Brainerd Dispatch January 20, 2015 Echo Journal, January 22, 2015

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TRAVIS GRIMLEREcho Journal Staff Writer

Bob Wendel of Pine River is proud of his work ethic, which always proved to him that all he needed to succeed where others fail is intes-tinal fortitude.

Wendel learned this at an early age. He was raised in South Heart, N.D., as the son of a black-smith who taught to get through any problems he faced.

When he was old enough, Wendel helped his father at his second job, hauling grain. Grain hauling during the day meant that Wendel missed a lot of school, and though many children back then missed school to help make money for the family, Wendel took a different route.

At night I would go to the school and study, Wendel said. The janitor would let me in at night and I would study. We had nuns for teach-ers. They told me that if I had to cheat a little bit they told me where the books were.

His nighttime education paid off. He was valedictorian of his graduating class, though that is an honor he laughs about today.

I was the only boy that graduated in 1947 along with one of Marys (his wife) cousins who graduated also. We were the only two seniors in 1947. I was valedictorian, salutatorian and the

whole nine yards, Wendel said.Graduation didnt excuse Wendel from hard

work. He went on to wear many hats. In Dickinson, N.D., he worked construction for Ernie Brown Construction. During the off-sea-son, he set pins at a bowling alley for 10 cents a line to pay for his $15 a month rent. When his boss at the construction company purchased a

propane company, Wendel moved up in the world, though that still didnt excuse him from hard work.

Ernie came to visit me and asked if I wanted to drive the propane truck. I said, Sure, Wendel said. Those were hard winters. Propane was just pioneering. It sold for 15 cents a gallon. I would deliver to Medora, Belfield, the whole area and to the ranchers out there. Sometimes I had to shovel to get into places.

Driving a gas truck was no laughing matter. When snow shut down the train that was sup-posed to bring in a supply of propane, Wendel was responsible for driving to Montana to fill his 1,400-gallon truck and bring it back. In the meantime, the company received orders for fuel, so Wendel drove straight back to Dickinson and then out to a customer and back, totaling about 400 miles to deliver 100 gallons of propane.

Wendel was done driving truck in 1950, when

h i s number came up in the draft for the Korean War. He trained in Camp Roberts, Calif., to become a soldier and a wireman. This job required him to run communication lines to con-nect military outposts. Needless to say, service was no picnic, either, he said.

Wendel said his service sent him to Heartbreak Ridge, the Punchbowl and other front-line loca-tions from which many soldiers never returned.

Wendel used his upbringing to make his ser-vice slightly more comfortable and survivable.

We lived in pup tents and it would get chilly in the evening. Being an old blacksmiths son, I could improvise. We were a 4.2 heavy motor outfit. Our ammunition came in canisters. I took one of those canisters. I took my bayonet and

Brainerd Dispatch January 20, 2015 Echo Journal, January 22, 2015

Graduation didnt excuse Wendel from hard work. He went on to wear many hats. In Dickinson, N.D., he worked construction for Ernie Brown Construction. During the off-sea-son, he set pins at a bowling alley for 10 cents a line to pay for his $15 a month rent. When his boss at the construction company purchased a

propane company, Wendel moved up in the world, though that still didnt excuse him from

Ernie came to visit me and asked if I wanted to drive the propane truck. I said, Sure,

h i s number came up in the draft for the Korean War. He trained in Camp Roberts, Calif.,

Bob Wendel and his wife, Mary depend on determination and hard work to succeed where others often fail. Approximately 45 years after marriage, that approach has proven successful.

Pine River man learned this through careers, war

BOB WENDEL: Hard work a key to success

See WENDEL, Page 13

Former County

Recorder Kathy

Ludenia, who

retired in 2014 after nearly 30

years at the post.

PHOTO BY

KELLY HUMPHREY.

BRAINERD DISPATCH

Senior Profile

Senior Profile

After Kathy Ludenia and husband Bill sold their Detroit Lakes real estate firm and moved to Brainerd in 1982, she never planned to become involved in county government.

She worked for a real estate firm and then transitioned to property management when she sought more regular hours. When a group of local businessmen approached her and suggested she run for coun-ty recorder, she was not sure what to think.

I had never really thought about that, because it was political as far as I was concerned, because it was an election, she said. But I thought about it, and I thought, Yeah, thatd be a good fit for me. I had so much background in real estate already, Id run my own business and had kind of gotten used to being in the community.

The county recorders office is respon-sible for filing all real estate documents in the county along with maintaining a data-base of recorded documents, including contracts for deeds, mortgages and pro-bate documents. Statute dictates the posi-tion also include the duties of the registrar of titles, which are to examine documents to determine whether they meet the legal requirements of transfer. Ludenia was familiar with the responsibilities, having utilized the office herself as a Realtor.

After placing second in the 1986 pri-mary election behind the incumbent, Ludenia went on to defeat her in the general election, taking over the office she would hold for the next 28 years.

I never intended on staying that

long, but I love the work and I really, really enjoyed the people, she said.

During her tenure, she said her primary goal was to integrate technology into the everyday work in the office.

When I started, the only duplication equipment we had was a Xerox machine, Ludenia said.

All documents were kept in large, bound books and the index was handwritten, a set-up she described as very,

very labor intensive.Within six months, Ludenia moved to

transfer documents to microfilm, the cutting edge technology at the time.

In 1989, Ludenia and her staff began a tract index for the county that sorts docu-ments based on property location. While the county did have an index at one time, the data was transferred to a private company, so Ludenia was forced to start from scratch. She said she considers the tract index the most important contribution she made as county recorder.

