giving credit where it’s due 5 ways to whiten your teeth slimming … · 2020-02-24 · 5 ways to...

Green Bay|Appleton|Neenah/Menasha|OshkoshThe most trusted local magazine for women in Northeast Wisconsin

Giving creditwhere it’s due5 ways to whiten your teethSlimming downby eating carbs

RENITAROBINSON

WomenJANUARY 1, 2019

mywomenmagazine.com

Rooting forthe Underdogs

freshstart

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We have a responsibility in this world to promote peace and stand up for the underdog. That’s what I’m doing here at the YWCA.

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— Renita Robinson

WEIGHT LOSS SOLUTIONS | Slimmingdown by eating carbs – seriously?

by Cheryl Hentz

Weighing in: cardiovs. strengthening

by Miranda Werkheiser

HEALTH | You don't have to saycheese to get a great smile

by Cheryl Hentz

5 dentist-recommendedways to whiten your teeth

by Alison Ver Halen

Have you heard?Importance of hearing tests

by Laura Broullire

MIND | Get financially savvyby Cheryl Hentz

Giving credit where it's dueby Emily Bowles

COVER | Renita Robinson –Rooting for the underdogs

by Amanda Renkas

SPIRIT | Calendar girls posefor fitness

by Mary K. Schmidt

What to do when there'san active shooter threat

by Katie Carlson

New furniture trends for 2019by Miranda Werkheiser

Publisher's Note 4 Question of the Month 5 Around Town 37 Recipe 38

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Women I JANUARY 1, 20194

H appy New Year! Whether you’re making oodles of specific plans for this year or planning on taking it as it comes, we hope it brings you health and happiness. Thanks for picking up Women magazine!

Our cover lady, Renita Robinson from the YWCA in Green Bay, is very excited about the New Year. Check out her story to meet her and see what’s going on at the YWCA.

This issue is called our Fresh Start issue and it has a lot of timely informa-tion on money tips for the New Year and credit card suggestions. Thinking about your pearly whites? We’ve got two stories on cosmetic dentistry deal-ing with methods of whitening your teeth and information about veneers. We have an article explaining the good and bad of carbs and also feature an article on some weight loss solutions comparing cardio and lifting weights. We have lots of ideas in all our articles for little changes you can make in your life. Our stories are locally sourced so you can contact the people in the magazine for more information if you want to as well.

Congrats on making it through 2018 and into 2019! We look forward to in-troducing you to many more interesting people in the upcoming year.

Happy 2019! Leslie Asare, Publisher

publisher's note

is published every four weeks by Asare Enterprises, LLC. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the consent of the publisher.

For a subscription to Women, send name, address & phone number to: Women, 1835 E. Edgewood Drive, Suite 105 #26, Appleton, WI 54913 or call 920-205-6407. Send $16 for 1 year/13 issues or $30 for a 2 year/26 issue subscription. Or e-mail us at [email protected].

PublisherLeslie [email protected]

Caryn JuidiciMarketing [email protected]

Patti HankeMarketing [email protected]

Sue MalkowskiMarketing [email protected]

Volume 17 Number 5 | January 1, 2019Women

Women

Cover photography by Kim Martin,Accent Photography by Kim,Green Bay.Makeup by Alyssa Majors from Savoye Salon Spa, Green Bay.

CORRECTIONIn the December 4, 2018 issue of Women magazine, two photos were incorrectly identified. Photo on left is Amanda and Roy Jacobsen. Photo on right is Daniel and Sherry Hoff.

Contributing writersEmily BowlesLaura BroullireKatie CarlsonCheryl HentzAmanda RenkasMary K. SchmidtAlison Ver HalenMiranda Werkheiser

Renita Robinson


Questionof the Month

I love to go sled-ding with my family! We all get bundled up in our snow gear and

ride down the sledding hill in a toboggan that belonged to my mother-in-law! It's a fun family tradition that I enjoy doing each year!Dr. Kate Williams, Appleton

In January, I love to stay inside and craft! But I also love beating thewinter blues by

experiencing the arts, especially live music and theater.Jaime Rashid, Oshkosh

I like to re-evaluate what I want to get finished so I can take on newchallenges! And ride my bike!

Marti Ziegelbauer, Palm Beach, Florida

Organize and donate old items in the house. Also, get some sledding and winter fun in with the family!

Tricia Voskuil, Appleton

In January I love to ski and snowmobile with family or enjoy a nice cup of cof-fee on a beautiful snowy day.

Julie Babcock, Appleton

January is always a time to start the New Year fresh and organized. I

do a calendar review of the year to make sure I have important birthdays, anniversaries and other dates on my calendar. It's also the time to review finances for the year and set up any re-curring bill payments. After the holidays it's the perfect time for some deep cleaning to get ready for the next few cold months ahead. January is also a time for some personal reflection as I turn a year older and think about what lies ahead for myself and my family in the New Year. Happy 2019!Tammy Malewski, Neenah

Renita Robinson

what do youlike to do injanuary?

SPECIAL SECTION weight loss solutions

SLIMMING DOWN BY EATING CARBS — SERIOUSLY?!

N utritionists and dietitians

alike will tell you that if you want

to drop weight, eliminate carbs from your diet. But there are carbs that are good for you and can still help you lose weight.

