CMW - OctNov14

Theresa EichersEichers Hobby Farm More Than A Hobby!
Selling Healthy Goat Products Locally
LOCAL Women’s Network Section • Get Out and Enjoy This Season with Must-Do’s
Women’s Fund - Enhancing Lives of Women and Girls • Steppin’ Out!
Cold Spring Bakery - Delicious
Seasonal Favorites
Lynn Schurman
and Family
Natural Healing and
Her Faith Saved Her Life
Beth Gustafson
October is
Blind Awareness
Month - Meet our
Local
Federation
of the
Blind
The Life
of Pie
Food
Explorer
Loyalty is
Earned and
Learned
When 10 Really
Means 19
What’s He
Thinking?

2 October-November 2014 {Central Minnesota Women} cmwomen.com
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tamera farrand
Cori Hilsgen
Char hopela
Lois Johnson
Crystal Nutt
Amy Olson
Heather Rotunda
Natalie M. rotunda
melinda Sanders
Debra Schroeder
doug vagle

cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 3

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Printed Words
Tamera Farrand,
Publisher
Natalie M. Rotunda,
Editor
Tamera FarrandCO-PUBLISHER
All around us, we see examples
of women whose lives touch ours
in so many ways. Maybe it’s that
they’re making countless personal
sacrifices designed to make
our lives better, while bringing a
feeling of accomplishment to
their own lives. Or maybe it’s that
they’re enduring a debilitating
illness, and will one day reach
out to share that experience so
that we can learn from it. In time
and spirit, the women whose lives
touch ours find a way to succeed,
or conquer.
In this issue, Char Hopela tells us
the story of Theresa Eichers, whose
first career didn’t feel quite right.
While she gave her all to the
customers she served, something
else beckoned. In time, she would
find what that something was.
Lynn Schurman sat down with
Amy Olson to share the many
fulfilling aspects of her life. For
more than 30 years, Lynn has
lovingly invested time in being
an integral part of her family’s
business. But Lynn has even more
to give, and Amy tells us the rest
of the story.
For two-plus decades, Beth
Gustafson battled an unseen
foe which, according to one
doctor, should have immediately
ended her life. Lois Johnson writes
of Beth’s faith, hope, and an
indomitable spirit that led her to
conquer that illness.
Our columnists deliver thought-
provoking comments on the
subject of abuse; a humorous
take on “time;” an update on
programs established to help
women and girls, and a pie-
baking event you can hold in
your own kitchen. It’s all here
for you, along with Cori’s and
Natalie’s recommendations for
events you’ll not want to miss.
We hope you’ll accept our
invitation to take a little time
for yourself soon, if not right this
moment, and enjoy connecting
with…central Minnesota women!
Time
and
Spirit
By Tamera & Natalie

title
5 ◗ PRINTED WORDS
Time and Spirit
By Tamera and Natalie
8 ◗ MUST-DO’S
By Cori Hilsgen
Grab a jacket or sweater and
take in these “fall”-ish family fun
events.
10 ◗ ANNA MARIE’S ALLIANCE
For Some, It’s War
By Debra Schroeder
11 ◗ COVER STORY:
From Salon to Farming Roots:
Theresa Eichers
By Char Hopela
Photos by Sue Dropp
Theresa Eichers has loved goats
since she was a little girl. Wait
till you see where that love has
taken her!
15 ◗ Feature Story:
Cold Spring Bakery – Hometown
Goodness
By Amy Olson
Photos by Jen Lessinger
Lynn Schurman serves up more
than delicious pastries at the
family bakery. Her plate is filled
with deep-rooted dedication to
community and education.
18 ◗ Learning As I Go
Loyalty Is Earned and Learned
By Tamera Farrand
19 ◗ Feature Story:
Hope Is My Word: A Story of
Courage, Strength, and Faith
By Lois Johnson
Photos by Jen Lessinger
A main ingredient in Beth
Gustafson’s journey back from
the brink was hope. Her story
may fill you with hope, too.
21 ◗ WOMEN’S FUND
Enhancing Lives of Women
and Girls
By Melinda Sanders
23 ◗ Focused
Philanthropy: National
Federation of the Blind
By Crystal Nutt
Photos by Sue Dropp
The local NFB chapter
reaches out to educate
sighted people, while
advocating for the blind.
26 ◗ SPECIAL
ADVERTISING
SECTION
Local Women’s Network
25 ◗ WHAT’S HE
THINKING?
When 10 Really Means 19
By Doug Vagle
28 ◗ FOOD EXPLORER
The Life of Pie
By Heather Rotunda
Photos by Sue Dropp
Pie-lovers, raise your
hands! For you, Heather
whips up three quite-
different-but-oh-so
scrumptious pies: Salted
Caramel Cheesecake Pie,
Spiced Coffee Bavarian
Cream Pie, and Nut Butter
Shortbread Tart.
30 ◗ STEPPIN’ OUT
By Natalie M. Rotunda
In partnership with
AroundTheCloud.org.
11
19
15
28
inthisissue
on the cover
Table of Contents
October-november 2014

As we start to
experience cooler
weather, now is a good
time to admire the
beautiful fall colors
on the trees as we
drive to local football
games, apple orchards,
pumpkin patches,
and other favorite
destinations. With the
approach of Veterans
Day and Thanksgiving,
we prepare to give
thanks for freedoms and
liberties, and for the
many joys that fill our
days. Here are just a few
happenings to add to
your Must-Do list.
Football Fun
For football
fans, there
are still a
few home
games at
St. Cloud State University
and St. John’s University to
bundle up for and sip some
hot chocolate at. If you are a
Minnesota Vikings fan, check
out their home schedule
at the TCF stadium. To view
schedules and ticket pricing
information, visit the websites,
stcloudstate.edu, csbsju.edu,
and vikings.com.
IndoortheatrefunTheater Latte Da will perform
“Steerage Song” at 7:30 p.m.,
Saturday, November 1st, at
St. John University’s Stephen
B. Humphrey Theater. This
Apple and
Pumpkin
Adventures
For a small traditional apple
orchard, visit the Hidden
Cove Orchard located at
27524 Hidden Cove Road,
Cold Spring. This orchard
offers pre-picked apples and
pears, along with a gift shop
filled with many items. For
additional information, visit the
website, hiddencoveorchard.
com.
Collegeville Orchards,
located at 15517 Fruit Farm
Road, St. Joseph, offers more
than 20 varieties of apples,
pick-your-own pumpkins, a
petting zoo, wagon rides, and
more. The orchards are open
through the end of October.
For additional information, call
(320) 356-7609.
Must-Do’s
Must
Do’s
By Cori Hilsgen