Numerous title companies both locally and out of the Twin Cities area, even nation-ally, use that tract index we created to find information, she said.

By 1997, the Crow Wing County record-ers office was completely paperless, one of the first counties in the state to scan all of its documents into a computer.

While we handled other peoples paper, we did not create any more paper, she said. Everything was digital.

After 28 years at county recorder, KATHY LUDENIA ready for retirement

BY CHELSEY PERKINSDispatch Staff Writer

See LUDENIA, Page 14

THINK POSITIVELY EXERCISE DAILY EAT HEALTHY PLAN SCREENINGS

Former County

Recorder Recorder Recorder Kathy

Ludenia, who

retired in 2014 after nearly 30

years at the post.

PHOTO BY KELLY

HUMPHREY. BRAINERD DISPATCH

After Kathy Ludenia and husband Bill sold their Detroit Lakes real estate firm and moved to Brainerd in 1982, she never planned to become involved in county government.

She worked for a real estate firm and then transitioned to property management when she sought more regular hours. When a group of local businessmen approached her and suggested she run for coun-ty recorder, she was not sure what to think.

I had never really thought about that, because it was political as far as I was concerned, because it was an election, she said. But I thought about it, and I thought, Yeah, thatd be a good fit for me. I had so much background in real estate already, Id run my own business and had kind of gotten used to being in the community.

The county recorders office is respon-sible for filing all real estate documents in the county along with maintaining a data-base of recorded documents, including contracts for deeds, mortgages and pro-bate documents. Statute dictates the posi-bate documents. Statute dictates the posi-bate documents. Statute dictates the posi-tion also include the duties of the registrar of titles, which are to examine documents to determine whether they meet the legal requirements of transfer. Ludenia was familiar with the responsibilities, having utilized the office herself as a Realtor.

After placing second in the 1986 pri-mary election behind the incumbent, Ludenia went on to defeat her in the general election, taking over the office she would hold for the next 28 years.

I never intended on staying that

KATHY LUDENIA ready for retirement

brainerddispatch.com | Brainerd Dispatch pineandlakes.com | Echo JournalI2 January 20, 2015 January 22, 2015

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MARCIA FERRISSenior Corps Program Manager

I had the opportunity to attend the Senior Service Corps National Conference in Texas last year. One of my favorite keynotes addressed the age wave going on in our country and what an increasing natural resources our retirees can be. Marc Freedman is CEO and founder of Encore.org. He has written several books on retirement including, Encore: Finding work that matters in the second half of life. Around 10,000 people a day are turning 65, and in some circles, that is considered a problem. What to do with those older Americans?

While some see retirees as a problem, Senior Corps programs see retirees as a solution. We view retirees as human capital that can solve many of our countrys ongoing problems. Foster grandparents tutor and men-tor children in schools, Head Start programs, shelters and preschools. Senior companions are matched with struggling or frail seniors to help them remain indepen-dent longer. RSVP volunteers do a multitude of service projects in their communities.

There is a new stage of life between middle age and old age. Thirty-year retirements have become common. According to a University of California-Berkeley study, life expectancy in 1900 for a male was age 46. In 1940, it rose to 66, then 67 by 1970 and 70 years old by 1980. Female life expectancy is slightly longer than males. Life expectancy has risen dramatically over the years; 80 is the new 60.

What are you doing with your life to enrich the lives of others and your own life? Consider joining Senior Corps - whatever your talent is, we will connect you to a reward-ing, life-changing experience.

Freedman ended with a great quote: Im old enough to know injustice when I see it, and I have experience enough to fix it!

Meet two area seniors using their experience to serve their communities.

Patricia Tweed, Pequot Lakes

Currently serving as a Lutheran Social Service (LSS) Foster Grandparent at Eagle View Elementary School in Breezy Point. Previously, she served as part of an LSS AmeriCorps Respite and Caregiver grant.

Given a choice, it was always more appealing to Patricia Tweed to work with people. As a result, volunteering comes naturally to her.

Tweed, a new foster grandparent volunteer at Eagle View Elementary School in Breezy Point, gravitated towards teaching, counseling and human resources in her career choices. She also has served on the Pequot Lakes School Board, the Crosslake Library Board and many com-mittees at her church. Her entire family was involved when they hosted two girls from Belfast, Northern Ireland, and served as foster parents for several foster children in Crow Wing County in the 1980s.

After a few quiet years of retirement, Tweed heard of the LSS AmeriCorps program, which places volunteers in homes to provide respite for caregivers. She did this for two years. The second year focused on veterans and their families, which was particularly meaningful since she came from a family of military veterans.

She then heard of the LSS Foster Grandparent Program. As a former secondary teacher, she thought it would be fun to work with younger students, and it has proven to be a wonderful experience this fall. Working with children one-on-one and in small groups with their teachers amid the beautiful setting of Eagle View Elementary school outside of Pequot Lakes has been a rewarding way for her to spend two days per week during the school year.

She listens to students read, preps them for spelling tests, reviews their math homework with them, helps speech students with exercises and works on language skills, such as writing and grammar.

Wrapped around the academics is a chance to show them the emotional support they need in their busy day. Its an opportunity for them to get individual help over a bumpy period and to keep them on track with their classes. Tweed continues to make a difference in the lives of others through service.

