatis-faction with Julie. No matter what you decide, it would be wise to talk to an attorney about your options in more detail before you act.

This column is written by the Senior Citizens’ Law Project. It is not meant to give complete answers to individual questions. If you are 60 years of age or older and live within the Minnesota Arrowhead Region, you may contact us with questions for legal help by writing to: Senior Citizens’ Law Project, Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota, 302 Ordean Bldg., Duluth. Please include a phone number and return address. To view previous articles, go to: www.lasnem.org. Reprints by per-mission only.

Considering power of attorney

• Tuesday, Dec. 16: Estate planning seminar, 3 p.m. Carlye Olsen, Thrivent Financial representative, will deliver the seminar. No prod-ucts will be sold at this event.

• Sunday, Jan. 4: Pancake, sausage and egg breakfast, 8 a.m.-noon. Cost for breakfast is $6 for adults, $3 for 6-10 year olds and free for children age five and under.

• Every Thursday morning: Fresh doughnut sale, starts at 6:30 a.m. Everyone is wel-come to purchase doughnuts, and the center continues to look for doughnut crew vol-unteers to help sell the dough-nuts starting at 4 a.m. on Thursday mornings. Cashiers are also needed 7-10 a.m. Please see Kathy Burgardt at the center’s front desk or call 320-632-8009.

The Little Falls Senior

Center also offers Bone Builders exercises classes; bingo; card games such as 500, whist, wild rummy and cribbage; and pool tourna-ments. The “Senior Hotline” is available at the front desk for more details on activities.

Lutheran Social Services’ meals program offers hot meals Monday through Friday for dining-in, take out or meals on wheels. Frozen meals are also available for weekends and holidays. For reservations, call 320-632-8200. Everyone is welcome to pick up a monthly menu at the center.

The center, located at 510 NE Seventh St., is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. through 3 p.m. The phone number is 320-632-8009.

Senior Center lists upcoming events

Little Falls Senior Center

CHELSEY PERKINSBrainerd Dispatch Staff Writer

More Minnesotans die on the roads in the summer than during the winter months. The snow and ice do lead to more crashes, how-ever, and the stakes are higher in cold tem-peratures when vehicles break down or slide into the ditch.

One way to ease some of the anxiety that comes with winter driving is to assemble a winter safety kit filled with supplies that will help in the case of emergency. TRIAD of Crow Wing County, an organization focused on senior safety, recently held an informa-tional event on winter driving and distributed winter safety kits to area seniors.

Winter safety kits are inexpensive to put together and do not require many specialty

items. Recycle an empty coffee can to contain the small items in one place. Kept in the trunk or other convenient area of a vehicle, these kits come in handy particularly in rural areas, where becoming stranded can sometimes mean not seeing another vehicle for awhile.

One interesting inclusion in TRIAD’s win-ter safety kit was a “comfort letter.” The letter is designed to encourage calm in an emergen-cy situation and provide reminders of best practices when stranded in the snow. Included here is a copy of the comfort letter to clip and include in a safety kit.

Chelsey Perkins may be reached at 855-5874 or chelsey.perkins@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchChelsey.

Items to include in a winter safety kithand warmersmatchescandletissuesbandagesflashlightgranola barsa red cloth (for visibility)“Help” signMylar blanketOther items to consider

for a kit or vehicleice scraper and snow

brushjumper cableswarm clothing and blan-

kettin cup or canplastic cupplastic spoonwatercandy bars, nuts, dried

fruit, hard candy or jerkypackets of hot chocolate,

soup or teaaspirin and extra medica-

tionsbatteriesheavy stringsafety pinspocket knife or scissors

road flaresfirst aid kitphone chargerlarge plastic garbage

bags (to insulate feet)bag of sand or kitty litter

for tire tractionshovelextra hand warmersextra candlesjar lid for candle waxmusic/games

1. Stay calm. Don’t panic. You will be found.

2. At least you found your winter survival kit! That’s great!

3. Stay with your car. You have a better chance of being found and you could risk hypothermia without shelter.

4. If you have a cell-phone, call 911. Then, let your family and friends know where you are.

5. Tie the red cloth to the radio antenna or outside rearview mirror or hang out the window.

6. Take a moment to check your vehicle exhaust pipe. Is it clear? If your exhaust pipe is clear, move to Step #7. If not, skip Steps

#7 and #8.7. Start your car for brief

periods of time to provide heat. While your vehicle is running, turn on your flash-ers and listen to the radio for weather updates.