Must-Do’s
musical performance tells
the story of immigrants who
passed through Ellis Island to
America. For some, it was a
land of opportunity; for others,
a land of exclusion. Tickets
range from $10 to $24. For
additional information, visit
the website, csbsju.edu/
Fine-Arts, or call (320)
363-5777.
The Stroia Ballet
Company brings
their annual
performance of
“The Nutcracker
Ballet” to the
Paramount
Theatre November
13th through 15th. This
show includes a sugar
plum fairy, a ferocious
mouse, and beautiful
costuming. Tickets range
from $12 to $19. For
additional information,
visit paramountarts.org,
or call (320) 259-5463.
Celebrate Veteran’s Day by
attending a performance of
“Accidental Hero” at
7:30 p.m., Saturday,
November 15th at the
Stephen B. Humphrey Theater
at St. John’s University. In a
one-act play, Patrick Dewane
tells a story of finding his
grandfather’s journals and
discovering a story he never
knew. Patrick uses rare color
WWII footage, music, and
photos from the 1940’s.Tickets
range from $10 to $24. For
additional information, visit the
website, csbsju.edu/Fine-Arts,
or call (320) 363-5777.
Family time at the Paramount
Theatre could include
performances of
“A Charlie Brown Christmas”
and “Frosty the Snowman.”
The GREAT Children’s Theatre
will perform these two
well-known television
holiday specials
November 21st
through December
7th.Tickets range
from $14 to $22.
For additional
information, visit
the website,
paramountarts.
org, or call
(320) 259-5463.
Cori Hilsgen is a central Minnesota
freelance writer. She is a wife,
mother and grandmother who
enjoys spending time with family and
friends.

Debra Schroeder is a local.
She grew up in Cold Spring,
went to college at SCSU, and
has worked with Anna Marie’s
Alliance since 2000. She gains
much energy from talking
with people about the issues
faced by those experiencing
relationship violence. Debra
currently lives in her childhood home with her
husband, seven cats, and the occasional bat.
situation may end in physical abuse.
As with all dynamics of relationship
violence, not every situation follows
any specific model, and can vary
widely. It’s important to remember
the abuser’s problem is not that they
respond inappropriately to conflict.
The abuse is operating prior to the
conflict: it usually creates the conflict,
and it determines the shape the
conflict takes, and its outcome.
To intervene and not be a bystander
depends a lot on the situation and
your relationship with both the abuser
and the target. If you can, always let
the person being abused know they
do not deserve this treatment and you
are there to help as much as you can.
To break the cycle, it is important
men speak up, too. Tell the abuser
what you have observed and how it
could have consequences legally, and
in the relationship. Do not mention if
the victim has talked to you about the
situation; it could be very dangerous
for them. As with most things in
life, knowing when to speak is as
important as the speaking.
Source: Why Does He Do That? Inside
the Minds of Anger and Controlling
Men, Lundy Bancroft. Berkley
Publishing Group, 2003
makes it impossible for
the argument to end
any other way than his
way, and he feels he has
the right to do this.
“When we argued, I felt
like I was in a battle, like we
were at war.” For many abusers,
this is exactly what an argument is,
a war that must be won at all costs.
You win this war by controlling
the final outcome and getting what
you want. It is not the abuser’s goal
to negotiate, understand the other
person, or think of compromise.
In the eyes of the abuser, his target
is always wrong. This is what can
make it pointless to argue with
someone who is absolutely certain
their perspective is accurate and
right, and yours is wrong and
stupid.
“No matter what I said, he would
twist it to be about him and how
I was wrong.” Through a series
of conversational control tactics,
abusers will work the argument in
their favor. If we put these behaviors
on a continuum, the argument
may start with sarcasm, laughing
at opinions, provoking guilt,
changing the subject, interrupting,
and distorting. As the argument
escalates, yelling and swearing
tactics increase the sense of threat
and fear for the target. On the
higher end of the continuum,
abusers may block the doorway,
tower over their target, or approach
the target in an intimidating way.
If there is no intervention, the
For Some,
It’s War
By Debra Schroeder
Targets of relationship abuse will
often confide they tried to reason
with their abusers during arguments,
only to have the situation escalate
into a yelling match, or worse. What
is going on in the abuser’s mind, why
won’t they listen? According to Lundy
Bancroft in his book, Why Does He
Do That?, there may be no reasoning
with an abuser during an argument.
His goal is to silence and discredit
his target’s opposing perspectives or
grievances. For the abuser, it may
be paramount to always being right
and not feeling obligated to change
behaviors or attitudes. This view
If you are experiencing
violence in your
relationship, call
Anna Marie’s
(320) 253-6900, or
(800) 950-2203, any time.
October is National
Domestic Violence
Awareness Month
Anna Marie’s Alliance

Cover Story
From Salon to
Farming Roots:
Theresa Eichers
By Char Hopela Photos by Sue Dropp cmwomen.com {Central Minnesota Women} October-November 2014 11

From Salon to Farming Roots: Theresa Eichers
Theresa showing some love
Leading her pets around the farm
Cover StoryCover Story
By Char Hopela Photos by Sue Dropp
Getting ready to do chores
Theresa Eichers is gonzo for goats.
She is a big believer in the benefits
of goat’s milk, whether it’s sipped
raw from a glass, consumed on a
cracker, or smoothed over skin. Eich-
ers Hobby Farm produces gourmet
foods and cosmetics formulated and
handcrafted by Theresa, an energetic
entrepreneur and salesperson.
Theresa runs her business from her
home office where she can glance at a
monitor and keep an eye on the milk
house, birthing pen, and a slumber-
ing Great Pyrenees, Dolly. The goats
also have an outdoor play area visible
from the back window. Her spacious
country home in rural Avon is sunny
and immaculate. Both her housekeep-
ing and wall art communicate old-
fashioned values. Judging by the lat-
ter, this is a “God Bless America” and
“Ten Commandments” household,
where hobby and hard work are as
one. Together, she and husband Jerry
manage the 20-acre farm, a growing
commercial enterprise.
Coaxing people to sample goat cheese
at local farmers’ mar-
kets is part of the fun
for a woman who, until
recently, owned Sensa-
tional Styles & Spa in
Avon. A self-professed
‘talker,’ Theresa thrives
on interacting with the
public. While she grew
up on a dairy farm near
St. Martin, goat products are
her passion. Because “there’s
so much on the market that
people can buy,” her sales
message includes a lengthy list
of health and beauty benefits.
When Theresa discusses
eczema, facial moistur-
izing and skin nutrition,
you begin to understand
how her 30-year career in
the beauty industry dove-
tails with her new venture.
Working at styling salons
heightened her awareness
of the health risks associ-
ated with prolonged contact
with harsh chemicals. As a
Theresa and Jerry
Eichers with “the girls”