Arloa Ellertson, Pequot Lakes

Serving in LSS Senior Companion ProgramNote from Ferris: Ellertson is a great example of our

new boomer corps volunteers. She came with a wealth of skills after retiring. She has made good suggestions for our local programs, and as a volun-teer leader, made herself available to the volunteers for questions and as a mentor. Her national service tradi-tion continues today as she serves her senior companion clients.

Following is her story, told in her own words, of what led her to serve.

In January 1961, newly elected John Fitzgerald Kennedy, appealed, unforgettably, to the U.S. population with these words in his inaugural speech: My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.

I was 12 years old. Those words stuck with me through the next several years and beyond. It was a time when I needed to make career decisions. I was always interested in helping and caring for animals and people. Vet school was beyond my science capabilities but social work was not.

I graduated from college planning to be a county social worker. At that time, jobs were few and far between. My husband and I had been looking for work in Colorado for two to three years after college graduation. We decided we needed to make a change.

While in college, I had looked into joining the Peace Corps or perhaps, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). We decided VISTA was a good fit for us, so we applied. We were accepted and assigned to Huntsville, the county seat of Madison County in rural northern Alabama.

We served on an economic development project from 1974-75 along with eight other northerners as we were called. We were teamed with one or two local VISTAs who introduced us to the leaders we would be working with throughout the rural communities.

We helped rural farmers sell excess produce at the Huntsville farmers market, something they had never thought of doing. The few extra dollars made a difference in their day-to-day lives and those of their families.

We also helped rural women. Many of them quilted with neighborhood friends and neighbors. Their purpose was to produce blankets for warmth. Their families, friends and neighbors were the recipients at no cost to them. We

worked to organize them to quilt with another purpose: for beauty as well as utilitarianism, with the result being a product that could be sold for profit. We opened an outlet store to sell their products. It had limited success, but it was a beginning. We were proud, as were the women who sewed and quilted the products.

Throughout those times and now, I often come back to those words that

impressed me so much in January of 1961.Forty years later, volunteering in the Senior Companion

Program gives me the same sense of satisfaction and fulfillment that serving in VISTA did.

In some ways, I feel as though Ive come full circle.Marcia Ferris is the central Minnesota program

manager of Lutheran Social Service Senior Corps.

Volunteers share their stories

Senior Volunteers

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

Senior Volunteers

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

Tweed works with a student at Eagle View Elementary School. She is currently serving as a foster grandparent at the school.SUBMITTED PHOTO

I had the opportunity to attend the Senior Service Corps National Conference in Texas last year. One of my favorite keynotes addressed the age wave going on in our country and what an increasing natural resources our retirees can be. Marc Freedman is CEO and founder of Encore.org. He has written several books on retirement including, Encore: Finding work that matters in the second half of life. Around 10,000 people a day are turning 65, and in some circles, that is considered a problem. What to do with those older

While some see retirees as a problem, Senior Corps programs see retirees as a solution. We view retirees as human capital that can solve many of our countrys ongoing problems. Foster grandparents tutor and men-tor children in schools, Head Start programs, shelters and preschools. Senior companions are matched with struggling or frail seniors to help them remain indepen-dent longer. RSVP volunteers do a multitude of service

There is a new stage of life between middle age and old age. Thirty-year retirements have become common. According to a University of California-Berkeley study,

stories

Arloa Ellertson recently served as a senior

companion and has a long history of service

throughout her life. SUBMITTED PHOTO

of skills after retiring. She has made good suggestions for our local programs, and as a volun-teer leader, made herself available to the volunteers for questions and as a mentor. Her national service tradi-tion continues today as she serves her

Following is her story, told in her

In January 1961, newly elected John Fitzgerald Kennedy, appealed, unforgettably, to the U.S. population

worked to organize them to quilt with another purpose: for beauty as well as utilitarianism, with the result being a product that could be sold for profit. We opened an outlet store to sell their products. It had limited success, but it was a beginning. We were proud, as were the women who sewed and quilted the products.

often come back to those words that

For more information on volunteering, visit lssmn.

org/seniorcorps, email mar-cia.ferris@lssmn.org or

call 839-6650.

punched a hole in the bottom and a hole in the top. I made a smoke hole and a draft hole, Wendel said.

Wendels improvised heat-er, made from ammo cans and a disarmed grenade, was an ever-present convenience during his service. He even shared the heat with two friends who took turns feed-ing the fire with slivers of wood.

The life of a wireman wasnt all cozy pup tents and buddies. To do his job, Wendel was regularly sub-jected to conditions that could have resulted in death. At Heartbreak Ridge, Wendel said he regularly walked 10 miles a day up and down the ridge running wire.

Thats where I ruined my feet, he said.

At a place called Bloody Ridge, Wendel said he risked more than just his feet. He was asked to climb the ridge to the forward observer on top of the ridge.

I put some C-rations on my back and my carbine and my backpack, Wendel said. I had to climb my way up to the top. I was walking along that area and had to be careful because the (enemy) was pretty good at laying traps for us.

On another occasion at the Punchbowl, Wendel said they were playing a game of horse-shoe when artillery rounds started falling all around them. He and the other sol-diers dove into their bunkers, horseshoes still in hand.

Then they zeroed in on us

and flanked us. I counted 180 rounds on top of us. Laying there in my bunker, horseshoe in hand, and (the explosions) picked me up and dropped me twice. I still hear the ringing in my ear, Wendel said.

After 21 months in the thick of the Korean War, Wendel was sent to Camp Lucas in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., where they guarded bridges in a heavily used cargo shipping area. Just before New Years Eve in 1952, Wendel was discharged early for his service at the front line. He returned home safely, if a little worse for wear.