Carbohydrates are our main source of energy. They supply our bodies with the glucose necessary to function properly. It gets con-fusing because there are two kinds of carbohydrates: complex and simple. What we should be eating are complex or good carbs – the kind that take time to break down into glucose. Conversely, simple or bad carbs convert to glucose very quickly. That can easily cause our blood sugar levels to elevate and, if allowed to continue can, over time, cause prediabetes or diabetes in people. That’s why it’s so important to know which foods to eat and which ones to avoid.

But, it’s tough to know what’s good and what isn’t. It can also be mind-numbing trying to read and understand labels when shopping. Hopefully this can help.

GOOD CARBS

Carbs in their natural, whole or fiber-rich form are healthy. Examples are:

Vegetables: It’s best to eat a variety of vegetables each day, but any of them are good. Yucca is a root vegetable that’s very good, along with beet-root and chickpeas (better known as garbanzo beans).

Whole fruits: Apples, bananas, blueberries, cherries, dates, oranges, grapefruit and strawberries, to name a few (stay away from high-sugar fruits, such as those in a can).

Nuts: Almost any nut is good, including peanuts, macadamia nuts, wal-nuts, almonds and hazelnuts.

Seeds, such as pumpkin seeds and chia seeds.Legumes: Peas, chickpeas, lentils and kidney beans. Hummus is also

healthy.Whole grains: They should be truly whole, not processed, which can in-

clude quinoa, pure oats (not the packets of oatmeal we ate as kids), buck-wheat, barley, brown rice, sprouted bread, etc. Whole-grain products such as whole-grain pasta and whole-wheat bread are also good.

Tubers: Potatoes, sweet potatoes.

BAD CARBS

Bad carbs would include processed foods that contain a lot of sugar and refined carbs. These are very unhealthy for people to consume, at least on a long-term basis. An occasional bad carb here and there won’t hurt most people, but it can’t be done frequently. Here are some to avoid whenever possible:

Sugary drinks: This includes just about every soda pop out there, and vitamin water sugary drinks are some of the unhealth-iest things you can put into your body.



by CHERYL HENTZ

Fruit juices: When we think of fruit, we think it’s healthy, so naturally fruit drinks would be healthy also, right? Wrong! Fruit juices may have similar metabolic effects as sugar-sweetened beverages. And, researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that people who consumed one or more servings of fruit juice each day increased their risk of devel-oping Type 2 diabetes by as much as 21 percent.

Most commercially available bread, including white bread.Refined grains, sweets and biscuits.White flour, white rice and white pasta are on the naughty list.Bagels, pastries, cookies and cakes.

Ice cream.Candies and chocolates.

French fries and potato chips. Beer: Yes, we live in Wisconsin where

beer is popular, but it does nothing for your waistline or overall health.

Debbie Stone, RDN, CDE with ThedaCare suggests, for example, eating a chicken breast instead of chicken nuggets, or a baked potato instead of having French fries, and so on. She also highly recom-mends avoiding simple sugars, but not just because they make losing weight more difficult but because they also cause inflammation.

“Eating more from plants can help reverse diseases. We see that all the time. So, we’re always try-ing to incorporate more things from plants, nuts or seeds. Not that we’re chipmunks, but these foods are very important,” said Stone, adding two other health notes that aren’t about carbs, but super important anyway.

“I cannot stress to drink enough water – about half your body weight in fluid ounces. If a person weighs 150 pounds, they should be drinking 75 ounces of water a day. It flushes things out and helps your system work better. It also helps any medicines people take work better.”

If plain water is boring, use fla-vored water. Or squeeze lemon or lime juice into ice cube trays and put those in water.

Finally, Stone said to slow down at meal time, chew food well and eat the right kinds of food. And remember, it takes 30 days to break a habit. So, now’s the time to start getting rid of any weight you gained over the holidays. Good luck! w

gifts and celebrationsSPECIAL SECTION weight loss solutions

here seems to be an ongoing debate of wheth-er cardio or strength training is better for you.

With the abundance of information out there, it’s difficult to piece it all together, right? The truth is, when incorporating

them both into your weekly routine, you can reach heightened levels of health and fitness. As we step into the new year, let’s shed

the idea that one is more beneficial than the other!

THE TRUTH ABOUT STRENGTH TRAINING

Also commonly known as weightlifting, strength training is a form of exercise that requires the use of your own body weight, machines or free weights. There has been much speculation on the benefits of it as well as a big misconception that only bodybuilders lift weights. We reached out to some of the ladies at Blankfield BodyFit in Neenah to get some clarity on this.

Rebecca Blankfield, Personal Trainer and Health Coach, explains that even children benefit from weight training but should start with body weight exercises such as pushups and situps. “At this age, focus-ing on technique is more important than heavy weight,” states Rebec-ca. As we get older, our muscle mass peaks around age 30. When we hit age 50, our muscle loss accelerates. As seen with the results from the participants in her class, “Back to Basics,” which trains in balance, flex-ibility, cardio and strength, all of which decrease with age, all of these can be built back if you challenge yourself.