Cover Story
Soon, the Eichers were producing too
much milk for their own needs, and
invested in a 180-gallon bulk tank for
milk storage. “Craig’s List has been
our friend,” Theresa says.
As expenses mounted, the goats
were becoming an expensive hobby.
Theresa needed to defray
costs, and began selling
raw goat’s milk to local
customers who came
to the farm. With a
daily surplus of milk,
she also started mak-
ing cheese, learning by
trial and error.
Pleasing cheeses, and more
In 2012, Theresa made endless small
batches of cheese at her kitchen stove.
Researching the subject and refining
recipes was a long process. “That was
a chore. I wrecked a lot of milk, but
the cats liked that,” she says.
Given her own taste preferences,
Theresa needed to master the art of
making fresh, easygoing cheeses. “I
personally don’t like aged goat cheese.
It’s just my taste buds.”
Relying on her own likings and feed-
back from salon clients and family
members, she altered ingredients and
tweaked the texture of her cheeses.
“When I was learning the curding,
I tried many different things,” The-
resa says. She settled on apple cider
vinegar, and then began to diversify
her flavors.
Once she had consistent products,
she started selling her wares at the
farmer’s market in St. Joseph. As her
cheeses gained a following, Theresa
was determined to sell them in stores
and restaurants. At this point, she
discovered a steep increase in state
regulations. Moving forward com-
mercially required the purchase of
a pasteurizer, another significant
expense.
The following year was a struggle.
“I’m really impatient. I hate waiting.
It took me all of 2013 to complete the
state’s cycle of inspections.”
Fortunately, decades of experience in
cosmetology — also a highly regu-
lated business — taught her to shrug
off her exasperation and keep going.
“I’m not a rule breaker. It’s not worth
the consequences,” she says.
Theresa takes pride in the mild
flavors and fresh taste of her cheeses.
Her selection includes nine kinds of
artisan cheese. The sliceable cheeses
melt well on grilled burgers. She
recommends trying the cheeses that
crumble in scrambled eggs or salads,
among other uses.
Theresa makes her cheese in
three-gallon batches, prefer-
ring quality to quantity.
The approach has paid
off. Eichers Hobby Farm
cheeses are now sold at the
Good Earth Food Co-op,
the Grand Depot, and a
growing list of area grocers.
New products, old ways
While learning to make cheese, The-
resa was also making small batches
of soap. Friends from church shared
family recipes. Years of continuing
education as a spa owner gave her a
good idea of what anti-aging ingre-
dients she wanted to incorporate. In
time, she learned how to get creamy
goat’s milk soap to properly harden.
The result is attractive, molded soaps
sold in fine mesh netting. Theresa
advises customers to keep the soap in
the mesh wrapper, which acts like a
shower scrub.
What accounts for Theresa’s tena-
cious willingness to try new things?
“If I’m going to do something, I’m
going to make it work, whatever it
takes,” she says.
She credits her interest in natural
products to her farm upbringing.
Theresa is the oldest of nine siblings.
During her childhood, family mem-
bers went to the doctor for emergency
care only. Milder illnesses were treat-
ed with “the oldest remedies.” The
same rules applied to the livestock.
Theresa’s parents successfully treated
sick animals with natural substances
rather than modern medicines.
“I’ve always been a homeopathic
kind of person,” she says. “If people
only checked into natural (solutions)
instead of going to the drugstore,
they would be amazed at how much
healthier they would be.”
Theresa’s healthy product line may
soon expand. The Eichers occasion-
ally butcher goats. Sensing a growing
demand, they are adding meat goats
to their herd, and plan to do some
salon owner, she used natural clean-
ing products to reduce health risks to
employees. Later, she wanted to offer
her customers a natural line of soaps
and lotions rich with goat’s milk.
Did she find it hard to leave her spa
for solitary days milking goats and
making cheese? Yes and no. While
she loved the conversations with her
customers, owning her own salon was
never her dream. As a young mother
and new stylist, Theresa was content
working at a chain salon until busi-
ness hours on Sundays conflicted
with getting to church. Though she
was willing to work through her lunch
hours to secure Sundays off, schedul-
ing issues continued. Looking for a
solution, Theresa realized Avon could
use a full-service salon and decided to
start one, eventually hiring additional
stylists and buying a building.
Theresa sold the salon in January
2014 and is fully committed to her
new livelihood. “We call it a hobby
farm? It’s not. It’s a full-fledged farm-
ing operation,” she says.
A growing herd
After rearing two children, Carrie
Sue and Sam, Theresa and her
husband had more free time to
devote to their hobby farm.
Jerry, who preferred “field
work and machinery” to farm
animals, was not enthusiastic
about adding goats to the mix.
But Theresa, who has loved goats
since childhood, was persistent.
She convinced Jerry to buy a pair
of nannies, more as pets than
livestock, in 2011.
Tilly and Lulu — affectionately
called ‘the girls’ — played their
part, playfully rubbing against
Jerry’s legs and winning him over.
A large dog kennel was converted
into a sheltered goat pen. An old
chest freezer was used to elevate the
goats to a comfortable height in
a makeshift milking station. The
goats were bred, kids were born;
and Theresa began visiting other
goat farms in the region to see
how they ran their operations.
Committing to expansion, the
couple built a goat barn with
a blend of new and recycled
materials, including old barn
timbers from a nearby farm.
“We are
totally tied to
the land.
”

Cover Story
crossbreeding for a leaner product. As
momentum builds, she believes it’s
important to balance business success
with “a good family base.”
Theresa has achieved her goals
through perseverance and “anger,
tears, sweat, and blood.” Years of
handwork — from styling hair to
milking goats — resulted in the need
for carpal tunnel surgery in 2014.
What started as a hobby has grown
into a demanding, but rewarding,
occupation. Currently, the couple has
27 goats — most are female. They
milk twice a day, at 6:30 a.m. and
6:30 p.m. As a result, Theresa and
Jerry rarely take time away from their
farmstead.
Char Hopela is a freelance
writer with fresh technology
skills and experience in print,
broadcast and new media.
Eichers Hobby Farm
Avon, MN
(320) 290-2757
eichershobbyfarm.weebly.com