Intestinal fortitude, you might say. My main goal was to stay alive and get back to talk about it, Wendel said.

He returned to construc-tion, though he eventually took the initiative to secure a different line of work.

I decided I was tired of that because I would get laid off in the winter time. I took a correspondent course in accounting and I studied through an international accounting society. I learned bookkeeping. I went to work

for a car dealership south of Dickinson, Wendel said.

Accounting took Wendel all over. He started at a Hudson dealership and even-tually wound up in Beulah, N.D., at another dealership. He made additional money during weekends.

On the weekends Id sell vehicles in my hometown of Dickinson, which was 80 miles away. Then I went to the St. Anthony Club, Wendel said.

The bar and social club in Dickinson is where Wendel saw someone who looked familiar. He had had run-ins with a woman named Mary at various times in their lives, including when their respec-tive fathers were dying in the same hospital.

I asked her what she was doing. She said, Goofing off, Wendel said. I said, Im goofing off, too. Why dont we goof off together? Thats how we got acquainted and how we got together. Wed goof off together, then Id go back to Beulah and come back on weekends. Finally, I decided she didnt belong there anymore and I

took her back with me. We lived together a short while and got married. Weve been together ever since.

Their wedding was in 1970. The same type of deter-mination that spelled success for Wendel in school, driving gas truck and on the front lines guaranteed that 45 years later, they would still be together.

Intestinal fortitude. We make it work, Wendel said.

Wendel adopted his wifes children from a previous mar-riage. He ran a popular small tax preparation business from their Beulah home while operating as a bookkeeper and eventually city auditor of Beulah for 25 years. Wendels tax preparations helped him purchase a summer lake home near a little known Minnesota town called Backus.

When Wendel retired, they chose a new home closer to their lakefront property.

Thats how we ended up in Pine River, Wendel said. One reason we chose Pine River was the clinic and phar-macy. ... We decided that because the clinic is just a couple blocks away and the

pharmacy is just next door and we are in the center of the town, its only a couple blocks to the grocery store and the family market, thats why we like this area.

The formula for Wendels successes and survival throughout all of that time has been the same - hard work and determination.

It was a matter of surviv-al. I just did what I had to do. It kind of pains me to watch

how some in this young gen-

eration are so freeloading. I

had to earn everything I ever

got, Wendel said.

At 84, Wendel is proof that

this simple, but not necessar-

ily easy, philosophy works.Travis Grimler can be

reached at travis.grimler@pineandlakes.com. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter @PEJ_Travis.

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When temperatures drop to danger-ous levels, many senior walkers may put their healthy lifestyle on hold in an effort to prevent illness or injury.

However, there are several public places that will allow area walkers to get their exercise and escape the harsh temperatures. Among those places are area schools, which can provide walk-ing times in their hallways and athletic complexes.

The walking track in the athletic complex at Pequot Lakes High School is avail-able to the public from 6:15-8 a.m., and again from 5:30-9 p.m. on school days. Walkers are also welcome to traverse the school halls at the same time in the morning and from 3:30-9 p.m.

This amenity is available at no cost to the public, but interested walkers must regis-ter in the community educa-tion office. Andrea Nelson, Pequot Lakes Community Education enrichment coordi-nator, said the track and halls see roughly 50 registered users per quarter.

It is safe and indoors, Nelson said. A lot of seniors opt to use the halls instead of the track, because there are more kids up there. It gives them a chance to check out the school, since a lot of them havent been in here since everything changed.

The Pine River-Backus School District provides a similar program to grant walkers access to the schools halls, which are open from 6:45-8 a.m. and 3:15-9 p.m. on days when the school is open.

All interested parties have to do is register in the district office, providing their name and contact information. Walkers will then be issued a pass that they must display while in the school so the school staff knows why they are there.

Pine River-Backus

Community Education director Troy Gregory said the district currently has 30 registered walkers, but has seen upward of 80 when the weather is not conducive to being outside.

We always see an increase when it gets colder, Gregory said. As soon as it starts snowing, we start getting phone calls. They dont have to worry about

slipping. (The walking area) is easy to access. Our parking lot is pretty close to the door they enter. There is a place to put your coats. It is pretty simple.

The community education department at Pine River-Backus also provides fit-ness classes for the public. Some of them - including a cardio class currently avail-able at 3:15 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays - are free of charge. Gregory suggests the public keep an eye on the departments bulletin for up-to-date

information on classes.The Brainerd School

District also provides some comfort from the cold. The indoor track at Forestview Middle School in Baxter is available from 6-7 a.m. on school days. It is also avail-able in the evening after junior high sporting events, but Health and Safety Coordinator Denise Sundquist said the track may be covered by the bleachers at that time.

Its warm, its safe and its well-lit, Sundquist said. We have so many hours in the dark, and it is not really safe for any of us to be walk-ing outside. It is also very social, and can be a wonder-ful time to come walk and visit. It is a great opportunity for people who live in the Baxter community to get out.

Registration is not neces-sary for walkers at Forestview Middle School.

Another option for local walkers is the Westgate Mall in Brainerd, which is avail-able as long as the building is open. It is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and from noon 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Dan Determan can be reached at dan.determan@pineandlakes.com. Follow him on Facebook and on Twitter @PEJ_Dan.