Trina Swendrzynski, Personal Trainer, states that when you skip strength training and only shoot for cardio, your body begins to go into survival mode. What this means is that you begin to store fat, which in turns gives your body permission to get rid of any unnecessary muscle in order to gear up for the next aerobic session. Slowed metabolism, less muscle and retained fat is what that results in — quite the opposite of what most of our goals are. When you focus on adding in strength training, your body recognizes that you are using your muscles. Therefore, your body


TWEIGHING IN:

by MIRANDA WERKHEISER

must use energy from food and body fat to fuel those workouts. In turn, you will build lean muscle, decrease body fat and rev up your metabolism. She recommends three 30-minute sessions a week, focusing on each body part at least once. In addition, switching up the number of reps and weight will keep your body continually adapting to new challenges. Now that sounds more like it!

DON’T COUNT OUT CARDIO

The bottom line about cardio is that it helps to strengthen the heart as well as increase blood circulation. Blood circulation de-livers oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells and takes away waste products. With a healthy circula-

tory system comes a stronger heart and that is the biggest

benefit of regular cardio exercise. Running/jogging, rowing, stair climber, danc-ing, group fitness classes,

cycling, swimming, jump-ing rope and the elliptical

machine are just some of the ways to incorporate this into your weekly regimen. Help count out heart issues by counting in cardio!

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS

As data continues to be collected

and studied, more and more scientists are discovering that the either/or debate between cardio and strength training is fading away. We see more group fitness classes incorporating body weight exercises in a way that gives us a cardio workout. Gyms have begun to offer a 65+ weightlifting class to help increase strength and bone density in the elderly. Marathon runners are speaking up about the strength training incorporated in their training and bodybuilders sharing their cardio routines. We are trending away from advising just one or the other.


When asked about the benefits of incorporating both forms of exercise to your weekly routine, Rebecca had nothing but positive things to say. “Regardless of age, a mixture of both strength training and cardiovascular exercises is recommended weekly. Both strength and cardio improve the balance of hormones that control anxiety, depression and appetite in ad-dition to brain function. And the endorphins released in all exercise help to reduce fatigue, improve REM sleep and increase energy levels. We can all benefit from that!” w

CARDIO VS. STRENGTH TRAINING

f you’re like most people, you probably had your picture taken a lot over the holidays. If you did, but

don’t like how your smile looked, don’t fret — there are ways to improve your smile. One way is by getting

porcelain veneers.Porcelain veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells

of tooth-colored materials. They are designed to cover the front surface of a person’s teeth to help improve their appear-ance. Once bonded to your own teeth they can change everything about them, including color, shape, size and even length.

WHY WOULD SOMEONE GET VENEERS?

Michael Romenesko, DDS with Romenesko Family Dentistry, says there is a variety of reasons someone would want to pursue porcelain ve-neers. “In the simplest terms, veneers are designed to correct aesthetic shortcomings as related to the front teeth,” he said, adding that this could

i

HEALTH dental health

YOUDON’THAVETO SAYCHEESETO GETA GREATSMILE



include staining that can’t be corrected by bleaching; trauma; a history of decay of one’s tooth structure; a history of needing subsequent fillings in a tooth, and spacing or crowding issues. Other reasons might in-clude a desire to cover up teeth that are worn down, chipped or broken, or to visually “repair” teeth that are misaligned, uneven or have an irregular shape to them.

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN GETTING VENEERS?

Veneers involve preparation, which means either shaping the tooth or removing the tooth, then the fab-rication and insertion of the restoration. The veneer is bonded onto the tooth using an adhesive agent referred to as cement.

The entire process can be accomplished in one to three visits, depending on the dentist as well as a pa-tient’s individual needs. Computer-aided dental tech-nology has made it possible to do everything in one visit — at least for some patients. But the average is usually two appointments.

“The first visit would consist of preparation (which is a conservative shaping of the teeth), impressions and tem-porary veneers, followed by a second visit a few weeks later for the insertion or cementation of the permanent veneers,” said Romenesko. “Occasionally a third visit may be required, prior to cementation, to aid in shade matching and/or custom staining in order to bring about the most natural and most beautiful results.”

Another procedure that is often done at the same time as someone getting veneers is gum reshaping or recontouring. Together, the two procedures help elimi-nate a “gummy smile,” something a person can have when they have unusually small teeth and large gums. The patient and dentist talk to decide on the shape of the gum line; then the dentist carefully removes the ex-cess tissue and smooths any ragged edges for a smooth-looking appearance.

Gum reshaping can be done by one of two methods: using manual instruments or a surgical laser. The laser is the more popular of the two options, mainly because it has the least discomfort and the quickest recovery time — which can last anywhere from a few days or weeks to heal completely. During that time, it’s impor-tant for the patient to eat cool, soft food. They should also discuss with their dentist the best way to brush their teeth following a gum reshaping procedure.

WHO GETS VENEERS, HOW LONG WILL THEY LAST AND HOW MUCH ARE THEY?

There really is no specific age range for patients who get veneers. “All ages of adults could present with treatment needs in which veneers are the most suit-able option for a successful treatment outcome,” said Romenesko.