8. Open the car window slightly for ventilation.

9. Review Step #1. You will be found!

10. Keep moving. Exercise is a must. Clap your hands, stomp your feet and move as much as possi-ble, at least once an hour. Let’s sing together, “If you’re stuck and you know it, clap your hands!”

11. Keep your mind and spirit from wandering too far into gloom. Remember, you are going to be found.

While potentially dangerous situations are not a time of joy, keeping yourself from added stress will allow you to make smart decisions while you wait to be found.

12. Review Step #1. You will be found!

13. Light the candle for warmth, use the hand warm-ers and put the Mylar blan-ket around you.

14. If you don’t have water, melt snow. Don’t eat cold snow, which will cool your body down.

15. When you start get-ting hungry, snack on the treats, but remember to pace your nibbling just in case help is delayed.

Created by TRIAD of Crow Wing County.

So you’re stuck in the snow… now what?

Other items to consider

aspirin and extra medica-

bag of sand or kitty litter music/games

Winter safety kits ease the mind

Volunteers Bonnie LeDoux (left), Sue Hanson, Ione Kein and Eileen Dwyer hand out winter driving supplies to Sonja Erickson (right) and others.

STEVE KOHLS/BRAINERD DISPATCH

Seniors face many changes as they move into their golden years. Downsizing living spaces and vehicles is common, as is implementing certain changes to improve quality of life. Many seniors also scale back in the kitchen, where some must make changes because of medical conditions. While it seems like reducing food portions would be easy, those used to prepping meals for a large family may find it difficult. The following tips can make meal preparation efficient and cost-effective.

Divide and store. Supermarkets are increas-ingly offering larger pack-ages of food products as well as “family size” offer-ings to compete with ware-house clubs. Buying in bulk can help individuals save money, but it may not always be practical for peo-ple living alone or with just a spouse. If you must buy in bulk, invest in a food vacu-um sealer or freezer storage bags. Immediately separate meats and poultry into smaller portions before stor-ing them in the freezer. Otherwise, look for bulk items that are individually wrapped to maintain fresh-ness. Many canned and jarred items can be covered and stored in the refrigera-tor after containers are opened.

Plan meals with similar ingredients. To reduce food waste, use leftovers to cre-ate casseroles or mix them in with new meals. Broiled

or grilled chicken can be used to make soups, stir-fry dishes, fajitas, and sand-wiches. The fewer ingredi-ents you have to buy, the smaller the risk of spoilage.

Cut recipes in half. Recipes can be cut down depending on how many mouths need to be fed. When baking, cutting back on proportions of ingredi-ents can be challenging. Search online for recipe-scaling programs that can make the work easier.

Cook on the weekend. Use a weekend day to pre-pare food and package it into small containers in the refrigerator or freezer. Then the containers can be taken out as needed and heated quickly in the microwave for fast meals.

Organize a meal-sharing club. Get together with a few friends who also have empty nests and split cook-ing duties. If you’re accus-tomed to cooking larger portion sizes, do so and then spread the wealth with oth-ers in the group. Then sit back and relax when it is your opportunity to have meals delivered to you.

brainerddispatch.com | Brainerd Dispatch • pineandlakes.com | Echo JournalI4 December 16, 2014•December 18, 2014

S ee senior livingin a whole new light.

Connect with a senior living representative today by calling

(218) 820-8975 or visit www.good-sam.com/brainerdlakes.

All faiths or beliefs are welcome. 14-G1068

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Laurel Hall

DEB CRANNYColumnist

Heading to Grandma’s house has a whole new meaning for me this year.