The Center will be offering art and wine classes. If you have had the desire to try painting, but never have taken the chance, heres your opportunity. We have professional artists wanting to provide a fun, entertaining and creative experience for others. The schedule for classes is as follows:

Watercolor and Wine - 3-5:30 p.m., Feb. 11. Instructor is Phyllis Frankum. Cost is $24 for members, $26 for non-members.

Painting Oils and Pinot - 3-5:30 p.m., Feb. 19. Instructor is Jean Tidhome. Cost is $23 for members, $25 for non-members.

Riesling and Rosemaling - 3-5:30 p.m., Feb. 26. Instructor is Jan Almquist. Cost is $23 for members, $25 for non-members.

Flip Flop and Folk Art - 3-5:30 p.m., March 5. Instructor is Jean Tidhome. Cost is $23 for members, $25 for non-members.Woodcarving and

Cabernet - 3-5:30 p.m., March 12.

Instructor is Ron Carlson. Cost is $14 for members, $16 for non-members.

These art classes will be for 20 students so individual attention can be given. Everything you need for your budding artist experience along with a wine lesson will be provided for you. A glass of wine, beer or pop and snacks will be provided for students to enjoy. In each class you will complete an art project unless time doesnt allow; then you will be able to finish it at home at your leisure.

Attend one class or all five, but register early as class size is limited. Register by calling The Center at 829-9345. Payment for each class is due one week prior. Waiting lists will be kept for each class. The Center is located at 803 Kingwood St., Brainerd.

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

The walking track in the athletic complex at Pequot Lakes High School is avail-able to the public from 6:15-8 a.m., and again from 5:30-9 p.m. on school days. Walkers are also welcome to traverse the school halls at the same time in the morning and from

This amenity is available at no cost to the public, but interested walkers must regis-ter in the community educa-tion office. Andrea Nelson, Pequot Lakes Community Education enrichment coordi-nator, said the track and halls see roughly 50 registered

It is safe and indoors, Nelson said. A lot of seniors opt to use the halls instead of the track, because there are more kids up there. It gives them a chance to check out the school, since a lot of them havent been in here since

The Pine River-Backus School District provides a similar program to grant walkers access to the schools halls, which are open from 6:45-8 a.m. and 3:15-9 p.m. on days when the school is

All interested parties have to do is register in the district office, providing their name and contact information. Walkers will then be issued a pass that they must display while in the school so the school staff knows why they

calls. They dont have to worry about departments bulletin for up-to-date information on classes.

District also provides some comfort from the cold. The indoor track at Forestview Middle School in Baxter is available from 6-7 a.m. on school days. It is also avail-able in the evening after junior high sporting events, but Health and Safety Coordinator Denise Sundquist said the track may be covered by the bleachers at that time.

its well-lit, Sundquist said. We have so many hours in the dark, and it is not really safe for any of us to be walk-ing outside. It is also very social, and can be a wonder-ful time to come walk and visit. It is a great opportunity for people who live in the Baxter community to get out.

sary for walkers at Forestview Middle School.

walkers is the Westgate Mall in Brainerd, which is avail-able as long as the building is open. It is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and from noon 5 p.m. on Sundays.

reached at pineandlakes.comJoseph Imgrund, 75, walks laps at the Westgate Mall

for exercise, with a goal of 45 times around that day. KELLY HUMPHREY, BRAINERD DISPATCH

Walking indoors provides escape from the cold

Seniors dont have to put healthy lifestyle on hold during winter

Fitness

DeAnn Barry

Art and wine classes offered at

The Center

WENDEL, From Page 1

Rosemaling3-5:30 p.m., Feb. 26. Instructor is Jan Almquist. Cost is $23 for members, $25 for non-members.

Folk Artp.m., March 5. Instructor is Jean Tidhome. Cost is $23 for members, $25 for non-members.Northern Lights with

Pine Tree, a watercolor painting by Phyllis Frankum.

brainerddispatch.com | Brainerd Dispatch pineandlakes.com | Echo JournalI4 January 20, 2015 January 22, 2015

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Its finally that time again: Downton Abbey, the highest rated PBS series in history, is back on the air for the fifth time.

This season places the Crawleys and their staff in 1924, a time of uncertainty - both economic and political - all across Europe. If you cant get enough of the upstairs /downstairs drama, take a look at the books below for stories of life at the end of the British aristocracy, both real and fictional.

I have previously mentioned in this column the biography, Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle, written by the current Countess of Carnarvon. She, along with her husband, has worked tirelessly to preserve the castle so familiar to fans of the show, as well as the history of the family who lived in it.

The Lady Almina of the title was born Almina Wombwell, but it is well known that her biological father was Alfred de Rothschild, an immensely wealthy American banker, who bestowed upon Almina his fortune. Meanwhile, the fifth Earl of Carnarvon had spent his inheritance on wild living and impressing his peers, leaving nothing to maintain the upkeep of the incredible (and incredibly huge) Highclere Castle.

As was the case for a surprising number of British aristocrats in the time period, the

earl was able to retain the castle by marrying an American heiress. Most sources put the number of such marriages at around 500. Alminas family (and therefore de Rothschild) gained social status and the earl could save his estate. It is their story, full of drama and adventure, which was one of the inspirations for Julian Fellowes while creating Downton Abbey. The Countess has also written about another of her husbands ancestors in Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey.

If you prefer to know more about life below stairs, check out Servants: A Downstairs History of Britain from the Nineteenth Century to Modern Times by Lucy Lethbridge, or Below Stairs: the Classic Kitchen Maids Memoir that Inspired Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey by Margaret Powell. Both books give great insight into how a position at a grand estate was simultaneously seen as a good and honorable way to earn a stable living while also being tremendously hard work, day after day. If you wondered why Downtons kitchen maid Daisy always looked exhausted, you will discover

examples of her almost unimaginable workload in these books.