On average, porcelain veneers will last about 10 years. But, as with anything, as dental porcelain be-comes stronger, their lifespan may increase. It should be noted, however, that veneers can suffer damage. While there’s no discomfort if a veneer breaks or comes off, a patient who has this happen should care-fully store any broken pieces they can find and take them to the dentist’s office as soon as they can get an appointment. There, the dentist will have to repair and reattach the veneer. If broken beyond the point of repair, cosmetic bonding or a crown may be necessary.

The cost of veneers differs from patient to patient, but on average, Romenesko said the cost will typically run $900 to $1,400 per tooth. The cost is dependent on what processes are needed in order to have a suc-cessful outcome for each patient.

WILL THEY LOOK NATURAL?

If done right, veneers will look very natural. Romenesko said that good dentistry should be ex-tremely difficult to detect. “Your dentist, paired with an excellent lab technician, should be able to bring about a very lifelike result. The most common error I see is when the shade selected is too light. A bright white smile is preferred by most. However, if the result is too bright it will not look natural.” w

by CHERYL HENTZ

Michael G. Romenesko, DDS920-739-7848

2510 E. Evergreen Drive | Appleton, WI 54913

e all want whiter smiles, but we might not be sure how to go about getting them. Is it enough to simply avoid cof-

fee and red wine, or are there things we can do to remove the stains that have already taken up residence in our enamel?

We talked to a couple of local dentists who gave us three different methods for getting whiter teeth. They range from home remedies to

in-office professional whitening, so no matter what your budget is, we have tips that suit your needs.

HEALTH dental health


5 Dentist-RecommendedWays toWhiten

Your Teeth

13

AT-HOME REMEDIES

Acid and baking sodaThe most cost-efficient ways to whiten your teeth are to do so at home

with baking soda mixed with some form of acid that you can get at your local grocery store.

“The first thing you can make is a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda,” said Dr. Sara Weber, a general dentist with Bellevue Family Dentistry in Appleton. “You want to make sure your hydrogen peroxide is a 1% or 3% solution. Mix two teaspoons of baking soda with one teaspoon hydrogen peroxide and brush with it and that will help whiten the teeth.”

The second combination Dr. Weber recommends is one teaspoon of lemon juice mixed with just enough baking soda to make a thin

paste. Like the hydrogen peroxide concoction, you can brush your teeth with that combination for whiter teeth.

Another form of acid you can use is apple cider vinegar. “Swish with the apple cider vinegar

for two minutes, then dip your toothbrush in the apple cider vinegar and brush for another minute,” said Dr. Weber.The common ingredient in all these

remedies is acid. “The acid will soften the enamel to release the stains, and then the bak-

ing soda is an abrasive powder, so it will pull the stains away when you’re brushing,” said Dr. Weber.

“A little tip with that is to do it only a few times a week, otherwise you can overdo it and damage your teeth.”

Oil pulling“Something new that people are doing is oil pulling,” said Dr. Weber.

“You take something like coconut oil and swish with it for about two min-utes and people are seeing the desired results. I haven’t done it personally, but I have done the hydrogen peroxide one and gotten results with that.”

Over-the-counter optionsIf you want something a little more professional, but without the high

cost of getting it done in your dentist’s office, there is a variety of over-the-counter options on the market, including Crest Whitestrips, which are recommended by both Dr. Weber and Tracy LeMire, a registered dental hygienist with Grandview Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Appleton.

Something new on the market is the at-home light whitening kit option. “They’re little devices you bite on and it’s a UV light that then will whiten your teeth with a special paste you put on them from the company,” said Dr. Weber. “It takes about 15 minutes and you should get pretty good re-sults. It would be comparable to in-office whitening, but at a lower level.”

IN-OFFICE OPTIONS

Most dentist offices offer two in-office options. In the case of Grandview Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, they use the Opalescence brand both in

by ALISON VER HALEN

WWW.MYWOMENMAGAZINE.COM

office and for the take-home trays they offer patients.

Pre-filled trays“We offer Opalescence Go and

those are pre-filled trays, so we don’t have to take any impressions — anybody can pick them up, they are pre-filled with bleaching, and it’s about 10 days’ worth of bleach-ing,” said LeMire. “That is the lowest percentage option, so that would be 10% hydrogen peroxide, and those are disposable.”

Custom traysThe other take-home method

they offer is a tray method that’s a little more customized for each patient. “You would have impres-sions made, a scan of your mouth and custom bleaching trays made and those are not disposable, so you would have those for however long you want to keep them, and we have different strengths rang-ing all the way up to 35%,” said LeMire. “With those, you would have the trays and then, when you needed to do touch-up bleaching, you would purchase the syringes of bleach when you need them.”

While the at-home remedies can be done a few times a week, the more professional strength op-tions should only be done on occa-sion. “It’s very important to do the session of bleaching in consecu-tive days,” said LeMire. “If you get either the disposable trays or the white strips, it’s important to do the recommended consecutive days of treatment to get the best results. You don’t want to bleach one day and then two weeks later try it again because you’re not go-ing to get the same results.” w

WhitenYour Teeth

HAVE YOUHEARD?Importance ofHearing Tests

HEALTH hearing loss



W

CONTINUED ON PAGE 37

e all know that person. To get her attention, you usually need

to tap her shoulder. She frequently asks you to repeat what you’ve said,

and her television volume is off the charts. But what if that person is you?