Anticipating the holidays with family and friends is a great time of excitement, a time when memories come back so easily and all is meant to be joyful. My 6-month-old grand-daughter will be squealing with delight and saying, “Gramamamama,” when she rolls in the door. After all, she is brilliant! I just can’t wait to see family and do all the silly things we always do - goofy stocking gifts on Christmas Eve, fun “steal the gift” games between siblings, eating the last cherry cookie just as your brother comes into the room, and of course lots of coffee, sharing and relaxing.

Ah … headed to Grandma’s house. Even as I write this, I am try-ing to head off the rollercoaster of emotions that run high, hoping the “gas tank” doesn’t run low. There are just so many things to do - pres-ents to shop for, decorations to hang, holiday treats to bake and gatherings to organize. On top of all this, think-ing of your senior loved ones and how to best provide for them over the holiday season can cause more anxiety.

According to experts, the main reason for holiday stress is having unrealistic expectations. From the time we are children, we build up expectations of what the holidays should be. In the media, we see per-fect images of family, friends, food, parties and gifts. What we fail to see is that these are staged scenes. We may all aspire to be Martha Stewart, but the reality will probably be less than perfection.

What we have to realize over the holidays is that there’s nothing wrong with falling short of perfect. Ask your kids what they really remember the most. It’s probably not the beautifully set table or the

perfect gift, and it’s certainly not the clean bathroom. It’s probably the year you went in the ditch because of a snowstorm and they “saw Santa’s sleigh lights” in the sky while waiting for the tow truck.

Attempting to make a plan, espe-cially when our seniors are involved, can help relieve some of this stress. From travel arrangements, gift buy-ing, to menus and activities for the gatherings, thinking ahead might prevent potential pitfalls.

Tips for travelingTraveling during the holidays,

whether it’s across town or across the country, can be frustrating and full of delays. To help trips with your senior loved ones go more smoothly, think about the following:

Allow plenty of time. The roads are busiest on the days right before and after the major holidays.

Call ahead. Make arrangements with the hotel, church or airport for a wheelchair and other special equipment they might need.

Ask for help. If you think you will need assistance, call a family friend or contact a home care com-pany to obtain a caregiver to assist with the trip.

Watch for safety hazards. Safety is a prime consideration when traveling with the elderly. Balance and footing are challenges for many seniors - rainy or snowy weather conditions can make them even more so.

Remember important items. Don’t forget to pack your loved one’s address book with lists of all doctors’ phone numbers along with their medications and a cellphone.

Tips for gift givingOf course, there’s the gift giving.

Many seniors like to do their own shopping, but they need a bit of help. Be sure to shop at the time of the day when you know your senior will have the most energy. If your senior has health issues, don’t plan an entire day away from home. If

your senior needs oxygen, medica-tions or a cane, make sure you have those items before leaving the house. Plan a little fun into the day. Take a break with lunch at a favorite spot or drive around to see the beautiful decorations or winter landscape.

Now that you’ve helped your senior with their holiday shopping, what are some practical gifts you can give them? As we age, being on one’s own becomes more challeng-ing. Here are a few items geared toward making independent living easier:

A newspaper or magazine sub-scription. Some of a senior’s fond-est memories could revolve around life at the dinner table discussing the day’s events. A subscription to a daily newspaper can help that senior continue tradition with family. A magazine subscription, especially the kind with local culture and lots of photographs, can help them relate to where their family members live.

DVD player and favorite DVDs. A DVD player will help an older adult enjoy his or her favorite old movies. Bring the popcorn and make a night of it.

Large-button phone or cell-phone. Seniors with families who live a long distance away will want to communicate with them through the ease of a phone call. Look for phones with large buttons, loud ringers, lighted display, speed dial-ing and caller ID.

Folding table and chairs. Seniors love to work on puzzles. Join a loved one on that special proj-

ect with the gift of a folding table and chairs. Don’t forget to include a new puzzle.

Gift certificates to a favorite restaurant. Buy a gift certificate that a senior can use for lunch out at his or her favorite restaurant. Add a date with a family member or close friend and it’s sure to be a hit.

Doorbells and telephones that flash a light. These devices flash in addition to ringing and are designed primarily for the hearing impaired, but they can be useful for all of us.

A large-button universal TV remote control. This is another handy tool that makes seeing the numbers and pressing the right but-tons so much easier for seniors.