If you like the period drama aspect of the show, there are many great titles to sustain you between Sunday evenings. The Care and Management of Lies: a Novel of

the Great War, by Jacqueline Winspear, author of the Maisie Dobbs series, tells the story of two close friends who grew up together but find themselves taking different paths in life. One seeks independence and finds it in the suffrage movement, the other falls in love and is content building a home life. When the war breaks out in 1914, however, all aspects of life are uncertain, and they will need to rely on each other to make it through intact.

To me, the most astonishing part of the post war seasons of the show (and historically, of course) is the loss of so many men of working age, so suddenly. Many veterans who did survive their injuries were left with disabilities, both physical and mental. Its no surprise there was social upheaval following World War I given the sweeping change in the population. A novel published last

year, Wake by Anna Hope, follows the stories of three women in post war England tending to the men they love, damaged by battle.

The women - Ada, Evelyn and Hettie - do their best to pick up the pieces of their lives but struggle with knowing how to confront the scars of a war they only witnessed secondhand. In the end, the three womens stories interweave and the many possible meanings of the single -word title become clear.

I often recommend author Kate Mortons books for those who love complex mysteries expertly set in a specific historical context. The House at Riverton, like the Downton Abbey series, brings vivid humanity to the relationships of those living in the great estates between the two world wars. The narrator of this title is the 98 -year- old Grace Bradley, who as a young girl went to work for the Hartford family at Riverton House.

She came to know the two Hartford daughters, Hannah and Emmeline, and together the three girls hold a terrible secret about what happened one night at the house to cause a young poet to shoot himself. As Grace recalls her years at Riverton, we get a glimpse of the last years of the aristocracy as seen by someone who came of age downstairs. Morton has written several other wonderful novels, all of them are worth a read.

We have some great things happening at the library, so if its been a while since youve visited, please stop in and and let us know what you think.

At 5 p.m. Feb. 12, a fascinating program on the modern medicine of the 1820s will be presented by a history player from Fort Snelling, who will discuss the life of a military doctor in the early years of what is now Minnesota, including how he was responsible to make accurate weather reports. This program is supported by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment funds, and is open to all ages.

Save the date for this years Write Basics writers conference to be held March 21. We have many regular monthly programs, too: along with our book clubs for adults and families, we have gardening classes taught by the Crow Wing County Master Gardeners every second Tuesday of the month at noon, workshops on healthy living and community involvement by Crow Wing Energized every third Thursday at noon, and more computer classes coming soon to get you up to speed with technology that can enhance your life. Contact the library at 829 -5574 to find out about the latest programs and classes, or check out our Facebook page.

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

A dose of Downton

PBS.COM

LUDENIA, From Page 1Not before laws were changed to allow digital imaging as an approved means of archiving docu-ments, however. Ludenia served on a committee that lobbied the Legislature for the change.

The office is totally immersed in technology, and thats really the only way you can run any business anymore, she said. That was always my goal, was to run that office like a busi-ness.

Her vision for the future of the recorders office is for it to continue being run like a business, a philosophy she said has served the county well.

We have never used tax-payer dollars to run that office, she said. Not only that but we make significant income that is used for pur-chasing technology either for the recorders office or other land-based offices. I would feel very badly if that plan changes.

Another change Ludenia does not want to see is a shift in the county recorder role from an elected post to an appointed one. The possibil-ity of this change has been floated at the county board in recent years, and Ludenia

said shes made her position on the matter clear: autono-my in the elected offices is better for the county.

If you truly feel that there are things that your time is better spent at and your money is better spent at, and youve been elected by the electorate of Crow Wing County, youre answering to Crow Wing County resi-dents, she said. Not the administrator or the county board. You can make much better decisions for the coun-ty.

As she looks forward to her retirement years, Ludenia, 63, sees more of what she already loves: adventurous cooking, black labs and the couples 480-acre farm in South Dakota.

With an open-minded husband who will eat any-thing, Ludenia said she enjoys trying new recipes, particularly pasta dishes and desserts. She also likes to keep her heritage alive by cooking traditional dishes.

I have a Scandinavian heritage, she said. I like to keep some of the Scandinavian traditions going, making krumkake and rosettes.

Although she doesnt cook it herself, she also does

not shy away from another Scandinavian delicacy, lute-fisk.

When shes not cooking, Ludenia enjoys spending time with their black lab and, with her retirement, is ready to add a puppy to the mix. The couple, along with their dog, spends about a week each month on the farm, where besides the planting of corn and soybeans, much of the land is preserved for wildlife.

Everybody says, Are you going south now that youre retired? she said. And I said, Yeah, Im going south to South Dakota.

Although Bill is not retir-ing, Ludenia said she hopes to help with his land apprais-al business to give the both of them more time to spend at the farm.

Ludenia will miss the job and the people shes encoun-tered along the way, but hav-ing worked full-time since she was 16, retirement is welcomed.

I feel so blessed for hav-ing been in that position for that many years. The con-tacts that Ive made with the community, the people that Ive dealt with, the great per-centage have been just won-derful, she said. You hear

horror stories about working for government and how dif-ficult sometimes it is, but I always expected my staff to give great customer service. When you treat people with respect and help them, they generally arent difficult to

work with. So im really going to miss that part of it.