Audiologists say it’s normal for people to lose some of their hearing as they age. “Eighty percent of people by the time they are 80 will have some degree of hear-ing loss,” said Dr. Stephanie Long, of About Better Care Audiology in Appleton.

That’s because as we get older, the tiny hearing hair cells in the cochlea begin to break down and lose func-tion, said Dr. Peter Zellmer, licensed audiologist at Haviland Hearing Aids, Appleton. Furthermore, the cells that are responsible for the higher frequencies tend to be more fragile and break more easily. “That’s why we lose the higher pitches first,” Zellmer said.

FAMILY MEMBERS: SPEAK UP

Hearing loss tends to happen slowly and gradually over time, Long said. “Oftentimes it’s the person’s sig-nificant other, spouse or kids who notice the hearing loss before anybody else,” she said.

Zellmer agreed. “Family members might notice that initially,” he said, adding that typical signs of hearing loss include asking people to repeat themselves, turn-ing the volume louder or having difficulty hearing at a family gathering. “It’s that extra movement – the extra sound in the room that makes it difficult to hear.”

Some people with hearing loss will find themselves sitting off to the side of the room or withdrawing from social events when participating in the conversation

by LAURA BROULLIRE

Oshkosh | Neenah | RiponAppleton

KEEPING YOUCONNECTED!

(formerly About Better Care Audiology)

foxvalleyhearingcenter.com

becomes too difficult, he said. Worse, untreated hear-ing loss could have bigger implications. Zellmer cited a study that linked hearing loss with dementia and Al-zheimer’s because of activity centers in the brain that aren’t stimulated when sound doesn’t come through.

Long added that being able to hear well is a critical factor in overall cognitive health. “It takes a lot more effort to get through the day if you have hearing loss,” she said. Those who can’t hear well might have more difficulty remembering what they’ve heard, and there’s a mental fatigue that comes from struggling to listen and understand words all day. “We need to protect the brain as much as we can,” Long said. “If we want our brains to be healthy for as long as possible, we need to control what we can control.”

Waiting too long to get a needed hearing aid has its own set of issues. “Those who wait too long find it harder to adjust to the noisy world we live in once again,” Zellmer said.

TIME IS RIGHT

A hearing screening is certainly recommended when hearing loss is suspected. But a screening is a good idea for anyone over the age of 50, Zellmer said, to set a baseline and “to see how things change as you get older.”

important part in deciding how to invest your savings. Don’t let too many questions hinder you from starting to save.”

WHERE TO SAVE IS THE QUESTION

There are so many options out there that it can be hard to know where the best place is to put our hard-earned cash. But Molitor made the fol-lowing suggestions for short-term investing or building up your savings for an emergency fund.

Savings Account

Look for a savings account at a financial institution that offers low fees and a low minimum deposit requirement. This account does not typically pay a high interest rate, but it does offer a way to set aside extra money that’s not as easily spent. Yet you can get at it if there’s a need.

Certificate of Deposit (CD)

As your savings grow, you might consider a Certificate of Deposit. CDs offer a higher interest rate than a savings account. However, your money is not accessible without paying a penalty. It’s a low-risk investment.

Money Market Accounts

If you might need to access your account in an emergency, you might prefer a Money Market Account over a CD. Money Market Accounts usually pay a higher interest rate than a savings account, but your ability to withdraw cash may be limited and fees might be assessed if you make more than a limited number of withdrawals per month.

W elcome to 2019! Now that the tree is down and you’re starting to pay off those Christ-

mas bills, you’re probably think-ing about money and how to get more bang for your buck. The new year is a great time to start saving money. And you can do it by mak-ing simple changes in everyday spending.

“Everyone understands the im-portance of having a savings ac-count. However, it’s sometimes hard to determine what type of savings account fits our immedi-ate or long-term goal and risk tol-erance,” said Kim Molitor, princi-pal and relationship manager with Windward Wealth Strategies. “Individual goals and investment objectives, time horizon, attitude toward acceptable risk, desired return and tax brackets all play an

GET FINANCIALLY SAVVYIN THE NEW YEAR

MIND your money


1717WWW.MYWOMENMAGAZINE.COM

SAVINGS ACCOUNT TO CONSIDER FOR LONG-TERM INVESTORS (10 YEARS OR MORE AWAY)

401(k), Roth IRA, Simple Individual Retirement AccountStart saving for retirement. If you have a retirement plan offered through

your work, it’s advisable to maximize contributions and diversify your in-vestments. Remember, this is not an emergency fund but rather a savings account for your use in retirement.

Non-retirement investment accountsSeek out an investment professional and educate yourself on investment

accounts that invest in stocks, bonds and cash equivalents.

OTHER TYPES OF SAVINGS VEHICLES:

Health Saving AccountsThis is a special type of tax-advantaged savings account designed to

help you pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses when you have a high-deductible plan.

College Saving PlansA 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage sav-

ing for future education.Of course, the services and advice of a financial advisor are invaluable as

a person begins to build or review a savings plan or investment portfolio. They can explain the pros and cons of different saving vehicles.