A large-faced electric wall clock. These clocks can be less con-fusing for seniors than a digital clock. They are also easy to read and have no batteries to replace.

A computer and the training to go with it - my favorite gift idea. We cautiously gave my dad an iPad last year. He had never even been on a keyboard before, much less e-mail or the Internet. It has opened up a whole new world to him, with com-munication and photos from family and friends and all the wonderful things to discover on the Internet. I enjoy getting calls from Dad saying, “Hey, Debbie, my iPad says it’s snowing there.”

I’ve yet to show him Facebook, but that might come this year. My warning, however: Don’t forget to reserve time for training.

Tips for gatheringsDuring busy family gatherings it

is important for everyone to be aware of and considerate of elderly family members’ needs. Here are some suggestions:

Talk to family and friends before they arrive. If your senior is easily confused, has trouble eating or has behaviors that guests might not understand, explain the circum-stances to them and let them know

how to approach the situation. Limit noise and commotion. A

noisy environment, especially if young children are present, may be upsetting to seniors. Provide a quiet, private space for a nap or to take a break from the festivities.

Watch for obstacles. Create clear pathways for walking and be mindful of throw rugs and cords.

Encourage participation. Ask your senior loved one to join helpers in the kitchen. Create a comfortable place for them to sit and keep them involved in the conversation.

Plan inclusive activities. Arrange activities that everyone can participate in, such as taking a walk, looking at photographs or listening to short stories. Planned activities that all ages will enjoy can lower the stress of the occasion and encourage positive communication.

Accommodate dietary restric-tions. Many families wish to hold on to longtime holiday food tradi-tions, but these old traditions don’t always fit with new realities. One easy way to make sure a variety of dietary needs are satisfied is to serve your holiday meal buffet-style. It’s a great way to introduce new and healthy dishes while keeping a few of the traditional favorites. Those with dietary restrictions might only be able to eat the side dishes yet they will feel right at home with a buffet. And remember, making dish-es that meet special dietary guide-lines doesn’t have to mean more time in the kitchen for family care-givers.

Well, it all sounds so easy, doesn’t it? Remember, Martha Stewart certainly isn’t perfect. The goal is to honor the wonderful gift we all receive at Christmas: enjoy-ing every little thing about those around us. Happy Holidays from all of us at Home Instead Senior Care.

Deb Cranny is the executive director of Home Instead Senior Care in Brainerd.

Deb Cranny

Headed to Grandma’s houseTips for a smooth-running holiday with senior loved ones

LAUREL HALLColumnist

It is a persistent stereotype that librarians read books while on the job, but if you’ve visited the

Brainerd Public Library lately, you’ll know that we definitely don’t have time to do so.

We do all read as much as we can in our free time, though, and below I have shared some staff favorites that were published this year.

“Not My Father’s Son” by Alan Cumming is my pick for best memoir of 2014. Cumming is a beloved char-acter actor who played Nightcrawler in the second X -Men movie, campaign strategist Eli Gold on the CBS drama “The Good Wife” and an adoptive father of a boy with Down’s syndrome in “Any Day Now.” His most well -known role, however, is on Broadway as the Master of Ceremonies in the musical “Cabaret.”

In the story of his life (so far), he writes about growing up in a working- class family in Scotland with a physically abusive father whom he con-stantly feared. These heart -

wrenching moments are inter-spersed with tales of the weird world of Hollywood, his life with his husband of seven years and the craft of acting. His writing is so down- to- earth, it made me want to get a coffee with him and chat for hours about life.

Our dear Sue, who has just retired after 38 years of serv-ing library patrons in Brainerd, is an enthusiastic mystery fan. Her favorite this year was “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by Mary Higgins Clark. In this novel, Clark returns to her “A” game, with winding plot twists and suspi-cious characters galore.

Linda, who is the supervi-sor of the reference desk, reads many genres voracious-ly, but tends to recommend literary fiction. This year is no different, as her pick is “Let Me Be Frank with You” by Richard Ford, a continuation of his series about Frank Bascombe (which includes “The Sportswriter,” “Independence Day” and “The Lay of the Land”). Frank is now retired and deal-ing with aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey. He relates to the read-

er his sense of something missing in his life, or some-thing he hasn’t yet found, feelings that will be familiar to many from the baby-boom generation.