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

LaurelHall

What a change since I wrote last months article.

Last month, I was anticipating the holidays, having family together, hoping to keep the rollercoaster of emotions in check as the list of things that must be done grew larger and focusing on not letting my gas tank run too low. As I write this article, my family just left after a week packed with fun and memories. The house is very quiet and empty, presents are unwrapped, and frankly, the Christmas music just had to be shut off. Yes, and my gas tank is very low. As much as the quiet is welcome, its also difficult. Im actually home alone (yes sir, a strategically planned fishing trip) and its very, very cold outside and gets dark very, very early. Hows that for a positive start?

The changes from a much anticipated holiday with family to the slower pace of a January winter can be very drastic. I know I need to pay attention to keeping busy, exercising, being around people, and those extra things you need to do to combat this can-be-depressing time of year. We also need to pay attention to those around us, especially our senior friends.

I heard from a friend who had planned a week-long trip to a warmer environment for several members of the family over the holidays. A good time was had by all, but she commented that her dad seemed to enjoy himself the first few days, but as the week wore on, he became less willing to be involved with family activities and wanted to be by himself more. The fact that seniors arent always used to so much activity could be a factor, or that the vacation was drawing to an end and family members would go back the their own homes could have been weighing on his mind. He would be alone again. I have to admit, these were the feelings I was having. Especially this time of year, we should be aware of signs of loneliness, or even depression.

There may be many factors and anyone can be impacted. But seniors who recently lost a spouse or who are living alone miles from family may experience something much more serious that could negatively impact their health and can increase the risk for depression, or make existing depression worse. Caring for a spouse or family member also can add to those feelings of depression. Some of the other changes and life events are:

Adapting to a move from home to an

apartment or retirement facility.

Chronic pain. Feelings of isolation or

loneliness as children move away and their spouse and close friends die.

Loss of independence (problems getting around, caring for themselves, or driving).

Multiple illnesses. Struggles with

memory loss and problems thinking clearly.

Watch for changes. Only a doctor can know if your loved one suffers from depression, but there are also signs you can look for. If you notice these signs, encourage them to make an appointment as soon as possible. When you have a diagnosis, youll know for sure. Following are signs of loneliness and depression you can look for in a senior this post-holiday winter season:

Losing or gaining weight - Check the refrigerator, freezer and drawers to make sure there is plenty of nutritious food. Also, possibly provide tips on nutritious eating and encourage or arrange mealtime companionship.

Difficulty sleeping - Look for signs of more trouble focusing during the day and more frequent fatigue.

Being agitated or irritable - The source of irritability could be boredom. Help your loved one plan a schedule of appropriate activities.

Lack of energy - Encourage them to see a doctor for a complete physical.

Feelings of sadness - Try to locate resources to help ensure companionship and appropriate activities.

Losing interest in activities they always enjoyed - If they have difficulty with those activities, look for ways to modify them so they can still enjoy doing the things theyve always loved.

Feelings of worthlessness - Many

seniors volunteer. Encourage your loved one to make an effort to find a niche in the community.

Difficulty thinking or concentrating - Make sure there is plenty of mental stimulation. Word games and crossword puzzles can help keep an older persons mind alert.

Losing interest in personal care and hygiene - Are they unable to take care of the home? Perhaps more assistance is needed.

Thoughts of suicide - Contact a mental health professional immediately.

If the diagnosis is depression, a doctor might recommend therapy or medication. In addition to the doctors recommendations, why not encourage your loved one to reconnect with the world? Rediscovering hobbies and activities can help them to find their way back to society.

Perhaps they are neglecting friendships and others with whom they used to enjoy spending time. Ask them to invite a friend to lunch or coffee. Churches and senior centers also are great places for older adults to get involved.

Or, if your loved one is not outgoing, you may want to consider getting them companionship in the home. At the same time, the companion could assist with household tasks such as meal preparation, light housekeeping or running errands. It is a great way to get things done together and have a friend to do it with.

The most important part is recognizing the changes, perhaps signs of depression, and then taking steps to do something about it. With the proper treatment, hopefully your loved one will be feeling better in no time - and so will you.

Heres to a great start to 2015 for you and your senior loved one, a bright and cheery winter season filled with lots of time with people, and some quality time for yourself (ok, even if your choice is out in the fish house!). Happy winter from Home Instead Senior Care.

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

Sunday, Feb. 1: Pancake, sausage and egg breakfast, 8 a.m.-noon. Cost of breakfast is $6 for adults, $3 for children 6-10 years old and free for children 5 years old or younger.

Thursday, Feb. 12: Valentines Day Party, 2:30 p.m. Live music by Social Service Express. A meal will be served at 5 p.m. Please make meal reservations by noon Feb. 11 by calling 320-632-8200.

Every Thursday morning: Fresh dough-nut sale, starts at 6:30

a.m. Everyone is wel-come to purchase dough-nuts. The center is look-ing for doughnut sale vol-unteers willing to work 4-7 a.m. and cashiers are needed from 7:30-10 a.m. Please see Kathy Burgardt at the centers front desk or call 320-632-8009.

The Little Falls Senior Center also offers Bone Builders exercises class-es; bingo; card games such as 500, whist, wild rummy and cribbage; and pool tournaments. The Senior Hotline is avail-able at the front desk for more details on activities.

Lutheran Social Services meals program offers hot meals Monday through Friday for din-ing-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 cen-ter.

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.