TAX TIPS FOR 2019

Under the Trump administration the tax code has had its first major tax overhaul since 1986. Dale Fischer, enrolled agent with KerberRose Cer-tified Public Accountants, said a lot of people are going to be surprised when they start doing their taxes, especially if they’re accustomed to item-izing. And fewer people will be itemizing in the future.

“The standard deduction has doubled from 2017. So, for married people filing jointly, the standard deduction will be $24,000; for a single person it’s $12,000. But what’s going to be a real surprise for a lot of people is they’ve taken away the personal exemption, which in 2017 was $4,050,”

Fischer said, adding that they’ve also eliminated a lot of deductions from the federal form that people who itemize are accustomed to taking, such as medical expenses.

“But simply because the fed-eral return doesn’t allow certain deductions, don’t overlook them when it comes to your state re-turn. The State of Wisconsin still gives us good credits, including for paid medical insurance premi-ums, long-term healthcare premi-ums, copays, prescriptions and so on, if you qualify.”

Finally, if you had a Traditional or Roth IRA in 2018, you have until April 15, 2019 to make con-tributions and they’ll be deduct-ible on your 2018 taxes. Likewise, if you are self-employed or have freelance income and had a solo 401(k) in 2018 you have until April 15, 2019 to make a contri-bution that’s deductible on your 2018 return. Check with your ac-countant or financial planner to see how much you’re eligible to in-vest/deduct as it differs from per-son to person, based on income and age. w

GET FINANCIALLY SAVVYIN THE NEW YEAR

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Securities and investment advice offered through Investment Planners, Inc. (Member FINRA/SIPC) and IPI Wealth Management, Inc., 226 W. Eldorado St., Decatur, IL 62522. 217-425-6340

920-886-1300 | 124 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Neenah Christine Rondeau, CFP®

Royal Rondeau

by CHERYL HENTZ


W ith credit card debt on the rise, it’s time to take a closer look at what’s in your wallet — and

what’s on your credit report. Women in particular tend to sell

ourselves short.Take it from librarian-turned-fi-

nancial-educator-and-coach Kate Moody, who started her business Ms. Moody Money when she started to see how many people struggle to make sense (and cents) of their finances. “I love to help regular people learn how money works so that they can reduce their stress and reach their goals, specifically recent divorcees and widows and newlyweds,” she said.

MIND your money

Giving credit where it’s due and take ownership of your financial story

Examine your habits, make a few changes and start giving yourself more credit, one card at a time.

WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET?

When asked how many credit cards someone should have, Mary Lorn-son, VP of Consumer Lending at Community First Credit Union ex-plained, “There isn’t a magic number. According to TransUnion from first quarter of 2017, the average number of credit cards per person nationwide is 2.69.”

“There is no perfect number to have,” agreed Moody, who encouraged people to shop around. “Get a rewards card that earns you points in the category you spend the most in, whether that’s flights, hotels, gas, grocery stores or restaurants.”

According to Kathy Vanden Hogen, Vice President of Financial Services at Unison Credit Union, “A credit card, or revolving line of credit, when used correctly, can help establish or build your credit. However, when you are just starting to establish credit, take it slow. Opening a new credit card can help build your credit, but only if used wisely.”


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BALANCING ACTS

“Managing payments and making sure you’re using the right cards for the right payments comes down to your situation, looking at your previous behavior and creating a path that fits you,” Moody noted. “Enrolling your cards in autopay is the best way to never forget a due date, but only do this if you know you’ll have the cash in your checking account.”

“If you cannot pay off the balance each month, make sure to use the card with the lowest interest rate,” said Lornson. “I recommend to always pay more than the minimum payment.”

WORST-CASE SCENARIOS — AVERTED!

Lornson described two common traps, along with one absolute worst-case scenario:

When applying for a new credit card, always look at the fine print.

Avoid the credit card trap. Do not play the game of taking out new cards and transferring balances to the new card repeatedly.

The worst case I had was a person who didn’t have a budget, wasn’t saving, and only paid the minimum pay-ments on their 18+ credit cards. The cards were maxed out with no available balance. Because of their credit card use, their credit score dropped by 100 points. When their car broke down, they had nothing to fall back on to get the vehicle repaired. I was able to help with a full consolidation with an 8% lower rate than they were paying on their credit cards.

Financial Information & Service Center (FISC) Education & Marketing Leader Alan Prahl said, “If you are falling behind, make at least the minimum payment on all cards and make extra payments on one of the cards. If you want to learn more about your op-tions, talk with your bank, credit union or a nonprofit credit counselor.”

If you’re struggling, ask for help! There’s no shame or stigma in that.

WRITE A HAPPY ENDING TO YOUR FINANCIAL STORY

“Having financial independence is tremendously empowering and within reach for anyone willing to learn and make simple changes,” encouraged Moody. “It’s a life skill, like driving or cooking; both were once

tricky, [but] they’re now second nature.”Like driving, we all make a few wrong turns.

“If you’ve had troubles with credit cards in the past, know that you are not alone,” Vanden Hogen said. “Re-write your story by making a plan, including a budget, that works for you.”

“When making your purchases, ask yourself, do I need it or do I want it? If you want it pay cash, use your debit card, not your credit card,” advised Lornson.

It’s also important to establish a budget that antici-pates the unexpected.