Hometown Goodness
Lynn talking with
a customer

titleHometown Goodness
Amy Olson is a freelance
writer and story teller living
in Cold Spring, MN with her
family.
Cold Spring Bakery
308 Main Street
Cold Spring, MN
(320) 685-8681
coldspringbakery.com
Volunteer Opportunities
• Food Shelf
(320) 685-8785
• Central Minnesota
Habitat for Humanity
cmhfh.org

Tamera is the Publisher/Co-Owner
of CMW Magazine since 2008.
She believes in giving back to a
community that has given so much
to her. She can be reached at
farrand1@msn.com
Learning As I Go
By Tamera Farrand
Loyalty is earned and has to flow
both to and from the other entity.
Through my years in business, I’ve
observed that men seem to naturally
create loyal networks among them-
selves. Sometimes good, sometimes
bad, but always undying loyalty
Women, on the other hand, seem
to want to be nice to everyone and
spread out their alliances.
This matter of loyalty is not some-
thing I “got” or understood until my
good friend Dean showed me how it
works by his continued support and
encouragement throughout our de-
cades of friendship. He never wavered
from his loyal friendship to me, no
matter what.
Loyalty comes in many forms -- and
not just to another person. It comes in
the form of loyalty to brands, sup-
port of non-profits, religion, groups,
causes, or country.
And it’s all about forming relation-
ships. Big marketers know the power
of loyalty. They work hard to estab-
lish loyalty cards and programs so
you stick with them. Panera gave me
free coffee through the month of Sep-
tember. So I stopped in every day for
my free coffee…and bought a scone
to go with it! That’s pretty cool.
Our parents were loyal to the compa-
nies they worked for, back in the day.
They would work at one place until
they retired, a type of loyalty we don’t
experience in today’s market, which
diminishes a company’s power over
us and the public.
If you do work for a company you
feel loyal to, the business’s success
seems to soar far and above its com-
petitors.
I am loyal to my partner Doug, co-
owner of this magazine. He did not
experience this loyalty with another
partner on a different magazine he
owned, and it was a hard blow. Then,
the loyalty did not go both ways, a
critical element to its success.
Having true, loyal friends and busi-
ness associates is like having a safety
net. It’s an amazing feeling.
Loyalty is both earned and learned.
It’s one of the most powerful forces
on earth.
LoyaltyLoyalty

Imagine, if you will, a life filled with
potential: a young family with a
brand-new son, satisfying careers, and
a promising future. Such was Beth
Gustafson’s life 26 years ago, until
her son was born. When, during the
birthing procedure, she lost a lot of
blood and needed a transfusion, her
doctors, instead, decided to give Beth
the rubella vaccine, in order to prevent
German measles in uterus should
she become pregnant again. Her first
thought was, Hmm… that doesn’t sound
right. Little did Beth realize that that
decision would forever change her
life. She would never feel like herself
again.
During the next three months, Beth
nursed her son and felt somewhat
okay. Nevertheless, when she went
back to work, a crippling fatigue set
in. Beth’s doctor told her that she was
suffering from postpartum depression,
but, deep down, she knew that wasn’t
the problem. “It was not a good
enough reason to go on anti-depres-
sants, so I didn’t,” says Beth.
After five months, utterly exhausted,
she quit her job. “Some days, it was
hard just to get out of bed to go to the
bathroom,” remembers Beth. “It was
like having the flu every day of your
life.”
Beth continued to search for answers,
visiting numerous specialists in the
Minneapolis/St. Paul area. They all
told her the same thing: either the
problem was postpartum depression,
or it was all in her head.
Eventually, she stopped seeking
medical help altogether, but then the
alarming weight loss started. Beth lost
25 pounds a month without effort,
until she looked anorexic. Every night
before bed, she would tell her hus-
band, “If, by chance, I’m not here in
the morning, please tell my son what
his mom was like.”
Very worried, Beth’s husband made
an appointment for her at the Mayo
Clinic. They were the best in the
world, certainly they would be able to
help.
Hope Is My Word
Is My Word: A Story of
Courage, Strength, & Faith
By Lois Johnson
Photos by Jen Lessinger Beth Gustafson
However, 24 years ago, there were no
electronic records, so Beth’s medical
history didn’t follow her there. After
the initial examination, she remem-
bers the doctor looking down at her as
he pulled his glasses to the tip of his
nose, saying, “There’s nothing wrong
with you, but if you want to run the
damn tests, go ahead.”
“He was angry,” remembers Beth.
Although stunned by the doctor’s re-
action, Beth and her husband decided
to go forward with the tests, hop-
ing that the Mayo Clinic would find
something.
They stayed the whole week, with
Beth enduring non-stop testing. At
the end of the week, she met with the
doctor once more. Just as before, he
looked down at her as he pulled his
glasses to the tip of his nose and said,
“Just as I told you, every test came
back normal. Get yourself a psychia-
trist.”
Breakthrough
Devastated, Beth and her husband