Our final recommendation comes from one of our newest staff members, Emily, who studied

literature in college (which certainly gives her an advan-tage when helping patrons find books). Her favorite was Margaret Atwood’s collection of short stories, “Stone Mattress.” Atwood once again manages to be funny, scary and clever in these intercon-nected tales, with her trade-mark sarcasm intact. If you’ve liked other books by this author, you will certainly enjoy this new one.

Our final computer classes for the year are being held today and tomorrow, Dec. 18 and 19. If you’re interested, there may be spots open yet. Give us a call at 829 -5574 to find out and sign up.

If you are thinking of giv-ing or getting a tablet or e-reader for the holidays,

keep in mind that to check out the library’s e-books, it will need to be compatible with our service, 3M Cloud Library. The only devices that do not work with the service are Amazon Kindles with black-and-white screens (the Kindle Fire and HD are com-patible) and the Windows Surface tablet. If you have an Apple or Android device, set-up is very easy, and we’re happy to help you at our ref-erence desk if you get stuck. See the library’s website at www.krls.org for all the details, or send me an email at brainerd@krls.org.

Laurel M. Hall is the adult services coordinator at the Brainerd Public Library.

Brainerd library staff share their book picksCooking for one or two

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DEANN BARRYColumnist

The definition of “pro-crastinator” is someone who puts things off until a future date.

Tom is a huge procrasti-nator, especially when it came to buying Christmas presents. This year, he found the best shopping experience and I will share his secret with you: the best place to shop for your Christmas gifts is the gift shop at The Center.

The gift shop has great deals all the time, not just on certain days or with cou-pons. You can find a unique gift for everyone on your list. A gift they will cherish, use and - what Tom liked the best - remember you for.

For his nephew Brian, who has been his fishing and hunting buddy since he was 16, Tom chose some unique works of art: a crib-bage board featuring a walleye chasing a lure and a framed and matted paint-ing of a fish on a pheasant feather. Brian will treasure these gifts, and they will remind him of his Uncle Tom for many years.

For niece Mary, Tom found a Christmas hand towel that will look great in her kitchen for the holi-days. He also purchased a gift certificate so she could shop for herself. Mary

would enjoy seeing the beautifully handcrafted items in the gift shop, he thought, and as far as Tom knew, she had never been there before.

Tom’s daughter, Tami, was more difficult to find a present for. She loves hav-ing Christmas dinner for everyone. When she hosts, her table is beautifully arranged with special Christmas dishes and looks like something out of a magazine. Tom decided that a Christmas table run-ner would be the perfect gift for her.

How about you? Are you a procrastinator? If so, I suggest you head to The Center Gift Shop, 803 Kingwood Street, Brainerd. It is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those who receive gifts from you will be glad you waited to the last minute.

Deann Barry is the executive director of The Center, a senior center in Brainerd.

DeAnn Barry

Procrastinate no moreFind the perfect Christmas gifts at The Center

Yoga is big business, attracting more and more people each year. Designed to promote physical and mental health, yoga has helped millions of people across the globe control their stress and improve their flexibility, and studies have shown that yoga is only growing in popularity. According to a study conducted by the Harris Interactive Service Bureau, rough-ly 20 million Americans practiced yoga in 2012, marking a 29 percent increase from just four years earlier. While some men and women over 50 may feel their time to take up yoga has passed, nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, yoga can pay numerous dividends for the over 50 crowd.

Yoga can help alleviate hypertension. Also known as high blood pressure, hypertension is a potentially dangerous condition that makes the heart work hard-er to pump blood to the body. Hypertension contributes to a hardening of the arteries known as atherosclerosis, and can even contribute to the development of heart failure. A person’s risk of developing hypertension increases as he or she ages, so it’s important that men and women over 50 take steps to reduce their risk of hypertension, and yoga can help them do just that. A normal blood pressure is 120 over 80, but people with hypertension often have blood pressure readings of 140 and above over 90 and above. Studies have shown that yoga can reduce the top number, which is referred to as the sys-tolic blood pressure. In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Hypertension, researchers found that men and women who practiced yoga for six hours a week for 11 weeks reduced their systolic blood pressure by 33 points. The study’s authors feel that the slow, controlled breathing that’s essential to practicing yoga decreas-es nervous system activity, helping the body manage its blood pressure levels.