Little Falls Senior Center lists events

brainerddispatch.com | Brainerd Dispatch pineandlakes.com | Echo Journal January 20, 2015 January 22, 2015 I5

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Seniors at The Center and the Brainerd High School Key Club stu-dents gathered for a Technology Time session last month.

Members of The Center were invited to bring their smartphones, tablets, laptops and any questions they had about operating their device. The students did their best to answer ques-tions, solve problems and gave step-by-step solutions.

The students were very proud to have a chance to show off their skills,

said Wendy Vandeputte, advisor of the Key Club. The seniors who attended left feeling more confident and less frazzled with their devices.

It was a great intergenerational afternoon! said DeAnn Barry, execu-tive director of The Center.

Future Technology Time events have been planned at The Center for the afternoons of Feb. 4, March 4 and April 2. For more information, please contact The Center at 829-9345.

Intergenerational technology

event a successKey Club, The Center plan future sessions

Noticing changes?Recognize signs of post-holiday doldrums

Deb Cranny

A Brainerd High School student assists two seniors with their smartphones. Members of the schools Key Club helped answer technology questions at an event at The Center in Brainerd.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

Technology Time

brainerddispatch.com | Brainerd Dispatch pineandlakes.com | Echo JournalI6 January 20, 2015 January 22, 2015

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With recent dangerous winter weather, Home Instead Senior Care says now is the time for seniors and their loved ones to brush up on cold weather safety tips.

Winter can be a difficult time, as the harsh conditions especially impact seniors, said Jeff Huber, president of Home Instead, Inc. We want to make sure seniors and their loved ones are aware of simple ways they can stay safe and warm throughout the season.

Those over age 65 account for nearly half of all hypothermia deaths. As the body ages, the ability to maintain a normal internal body temperature decreases, creating an insensitivity to moderately cold temperatures. Seniors may not realize they are putting themselves at risk until symptoms appear.

Symptoms of hypothermia include: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. If symptoms are present, immediate medical attention is neces-sary.

The leading reason for hypothermia in the elderly is due to poorly heated homes, which is entirely preventable. Follow these simple tips to ensure a warm household.

Stay warm Keep the thermostat at 65 degrees, at least.

Consistently check it to make sure your home is sufficiently warm. Even as heating costs rise, your safety should be a priority.

Put a carbon monoxide detector near where you sleep.

Ensure that there is adequate insulation, and check and clean the fireplace and furnace. Furnace filters should be replaced monthly.

Minimize drafts by filling old socks with sand and using them in drafty window sills and door jams. Weather-strip around windows and doors. Keep doors to unused rooms closed and close cur-tains at night.

Add an extra blanket to the bed and warm the bed in advance with a hot water bottle. Never use an electric blanket - it may be difficult to operate the controls if the temperature needs to be adjust-ed in the night.

Dress in layers of loose fitting clothing. If you go outside, make sure your head is covered.

Every year, more than 1.6 million seniors end up in the emergency room because of a fall. With icy conditions, the chances of falling are even greater.

Preventing falls Take a couple minutes per day and stretch

your limbs to loosen muscles. Stay inside. Make arrangements for someone

to shovel and salt driveways and walkways. Professional caregivers can assist with to-do items, such as bringing in the mail and/or picking up groceries.

Wear shoes or boots with a non-skid sole. Have handrails installed on outside walls for

frequently used walkways. If you use a cane or walker, check the rubber

tips to make sure they are not worn smooth.Winter weather can take a toll on everyone,

especially seniors. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can occur in seniors and impact their emo-tional health. Some signs to watch for with SAD include: a loss of energy, an increased appetite and an enhanced feeling of lethargy and tiredness.

If symptoms are present, talk to your medical provider about treatment options.

Additionally, winter storms can be unpredict-able. It is important to be prepared in case of an emergency.

Build a network Stay in touch in with family, friends and

neighbors. Schedule phone calls, or enlist the help of a professional caregiver to come in for an hour a week.

Make arrangements for assistance in case of a blizzard or power outage. Keep important num-bers in an emergency kit, along with non-perish-able foods, water and medications.

Be familiar with your local resources. Visit www.ready.gov/seniors, www.noaa.gov or www.redcross.org for more information about cold weather.

To learn how Home Instead Senior Care can assist in the cold weather, visit www.homeinstead.com.

Red Cross offers safety tips when dealing with Arctic blasts

Bitter Arctic air recently put millions of Minnesotans in a deep chill with temperatures of 25-30 degrees below zero. The American Red Cross recommends the following tips to stay safe during a deep freeze.

Cold safety tips Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm.

Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat. Someone should seek medical attention immediately if

they have symptoms of hypothermia, including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering.

Watch for symptoms of frostbite, including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numb-ness or waxy feeling skin.

Dont forget family pets - bring them indoors. If they cant come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water.

Avoid frozen pipes - run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children. Keep the garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage.

Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes.

Download the Red Cross First Aid App for quick, expert advice on what to do in case of an emergency. This free app is available on the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores.

Home fire risks increases during cold

Local Red Cross workers responded to more than 700 home fires in Minnesota during 2014, and at least eight so far in January 2015. During extremely cold weather, the risk for a fire in someones home can increase.

To avoid fire danger, remember the following: Never use a stove or oven to heat the home. Remember 3 feet from heat. If using a space heater,

place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flamma-ble at least three feet away - things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed.

If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.

Use generators correctly - never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage.

Dont hook a generator up to the homes wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment someone wants to power directly to the outlets on the generator.

Cold weather brings potential dangersThree steps to stay safe