the look on his face that the news
was not good.
”Your blood work came back. It’s
off the charts. You should have
died the moment the shot was
given to you. How are you walk-
ing?”
“I’m not,” Beth answered. By that
time, she was completely disabled
to the point where she couldn’t do
anything. Nonetheless, Beth was
elated. At last she had an answer.
Certainly, there would be an easy
solution, as well.
That was not the case. “Until the
day you die, it [blood count] will
never change,” Dr. Neilson told
her. “It will always be elevated. It’s
really sad and unfortunate when
these things happen, but there’s
nothing we can do but keep you
comfortable until you die.”
Beth was stunned but said she would
get back to him.
The long road back
Beth returned home and prayed. She
listened to her heart and knew that
there was something out there. She
remembers thinking, God’s not going to
let me lie here and die.
She went back to Dr. Neilson one last
time and told him, “Keeping Beth
comfortable is not in her vocabulary,
but no, thank you, I’m going to get
healthy. From this day forward, I take
full responsibility for this body.”
With that, she walked away from the
medical field.
At least now Beth had a starting
point. While she lay in bed for the
next 3½ years, she read everything
she could get her hands on regarding
health and nutrition. “I became my
own guinea pig,” she says.
Eventually, she went to Mexico for an
alternative treatment which involved
injecting hydrogen peroxide into the
bloodstream. This technique oxygen-
ated the blood which, in turn, killed
the virus. “After three weeks, I could
actually get up and walk,” recalls
Beth.
Armed with this new and vital infor-
mation, she returned to the United
States. Because the treatment was not
available in the U.S., she bottomed
out, worse than ever. “I really wanted
to die at that point,” Beth says.
Meanwhile, Beth’s dad found a lym-
phologist in Utah who was experi-
menting with blood oxygenation using
a different method.
After numerous phone calls, the
lymphologist finally told her, “I’m
going to teach you how to oxygenate
your blood. When can you come out
here?” Luckily, her church had just
completed a fundraiser and collected
just enough money for Beth and her
family to fly to Las Vegas. “This guy
picks us up at the airport in an old sta-
tion wagon with the doors falling off,”
remembers Beth. She looked at her
husband and said, “This guy’s a brick
short of a load.” Still, she decided to
make the most of it.
The lymphologist drove Beth and
her family to their hotel. There, the
lymphologist rolled a mini-trampoline
into the room, told her to bounce
on it, keeping both feet on the mat,
and to do it again the next hour. “I
couldn’t even do it for a minute,” says
Beth.
The next morning, the lympholo-
gist came back, drew blood, and
pointed out to Beth its unnaturally
deep burgundy color. But each day,
as her blood became more and more
oxygenated, the color turned a bright
red. “Within four days, I wasn’t in bed
24/7,” says Beth. “I’m thinking this
guy’s a quack, but in reality, this is
what saved my life.”
It was the beginning of Beth’s 9-1/2
year health journey.
Today, she still uses the trampoline
for 20 minutes a day. She eats healthy
and manages her stress. “It really was
a learning, rebuilding process because
I had everything wrong you could
imagine. The body is actually wonder-
fully made to correct itself. It’s the
truth. I’m living proof.”
Yep, hope is her word.
Lois Johnson is a freelance
writer from St. Cloud,
MN. She enjoys outdoor
adventures, travel,
gardening, writing,
healthy cooking, and her
grandsons.
Hope Is My Word
Beth talks about what she did to
regain her health in her book,
coming out in the spring.
It’s entitled, Have Hope.
were about to head home when she
received a call from her mother. After
hearing the news, she suggested that
Beth call Dr. Neilson, the local physi-
cian in Hinckley where they lived at
the time.
Driving straight from Rochester, they
arrived at Dr. Neilson’s office Friday
evening. He took one look at Beth and
said, “You’re one sick girl. I’ve never
worked with anyone this ill. I don’t
know where to start with you.” Nev-
ertheless, he told Beth that he would
think about it over the weekend.
Early Saturday morning, Dr. Neilson
called Beth to ask her if she had been
given a rubella vaccination after the
birth of her son. Beth confirmed that
she had. “There was dead silence at
the other end of the phone,” recalls
Beth. Then he told her some astonish-
ing news.
The night before, Dr. Neilson had
seen a 20/20 segment regarding the
rubella vaccine. Not only was this vac-
cine killing Beth, it was killing other
women, as well. “Dr. Neilson put
two and two together when they said
that the likely time to get it was after
birth,” she remembers.
Furthermore, a specific blood test was
required to determine if the vaccine
was causing Beth’s debilitating symp-
toms. No test was administered.
Within a week, Beth’s blood work
came back and she made an appoint-
ment with Dr. Neilson. He walked
into the room, and she could tell by
PhotosubmittedbyBeth’sfamily
Beth and Kevin’s 30th wedding
anniversary included “a dream
wedding”ceremony in which they
renewed their vows to one another.

Women’s Fund
Enhancing Lives
of Women
and Girls
By Melinda Sanders
You know that idiom – tug at the
heartstrings? I’ve got that feeling
about the three organizations
chosen to receive the proceeds from
this year’s Women’s Fund event,
HERstory in History, which was held
in June.
As you know, the Women’s Fund
is all about women enhancing the
lives of girls and women, and, in
particular, girls aged 10 to 18, women
in transition, and elder women.
The Women’s Fund chose the
St. Cloud Children’s Home building
project for the “girls” category. This
secure residential intensive treatment
facility provides in-patient treatment
for struggling teens who cannot
be served safely in less-restrictive
environments. Kids helped by this
program have experienced more
trauma, hardship, and troubles than
most adults will see in a lifetime.
Many Women’s Fund volunteers
touring the Children’s Home learned
why a new cottage was needed to help
these most vulnerable kids.
Starfish was chosen as the “women
in transition” recipient. Starfish is
an intense mentoring program for
women who are seeking to break free
from a history of domestic abuse or
sexual assault. Starfish women work
hard to build their self-esteem, and
learn how to become the best woman
they can be. Throughout the year,
many Women’s Fund volunteers
share their talents, treasures, and tears
with this program.
In support of elder women, Meals on
Wheels was also a recipient this year.
Meals on Wheels brings a nutritious
meal to seniors who have mobility
issues, but it also provides the seniors,
two-thirds of whom are women, a
much-needed link to the community.
It’s no secret that many elder women
suffer from depression and isolation.
Meals on Wheels feeds their body and
their soul, one friendly visit at a time.
Through the hard work, creativity,
and leadership of the Women’s Fund,
Melinda Sanders joined the
Central Minnesota Community
Foundation as its Director of
Donor Relations in June 2013,
after practicing law in St. Cloud
for almost 19 years. Melinda
lives in Rockville with her
husband and sons.
each program received $15,000 from
HERstory in History, and, just as
important, these programs were
recognized for enhancing the lives of
girls and women in our community.
My words here don’t fully do justice
to these three programs. If you would
like to learn more, please call me at
the Central Minnesota Community
Foundation, (320) 257-9737.
Together, we’ll tour the Children’s
Home, help facilitate a Starfish class,
and ride along with Meals on Wheels.
I guarantee these programs will pull
at your heart strings.