“Establish a car repair savings fund, a Christmas savings fund, vacation savings fund, and more,” said Lornson.

“Have an emergency fund,” agreed Vanden Hogen. “Car repairs, medical bills or other unexpected bills could be paid from an emergency fund instead of add-ing to a credit card, causing unexpected debt.”

“Prove to yourself you can do this with a se-ries of small wins, implemented one at a time,” said Moody. “Small acts, when combined, will help you to develop good financial health.” w

COVER Renita Robinson

COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM MARTIN,ACCENT PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIM, GREEN BAY.MAKEUP BY ALYSSA MAJORS FROM SAVOYE SALON SPA, GREEN BAY.

UNDERDOGS

YWCA head aims to speak for those who can’t and aid those who need help

Renita Robinson loves a good underdog story. In fact, she’s made it her life’s mission to support

and champion the underdog — to funnel her positive ener-gy into others’ second chances at success. And in the process, that’s how she is writing her very own success story.


ROOTINGFOR THE

by AMANDA RENKAS

UNDERDOGS

21


As Robinson marks a year as the chief executive officer for the YWCA Greater Green Bay — and as the organization celebrates its 100-year anniversary — she finds herself immersed in all the causes that ignite her academic interests and are a living embodiment of the YWCA’s tenets: eliminating rac-ism and empowering women.

“I really have the best of two worlds,” Robinson said. “I get to be engaged in helping with the things that need to change and en-gaged in growing the YWCA’s ac-complishments.”

The way Robinson looks at it, she has found the job that seems custom-made just for her. Robin-son’s roles as CEO align perfectly with her unique skill set. Culled from previous roles as a teacher, a social worker, a domestic violence advocate, a curriculum developer and a grant writer, Robinson has the unique ability to assist nearly each of the YWCA’s clientele. And it is due to this background, too, that she can see gaps in offerings.

“As I’ve progressed profession-ally, these careers have informed all of the things I’m doing in my new position,” Robinson said. “If you map out my career, the center of each position is social justice.”

That’s what’s particularly entic-ing about the YWCA. From the children cared for in the facility’s daycare program, to the Green Bay School District-accredited 4K curriculum to the thousands of Brown County women served annually through the Women’s Career Closet and the Women’s Empowerment Center, Robinson

Renita Robinson


I DON’T SHY AWAY FROM MY HISTORY AS ADOMESTIC VIO-LENCE SURVIVOR. IT ENCOURAGED ME TO HAVE A VOICE AND SPEAK FOR WOMEN WHO DON’T HAVE THE EDUCATION OR RESOURCES TO SPEAK FORTHEMSELVES.

˛˛

˛˛


Renita Robinson

sees ample opportunity to facilitate stories of triumphant underdogs.

DOCTORAL WORK

Before she moved to Green Bay a year ago, Robinson was working to-ward her doctorate in education at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She finished her doctoral work in 2017 and continues to work toward her oral exam. Originally, her research centered on the hypothesis that exposure to inter-parental violence is causing a high dropout rate. She recently realized, however, that her data set doesn’t work to either prove or disprove the hypothesis. It’s a derailment that could have emotionally crushed someone so close to completing an advanced degree.

“I either need to get a new data set or change the topic entirely,” Rob-inson admits. “I used to get bogged down by the things I can’t change. An old mentor once taught me to say ‘I’m not on that committee,’ and that is very wise counsel that has helped me recognize that I can only change the things I can change.”

While working toward her doctorate, Robinson was employed as a grant writer for the State of Minnesota. She sought a federal grant writing po-sition, and thought the state job would be a logical entry into the federal role.

Her expectations didn’t quite align with the job’s realities, though.“I realized it just wasn’t a good match,” she said. “All of my previous roles

were directly touching people. This was all paperwork. A friend had been telling me for months that I belonged at a YWCA. I finally intentionally searched for jobs within the organization and found three CEO positions available throughout the United States.”

A GOOD FIT IN GB

Robinson researched the three locations and thought she could make the most impact in Green Bay. She spent 30 years working with domestic and sexual abuse survivors in various capacities, stemming from her role as a domestic violence survivor.

“I don’t shy away from my history as a domestic violence survivor,” Rob-inson said. “It encouraged me to have a voice and speak for women who don’t have the education or resources to speak for themselves.”

It was through that lens that she turned her application focus to North-eastern Wisconsin.

“In researching the area and the services at the YWCA, that is one of the bigger gaps I’ve found here,” Robinson said. “We do not currently have staff on site doing any work with a focus on that.”

So Robinson is eyeing grant money to allow for the addition of a staff member dedicated to work with domestic and sexual abuse victim drop-in clients. In 2018 the YWCA served 2,000 women with the Career Closet — a free service that pairs volunteers with women who are interviewing for a job or starting a new job to “shop” for career wear among racks and racks


Renita Robinson

Olympic dreams


of donated clothes.“If they’re here for one thing, we should be focusing on giving them

access to everything. Don’t ask them to come back another time,” Rob-inson said. “We are central as a connector in the community. We have a very unique personality and I want to make sure we leverage our position. We’re right on the tipping point of positive change.”