Yoga helps practitioners maintain healthy weights. While yoga may not help men and women shed weight as effec-

tively as more vigorous activities, it can help them maintain healthy weights. Many men and women over 50 find vig-orous or strenuous physical activity too demanding, and might not be able to perform such activities with the frequen-cy necessary to prevent weight gain. But while yoga is physically demanding, those who practice yoga often find it takes a smaller toll on their bodies than more traditional strength training. Another way yoga can help to maintain a healthy weight is through its relation to stress. Yoga can help to relieve stress, and lower stress levels reduce the likelihood that men and women will overeat, which is a common response to elevated stress lev-els.

Yoga promotes strong bones. Osteoporosis is a medical condition in which tissue loss leads to brittle and frag-ile bones. Aging is a significant risk factor for osteoporosis, and women are at even greater risk than men. The National Osteoporosis Foundation notes that

women can lose up to 20 percent of their bone mass in the five to seven years after menopause, so it’s important that women (and men) take steps to strengthen their bones. The nature of yoga makes it an ideal activity to promote healthy bones. Because it is a weight-bearing exercise, yoga forces practitioners to hold the weight of their bodies up against gravity. This resistance to gravity puts mild stress on the bones, which respond by laying down new bone growth. But unlike other weight-bearing activities, such as jogging or walking, yoga does not damage carti-lage or put stress on the joints. The AARP notes that studies have indicated the weight-bearing activity of yoga can be especially effective at reducing the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.

Though yoga might not have been popular when today’s men and women over 50 were in their 20s and 30s, that does not mean such men and women can-not take advantage of the numerous phys-ical and mental benefits yoga has to offer.

Exercising after 50 is a great way for men and women to improve their energy levels and manage many existing medical conditions.

METRO PHOTO

Yoga not just for youngsters

FIA, From Page I1

churches of Walker and Hackensack orga-nized a St. Kateri Tekakwitha Conference of St. Vincent de Paul, a volunteer group dedicated to providing funds and services to those in need.

“We go twice a month to the apartments there in Hackensack. They do individual visiting if they want it and then they hand out treats and run kind of a program for them twice a month,” said St. Kateri President Mary Becker.

The group also offers specialized services fol-lowing a personal visit with applicants. St. Kateri members recognize the increase in fuel and electricity costs that plague Minnesotans in the winter, and the group provides funding to help individuals and families.

“When the funds are available we do assist them with heating. … We have paid electric bills and we have paid propane heating bills,” Becker said. “If they are lacking in food, we help them and give them coupons so they can go to the grocery store and get them food.”

As a new group, both volunteers and funds available through St. Kateri are limited. The group attempts to collaborate with other chari-table organizations to make their services last. Like FIA, St. Kateri is composed of a mostly aging group of volunteers and is seeking young-er help.

“We do lose probably half of our staff during the winter months. We do have funds available, so we could take some calls, but it is not unlim-ited,” Becker said. “We try not to duplicate what is already being done in the community.”

Churches connect seniors to volunteersNot all help for seniors comes from volunteer

organizations. Churches and their pastors can connect those in need with worthy helpers. This may be a good option for more physically demanding chores, as pastors are often familiar with charitable and able-bodied young people.

“The local churches work pretty well together and with the (Pine River-Backus) Family Center,” said Tristan Borland, pastor at Riverview Church in Pine River. “It’s not necessarily doing all the services, but trying to connect people with those that can do them. If people need help, it’s good to contact local churches.”

For help or to volunteerOverall, there are many groups in the area

willing to help the elderly with their special win-ter needs. Many of these groups are also in need of both volunteers and funding.

Faith in Action and St. Kateri offer their ser-vices free. To contact FIA for services or to volunteer, call 218-675-5435. To Contact St. Kateri for services, to volunteer or to donate, call 218-366-0174 or email stkatericonference@gmail.com.