“I came across a
website that barely
worked with my
screen reader. I
called them up,
and they said,
‘We’ll fix it; not
a problem.’ In a
couple weeks, it
was fixed, and
yeah, I did order
from that site af-
ter that,” Kevin
chuckles.
Some challenges persist in the com-
munity, too.
“Restaurants are supposed to have
Braille menus, and a lot of them
don’t,” says Kevin.
The NFB President also references
the increasingly popular touch screen
drink fountains used at restaurants
and how he often has to get assis-
tance from others to use the fountain
because Braille is not available.
“In situations like that, I usually ask
for a manager and ask how they can
make that accessible,” Kevin adds. “If
it isn’t made accessible, a lot of times,
it’s a place I won’t frequent.”
Making an impact
Central Minnesota Chapter Second
Vice-President Beth Moline says the
group is doing its part to generate
awareness and educate the public.
Every fall, I look forward to taking in
the warm colors and serene views my
favorite season so pleasantly brings.
The simplest acts, be it a commute to
work or a walk around the neighbor-
hood, turn into precious moments in
awe of nature’s beauty.
Beauty that Kevin Horodenski has
not had the ability to enjoy in several
years. Born with retinal pigmentosa
(RP), an inherited disease causing
gradual loss of sight due to retinal
degeneration, he’s now legally blind.
In recent years, the President of the
Central Minnesota Chapter (CMC) of
the National Federation of the Blind
(NFB) has been focused on educating
the public about blindness, as well as
advocating for the rights of the blind.
It’s a year-round responsibility, and
one that includes October’s Blind
Awareness Month.
Opportunities plentiful
With the 1990 signing of the Ameri-
cans with Disabilities Act, the U.S.
has progressed by leaps and bounds
in the way of accommodating those
without sight. However, people who
are blind or partially sighted still face
many barriers to accessibility today.
For instance, Kevin says accessibility
to websites continues to be a chal-
lenge, as not all sites are programmed
to be compatible with screen reader
software used to read screen content.
Compassion Kindness Concernassisiion
NATIONAL FEDERATION
OF THE BLIND
Local Chapter Educates and
Advocates During October’s
Blind Awareness Month
By Crystal Nutt
Photos by Sue Dropp
Back row: Beth Moline, Gail Gruber-Bengston,
Kevin Horodenski - Pres., and Becky Chiado,
and Front row: Ron Mahnke - 1st Vice Pres
Kevin Horodenski, President of the Central
Minnesota Chapter (CMC) of the National
Federation of the Blind (NFB)
For example, they have hosted events
open to the public, such as Louis
Braille Day, named after the man who
developed Braille in the late 1800’s,
at the St. Cloud Public Library. The
early January gathering offered NFB
members the opportunity to talk to
attendees about being blind in today’s
society, demonstrate technology that
assists blind people, and show how to
write and read Braille.
“The library has been very supportive
of us,” says Beth. “We would like to
do that event every year.”
Focused Philanthropy

Focused Philanthropy
Day-to-day casual encounters with
the public offer the chance to have a
voice, as well.
“There are times when kids get in
trouble for staring or pointing, and
I tell my friends, they might want to
know about our blindness. And I’ve
said, ‘I’m not afraid to answer ques-
tions. You don’t have to be afraid to
ask me questions,’” Beth adds.
Founding Central Minnesota Chap-
ter member Gayle Gruber-Bengtson
makes a point about people provid-
ing directions.
“I’d rather they give specific direc-
tion, like left or right,” says Gayle.
Beth touches on stereotypes that are
often associated with blind people.
Recalling a time when a woman
tried to feed her, she emphasizes
that people who are without sight
are to be treated the same as people
with sight.
Reminiscing
Both Beth and Gayle were born
blind during the 1950’s, and it was
recommended to their mothers
to institutionalize them. Each of
their mothers refused and found
the people and services needed to
help them learn and succeed during
a time when it was difficult to get
support.
Only five years apart in school, they
enjoyed some of the same experi-
ences.
“We had a teacher that taught us
how to read and write Braille,” says
Beth. “She was wonderful.”
“We played a game in the gym
where you had to find a ball by
sound,” says Gayle. “It was a fun
way to learn listening skills.”
Ways to help
The Central Minnesota Chapter of
the NFB has a couple of fundraisers
each year. The local chapter invites
the public to support their mission
at their spaghetti dinner in January
and, during the summer months, at
their bratwurst sales at various local
Coborn’s and Cash Wise stores.
Additionally, the organization
welcomes new members, including
those who are fully sighted. The
minimal $5 dues, along with the
dollars raised at fundraisers, support
the education and advocacy work be-
ing done in the community, and at the
state and national levels.
To learn more about the organization
and its local chapter, as well as how
to get involved and donate, visit nfb.
org.
About NFB
The National Federation of the Blind
is the largest organization of blind
and low-vision people in the United
States. Founded in 1940, the Federa-
tion has grown to over fifty-thousand
members. The organization consists
of affiliates and local chapters in
every state, the District of Columbia,
and Puerto Rico. The Central Minne-
sota Chapter of the NFB was founded
in 1971, and has an average of 15
members.
The mission of the National Federa-
tion of the Blind is to achieve wide-
spread emotional acceptance and in-
tellectual understanding that the real
problem of blindness is not the loss of
eyesight but the misconceptions and
lack of information which exists. The
Crystal Nutt is a Development &
Communications Manager at
WACOSA, as well as a freelance
writer and storyteller. She lives
in Monticello with her husband,
son, and daughter. Contact her
at crystallnutt@hotmail.com.
organization does this by bringing
blind people together to share suc-
cesses, to support each other in times
of failure, and to create imaginative
solutions.
The purpose of the National Federa-
tion of the Blind is twofold — to help
blind persons achieve self-confidence
and self-respect, and to act as a
vehicle for collective self-expression
by the blind. The NFB provides
public education about blindness with
various literature and publications.
It also provides appliances and other
adaptive equipment for the blind. The
organization advocates for the blind,
including civil rights and the develop-
ment and evaluation of technology
and support for blind persons and
their families. Members of the NFB
strive to educate the public that the
blind are normal individuals who can
compete on terms of equality.

Doug Vagle and his wife
Peggy live in Sartell. They
have three children, Abby,
Nathaniel, and Sophie. Doug
is pastor of Waters Church in
Sartell, thewaterschurch.net.
WHEN
10
REALLY
MEANS
19
While I was thinking about what
to write this time, I was drawn to
the fact that this issue is focused on
“Time and Spirit.” It was brought
to my recollection that men and
women look at time a bit differently.
Let me demonstrate with this
one popular “time” phrase: “10
minutes.” When a man says “10
minutes,” most of the time, it
literally means 10 minutes -- unless
something unforeseen and out
of our control happens to extend
that time. It would be simple
to understand if this was just a
mathematical fact, but it quickly
gets very confusing when there is no
standard of consistency.
Let me explain where some of this
innocent confusion may come from.
When a guy is
on his way
home and
says he’ll be
there in 10
minutes,
a literal
timer
begins a
countdown
in a
woman’s
mind. If
there is some
unexpected
delay of even six
minutes, that point is
duly noted and brought
up upon his entering the
home. Even with an explanation,
the man is simply – LATE.
But when you ask a woman how
much time she needs to be ready
to go – and this is very dangerous
to bring up – and she says 10
minutes.......... Well, you get the
point. It could mean any indefinite
amount of time, and there are no
imaginary timers allowed! If the
man duly notes that it has actually
been 16 minutes and he is foolish
enough to point it out........it’s just
not going to turn out well.
So, I’m just trying to resolve the
conflict caused by this minor-yet-
major inconsistency that causes so
many arguments. I think if we all
agreed that 10 minutes could mean
anything actually up to 19 minutes,
the world would be a more peaceful
place for all of us.
Well, my job here is done for now.
It’s time for me to go because I need
to be home in 10 minutes. Until
next time...
By Doug Vagle
What’s He Thinking?

CMW
LocalWomen’s
Network
Local women. Local talent. Local coverage.

To Advertise here, contact Kristi Spaniol (320) 266-8907 • kristi@cmwomen.com

Food Explorer
Versatility, thy name is pie. There
are very few dishes I can think of
that are anywhere near as adaptable
as pie. The filling can be meat, fish,
vegetables, eggs, fruit, custards, nuts,
ice cream. They can be single-crusted,
double-crusted, crustless. The crust
can be flaky pastry, shortbread,
cookie or cracker crumbs, coconut,
nut, meringue. What’s not to love
about something so adaptable?
Pies hold a prominent place, not
just in our cuisine, but also in our
pop culture. Our language is full of
expressions such as “easy as pie,”
“as American as apple pie,” “having
your finger in the pie,” and “pie in the
sky.” In the entertainment world, we
have Don McLean’s classic song from
1972, American Pie, and the pie-in-
the-face gag, begun in silent movies
in 1909, immortalized in Singin’ in
the Rain (1952), and revived by Soupy
Sales on 1970’s TV. No matter how
you slice it or serve it (pun intended),
Americans love pie.
My love for pie began in my Gram’s
apartment. I can picture her buffet,
now sitting in my dining room, lined
with at least three varieties of pie for
Thanksgiving or Christmas. She was
still making pies from scratch into
her 80’s, including pumpkin pie made
from her mother’s recipe. If you ever
had a Banquet frozen pumpkin pie,
you know what Gram’s tasted like;
her son Pat worked for Banquet when
they were looking for a good pump-
kin pie recipe, and he knew just the
one they should use. Gram’s daughter
Joan was also quite the pie baker, and
now my sister and I enjoy making
them.
But where did pie come from? Like
most foods we’re familiar with, the
pie we know today bears little re-
semblance to the original. Pie has
been traced to the Egyptians in 2000
BC. Several hundred years later,
pie spread to Greece and made it to
Rome by 100 BC. The early “crusts”
were inedible, merely vessels to hold
the filling as it cooked. By the 12th
century AD, the English were mak-
ing pies, as well, but, to this point, the
fillings were savory, often made with
chicken or pigeon. English settlers
brought pie with them to the New
World, and colonists used two-crust
pies as a means of food preservation,
with the crusts keeping the filling
fresh through the winter.
Today’s sweet pies have come a long
way, baby; a 1796 cookbook listed
only three varieties, and, by 1947,
there were 65 types. Today, the variet-
ies are endless, although apple pie still
tops the list as most popular.
American Pie Council declared Janu-
ary 23rd National Pie Day, while
March 14th is Pi (3.14) Day, celebrat-
ed with all things pie.
The
Life
of Pie
By Heather Rotunda
Photos by Sue Dropp

Salted Caramel
Cheesecake Pie
1 cup sugar
2 Tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup heavy cream, warmed
1 (8 oz.) package Neufchatel
(1/3 less fat than cream cheese)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 9-inch pie crust,
partially baked
Melt the sugar in a sauce-
pan over medium heat,
swirling pan occasion-
ally until the sugar
is amber in color.
Remove from heat, and
stir in butter and salt.
When the butter is melted,
carefully stir in the warm
cream; the mixture will bubble
up. Return pan to the heat and stir
until caramel is smooth. If there are
a few clumps of sugar that won’t
melt, pour sauce through a strainer
into a medium-sized bowl. Let cool
completely, preferably overnight in
the refrigerator.
Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large
bowl, beat the Neufchatel, eggs, and
vanilla. Reserve one-quarter cup cara-
mel sauce, and add the remainder to
the egg mixture, mixing to combine.
Pour mixture into prebaked pie crust
and bake for 15 minutes. Carefully
pour reserved caramel sauce over the
top of the pie and bake another five
minutes. Cool completely before cut-
ting; store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Spiced Coffee
Bavarian
Cream Pie
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon rum extract
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon espresso powder
5 egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup heavy cream
1 Tablespoon powdered sugar
1 graham cracker crust
Combine water and rum extract;
sprinkle gelatin over the top. Heat
milk and espresso powder in a me-
dium saucepan over medium heat; do
not boil. Meanwhile, beat egg yolks,
sugar, and cinnamon in a medium
bowl until thick. Slowly whisk about
a third of the warm milk mixture
into the egg mixture, then return all
of the egg mixture to the saucepan
and cook, stirring constantly, until
the mixture coats the back of a metal
spoon. Remove from heat and whisk
in the gelatin mixture. Transfer to a
bowl and allow to cool completely. It
may look like this mixture isn’t going
to thicken further, but it will.
Whip the heavy cream until soft
peaks form. Add powdered sugar and
continue whipping until stiff peaks
form. Carefully fold whipped cream
into the cooled gelatin mixture; trans-
fer to graham cracker crust.
Nut Butter
Shortbread
Tart
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup flour
1/8 teaspoon baking powder
1-1/2 cups nut butter
(I use sun butter)
1 cup powdered sugar
4 Tablespoons milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Cream
softened butter and one-quarter cup
powdered sugar; add flour and baking
powder. Press onto the bottom and
up sides of a 10-inch tart pan; bake
in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or
until golden brown. Remove from
oven and cool completely.
Combine nut butter, 1 cup powdered
sugar and milk in a medium bowl
until thoroughly combined. Spread
onto cooled crust. Put chocolate chips
in a small zip-top bag and place in a
cup of hot water until the chips are
melted. Snip off a small tip of the bag
and pipe over the nut butter filling.
Food Explorer
Salted Caramel
Cheesecake Pie
Spiced Coffee
Bavarian Cream Pie
Nut Butter
Shortbread
Tart
Sue Dropp says: “Heather —
you’re a pro baker! I don’t know
which pie was my favorite! They
were all delicious—your crusts
were flaky and scrumptious. I
enjoyed all of the pies. You are a
“pie queen!” Thank you for the sugar high!”
Heather Rotunda has been
actively exploring the world of
food for the past nine years and
is at work on her first e-book.
Find her at sorrowfulflower@
gmail.com and pinterest.com/
sorrowfulflower/