Both groups require background checks and training for their volunteers. St. Kateri volun-teers do not need to be over the age of 18 if they volunteer alongside an adult.

Travis Grimler can be reached at travis.grimler@pineandlakes.com. Follow him at facebook.com/PEJTravis and on Twitter @PEJ_Travis.

remained largely the same, whether it’s related to local history, locating a biogra-phy or information on prescription medi-cations.

“We’ve been answering those questions for 38 years,” Hardy said. “The informa-tion has been a lot easier to find and quicker to find than it was before. Before, we just had the books on the shelf to answer their questions. Now we have the books plus the Internet.”

Although technology afforded Hardy the opportunity to find information faster, don’t expect to see her using an e-reader anytime soon.

“It is just a pleasure to have the book in hand, to smell the book glue,” she said.

After spending her days surrounded by bookshelves, she went home to even more of them, shelves that hold the books she knows she’ll read again.

“I have a bookshelf in every room except for the bathroom, and they’re all filled,” she said. “There are just certain authors that when they come out with a book, I’ve got to have it.”

Hardy said she rarely goes more than a week without picking up a book and helps to instill a love of reading in her many great-nieces and -nephews simply by almost always having one in hand. Her favorite genres are murder mysteries and

suspenseful romance.“If I could just figure out how to knit

and read at the same time, I’d be super happy,” she said.

Hardy will have plenty of time for both now, but she also plans to write a family recipe cookbook, research her genealogy and volunteer - though maybe not at the library quite yet.

“Down the road a little bit,” she said.When asked how she wants to be

remembered by so many who’ve passed through the library doors over the years, she smiled.

“I always had a smile for them,” she said. “I never thought any of their ques-tions were dumb, and I always tried to supply the answers that they needed.”

Chelsey Perkins may be reached at 855-5874 or chelsey.perkins@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DispatchChelsey.

A few Suggestions from Sue

Mary Higgins Clark, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”

Jessica Beck, “The Donut Mysteries” series

Laurie Cass, “Tailing a Tabby: A Bookmobile Cat Mystery”

Heather Graham

SUE HARDY, From Page I1

brainerddispatch.com | Brainerd Dispatch • pineandlakes.com | Echo JournalI6 December 16, 2014•December 18, 2014

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NANCY VOGTEcho Journal Editor

While area women’s clubs meet monthly to socialize and host educational programs, they also are involved in their communities and give back in various ways.

On Dec. 4, Pequot Lakes Woman’s Club members met at Sibley Terrace Apartments to pack homemade Christmas cookies in boxes for area residents who are homebound. Club members were asked to bake 3-4 dozen cook-ies for the endeavor.

Then members of the Pequot Lakes High School girls’ choir and their director, Karen Jacobson, joined the group for a Christmas carol singalong with Sibley Terrace residents. Renee Anderson accompanies on piano each year.

It’s an annual tradition for the club, though the members are getting older and are having a hard time getting younger women to join the club.

Throughout the year, the Pequot Lakes Woman’s Club also donates money to Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts, scholarship money to the Miss Pequot Lakes Scholarship Pageant and money to the Lakes Area Food Shelf.

The Breezy Point Area Women’s Club’s mission statement says, “The club shall oper-ate as a charitable and social organization.”

To that end, each year the club awards two scholarships to non-typical female students attending Central Lakes College. The club also donates money to the Fun Books for Kids program at Eagle View Elementary School and to the Pequot Lakes fire and police depart-ments.

Club members also take pleasure in mak-ing donations to worthy causes such as Camp Knutson in Manhattan Beach. They gather, purchase and donate toiletry items to several care centers in Crosslake, Pequot Lakes and Pine River. Every year the women craft Christmas tray favors for these same care cen-ters.

An ongoing cause and one club members take to heart is the Lakes Area Food Shelf in Pequot Lakes. At their annual Christmas Party, in the spirit of the season, they collect food and monetary donations from members and make a substantial donation to the food shelf.

One of the club’s two major fundraisers is a silent auction that is the focus of the annual Christmas party.