7: An Evening with Clint Black, Para-
mount, 7:30 p.m.Tickets:
(320) 259-5463, or paramountarts.org.
7-9: Quilting & Scrapbooking Week-
end, Riverside Inn of Cold Spring. Info/
Reservations: (320) 685-4539.
10: St. Cloud Municipal Band: Dancing
Through the Ages, Paramount, 7:30
p.m. Checkparamountarts.org for pos-
sible at-the-door admission charge.
13-15: Stroia Ballet Company Presents
The Nutcracker Ballet, Paramount.
Performances:Thu./Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat.,
2 p.m.Tickets: (320) 259-5463, or
paramountarts.org.
14: Downtown Art Crawl, 5 to 9 p.m.
Park free after 6 p.m. Locations:
artcrawlstcloud.com.
15: Accidental Hero • 7:30 pm • St
John’s University Humphry Theatre.
Celebrate Veteran’s Day with a per-
formance that captures the essence
of the“Greatest Generation.”Back by
popular demand, this performance
tells the extraordinary true story of a
modest farm boy turned soldier from
the Midwest.
21-Dec. 7: GREAT Theatre Presents A
Charlie Brown Christmas and Frosty
the Snowman, Paramount Theatre.
Performances: Fri., 7 p.m.; Sat., 2 and
7 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m.Tickets:
26-Dec. 31: Memories in Miniature
Exhibit, Stearns History Museum.
Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sun., noon
to 5 p.m. Closed holidays. Admission
charged. Info: (320)
253-8424.
28-30, Dec. 4-7,
11-14, 17-21: Laugh-
ing All The Way V • Thurs
- Sat at 7:30 pm, Saturday
matinee at 4 pm and Sun.
at 2 pm. • Pioneer Place.
Back for its fifth hilarious
year, the gang at KLAF televi-
sion studio will have you
rolling in the aisles
Arts
October
4-7: 2014 St. Cloud Film Fest, Pioneer
Place on Fifth.Times: Sat./Mon./Tue.,
7 p.m.; Sun., 2 and 6 p.m.Tickets: $5/
single show, $20/festival pass. Info:
(320) 203-0331.
5: The Rose Ensemble Presents The
Roots of Bluegrass, 7 p.m., Bethlehem
Lutheran Church, 4310 CR 137.Tickets:
at the door, or call (651) 225-4340.
11: Sinclair Lewis Writers Conference,
Sauk Centre High School Auditorium,
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Info:
(320) 352-2735.
12: David Bromberg in Concert, 7:30
p.m., Pioneer Place on Fifth.Tickets:
ppfive.com.
15: Granite City Book Club, Stearns
History Museum, 6:30 p.m. Admission
fee, $7 for non-members. Info:
(320) 253-8424.
18: Creole Choir of Cuba, College of St.
Benedict, Escher Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: (320) 363-5777, or csbsju.edu/.
25: St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra,
Moments of Inspiration, SCSU Ritsche
Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.Tickets: (320)
252-SCSO, or stcloudsymphony.com.
28: Ailey II • Paramount Theatre •
7 p.m.Tickets: (320) 259-5463 or
paramountarts.org.You’ll be amazed
by Ailey II. A universally renowned
dance company known for merging
the spirit and energy of the country’s
best young dance talent with the
vision of today’s most outstanding
choreographers.
November
1: Justin Ploof & the Throwbacks Pres-
ent Daydream Believer – The Story of
the Monkees, Paramount, 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: (320) 259-5463, or paramoun-
tarts.org.
2: Broadway Songbook:The First Hun-
dred Years, Paramount, 2 p.m.Tickets:
Steppin’ Out
Steppin'
Out
By Natalie M. Rotunda
Local Arts and
Community Events
Accidential Hero
Ailey II

and tapping your toes as the low-bud-
get television station struggles to pull
off their first-ever toy drive. It’s gonna
take a miracle – a Miracle on Fifth.
Community
October
4: Women’s Showcase, 10 a.m. to 4
p.m., St. Cloud Rivers Edge Convention
Center. Info: (320) 259-7108.
10, 24-25: Bowl for Kids’ Sake, Big
Brothers/Big Sisters, Southway Bowl
(formerly Granite City Bowl). Info:
(320) 253-1616.
11: 10th Annual Kids & Parents Expo,
St. Cloud Rivers Edge Convention
Center, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Info: (320)
253-4050, or kidsandparentsexpo.com.
13, 20: 1-2-3 Magic class, Resource
Training & Solutions, 137-23rd St. So.,
Sartell, 5:30 to 9 p.m. Register: (320)
255-3236, or resourcetraining.com.
17: Pumpkinfest • 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm.
Lake George and Eastman Park will
be transformed into a spine-tingling
spot for the fifth annual spooktacular
celebration.The ghoulish evening in-
cludes trick or treat stations, arts and
crafts, petting zoo, pumpkin painting,
and Monsters Inc. will be featured on
the outdoor movie screen at dusk.
24-26: Wilderness Navigation,
Audubon Center of the North Woods.
Details/Register: (888) 404-7743, or
audubon-center.org/calendar.
25: Dinner @ The Lake, Audubon
Center of the North Woods, 6 to 9 p.m.
Reservations required: (320) 245-2648,
or email audubon1@audubon-center.
org.
31: Joy Christian Center, Fall Family
Fun Fest, St. Cloud Rivers Edge
Convention Center, all day. Info:
(320) 253-7819, or greatjoy.org.
VISIT cmwomen.com for
November Community Events.
Steppin’ Out!
Laughing All The Way

CMW - OctNov14

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