Internally, as a group, the women of the Breezy Point Area Women’s Club care for

their members by being supportive during times of illness or grief. Individually, the women forge relationships with members who need special attention.

Finally, the women thoroughly enjoy the club, its cause and the social times generated by monthly meetings.

Nisswa also has a women’s club with 250 members. The Nisswa Women’s Club was established in 1920 and the hummingbird is the club’s official insignia.

This nonprofit organization serves the Nisswa lakes area with charitable donations and provides local high school seniors and non-traditional women students at Central Lakes College with scholarships. The club routinely supports local charities such as the Lakes Area Food Shelf and Mid-Minnesota Women’s Center.

The club’s premier fundraiser is the annual Fashion Show and Luncheon held each year the Tuesday after Memorial Day.

And the Nisswa Area Women of Today — a group of women ages 18 and older — meets monthly, offering a healthy environment for

young women to become more involved civi-cally and hold positions of leadership.

Each year the organization hosts the Miss Nisswa Scholarship Pageant and Little Miss Nisswa Pageant, and it donates to area organi-zations.

According to its website, the Nisswa Area Women of Today contributes to the commu-nity by raising funds for worthy causes and providing services or education to benefit community members. The organization devel-ops and fosters skills and talents related to becoming successful individuals, interacting well with other people and becoming capable leaders, while developing friendships and finding personal support within the organiza-tion.

The club provides opportunities for mem-bers to experience personal and professional growth in areas such as self-esteem, commu-nication skills, confidence and working effec-tively with others.

Nancy Vogt can be reached at nancy.vogt@pineandlakes.com. Follow her at facebook.com/PEJNancy and on Twitter @PEJ_Nancy.

Area women’s clubs are about more than just socializingThey give a lot back to their communitiesThey give a lot back to their communities

Nisswa Pageant, and it donates to area organi-

According to its website, the Nisswa Area Women of Today contributes to the commu-nity by raising funds for worthy causes and providing services or education to benefit community members. The organization devel-ops and fosters skills and talents related to becoming successful individuals, interacting well with other people and becoming capable leaders, while developing friendships and finding personal support within the organiza-

The club provides opportunities for mem-bers to experience personal and professional growth in areas such as self-esteem, commu-nication skills, confidence and working effec-

While area women’s clubs meet monthly to socialize and host educational programs, they also are involved in their communities and

On Dec. 4, Pequot Lakes Woman’s Club members met at Sibley Terrace Apartments to pack homemade Christmas cookies in boxes for area residents who are homebound. Club members were asked to bake 3-4 dozen cook-

Then members of the Pequot Lakes High School girls’ choir and their director, Karen Jacobson, joined the group for a Christmas carol singalong with Sibley Terrace residents. Renee Anderson accompanies on piano each

It’s an annual tradition for the club, though the members are getting older and are having a hard time getting younger women to join the

Throughout the year, the Pequot Lakes Woman’s Club also donates money to Greater Lakes Area Performing Arts, scholarship money to the Miss Pequot Lakes Scholarship Pageant and money to the Lakes Area Food

They give a lot back to their communitiesThey give a lot back to their communities

From left, Bernadette Bistodeau of Sibley Terrace Apartments, Ann Hutchings of the Pequot Lakes Woman’s Club, Rose Bittner of Sibley Terrace and Pequot Lakes High School girls’ choir members Kristyna Vorlova, Becka Francis and Katie Casanova sing Christmas carols Thursday, Dec. 4, at the apartment building.

PHOTO BY NANCY VOGT/ECHO JOURNAL

From left, Pequot Lakes Woman’s Club members Betty Ryan, Shirley Gorg and Jan Benson package homemade Christmas cookies for homebound people Thursday, Dec. 4, at Sibley Terrace Apartments in Pequot Lakes. This is an annual project for the woman’s club.

PHOTO BY NANCY VOGT/ECHO JOURNAL

From left, Breezy Point Area Women’s Club members Mary Fedor, Sherry Wagner, Lynne Johnson and Lorinda Jeffers participate in the club’s Christmas Party earlier this month, raising food shelf funds.

SUBMITTED PHOTO