OLYMPIC DREAMS

Today Robinson gets her exercise walking her chihuahua Bentley around her Allouez neighborhood, practicing yoga and taking water aero-bics classes at the YWCA.

But she also is an accomplished track and field athlete: She won the 1988 U.S. Olympic trials in the triple jump (but missed competing in Seoul be-cause the triple jump wasn't inducted into the Olympic games until 1992). She also won the 1989 National Collegiate Athletic Association triple jump title while attending the University of Nebraska as a graduate stu-dent. Less than a year later, she and her now ex-husband gave birth to the first of two sons.

Her athletic endeavors were sidelined while she finished her master's degree, worked as a social studies teacher and raised her children. But as her marriage dissolved in the late 1990s, she decided to return to her roots and moved back to Lincoln, Nebraska with her 9- and 11-year-old children to train with her former college coach in hopes of qualifying for the 2000 summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. As a 33-year-old mother of two, she missed qualifying for the trials by four inches.

The experience taught Robinson a lot about perseverance and about setting intentions. Setting intentions is a key focus for Robinson as she begins her day.

TUNING IN TO HERSELF AND OTHERS

“I have a morning quiet time where I thank God for my health, family and job and set my intentions,” Robinson said. “I check in with people I love and who love me. It’s not always the same person, but someone from my family or extended family who really knows me and who knows how I am by my voice. I have given people I love and who love me permission to remind me

of the best version of myself I in-tend to be. One of my most impor-tant self-care routines is to address things that make me feel grumpy or unsafe. If something is happen-ing in my sphere of influence that fails to honor the space, I address it directly and offer ways to reframe or remedy it.”

To that end, Robinson looks upon her role as grandma to 7-year-old Kyalinn as her most important duty these days.

“My eyes and heart light up when I think or talk about my sons and granddaughter,” Robinson said. “Kyalinn is smart, beautiful and a joy to be around.”

When she travels back to Ne-braska where both sons live, she makes sure to schedule special time with her granddaughter. They like to stay overnight in a ho-tel, swim in the hotel’s pool, shop, dine and make craft projects. Robinson said she lives to see her granddaughter’s face light up and hear her peal of unencumbered laughter. It’s the same sound she finds intoxicating at the YWCA, where little ones frolic and gig-gle through the halls en route to swimming lessons or daycare classes.

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PERSONAL UP CLOSE

AND

Full name: Renita Dawn Robinson

Age: 51

City: Allouez

Title and company: CEO, YWCA Greater Green Bay

Professional organizations or groups: YWCA’s Women of Vi-sion

Education details (degree and school): University of Nebraska: BA, MEd, MS and I have com-pleted all my course work for a doctorate in education at Uni-versity of Minnesota Duluth and planning for my oral exam.

Renita Robinson

Who is in your immediate family?Two sons Patrick and Jordan, and a granddaughter Kyalinn, 7.

What do you enjoy most about your work?Creating a safe space for healing from a variety of oppressions.

Do you have a role model?My mom is nine foot tall and bullet-proof — she worked hard, told the truth and didn’t care much about what others thought of her. I try to land somewhere between how she lived and the heart of Jesus Christ.

What are your “words to live by”? I have many. Today it is: “Be honest in all you do, Kya is watching.”

Hobbies? Staying warm.Jordan Tyrance and Kyalinn Robinson's grandaughter Kyalinn

Patrick Tyrance III

Favorite local restaurants?Black and Tan.

What is something few people know about you? I won the 2000 Olympic Trials. I am almost done with my doctorate degree.

What do you do for exercise?Yoga and water aerobics.

Favorite book? (This week) When the Body Says No.

Favorite movies?Dead Poets Society, The Deer Hunter.

Dream vacation?Caribbean island of Nevis.

Do you have any pets?Bentley, an 8-lb. Chihuahua I res-cued.


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PERSONALRobinson also makes time to

volunteer at the Micah Center at St. John’s Homeless Shelter pro-viding hairstyles for clients.

MAKING HER IMPRINT ON GREEN BAY

As the YWCA celebrates its 100-year anniversary, Robinson is immersed in the organization’s “Campaign of the Century.” Tied to the celebration, Robinson is preparing to launch a program that trains volunteers who will speak to groups in the community about diversity education and so-cial justice. Similarly, she is work-ing toward a project to educate the community about the equity gap in pay.

And while Robinson has lofty goals for the YWCA, her biggest task is to keep the organization sustainable for another century.

“My role here is to move for-ward an organization that is really just on the other side of limping along,” Robinson said. “This is a ready laboratory. I think about that every single day. We have a responsibility in this world to pro-mote peace and stand up for the underdog. That’s what I’m doing at the YWCA.” w


CALENDAR

FITNESSGIRLS POSE FOR

SPIRIT charity

T he term “calendar girls” can conjure up images of 1950s pin-ups or slightly racy swimsuit

models. But for a group of mature women in Appleton, it evokes images of strength and wellness.

Marge Willis had been tak-ing fitness classes at Touchmark where she lives, and noticed big changes after workouts five days a week.

“I developed muscles, energy and strength after training, and thought it was important to en-

gage others in a more active lifestyle,” Willis says.

She was so excited about the process that she organized 11 other friends at Touchmark to share the results of their fitness routines by producing a 2019 calendar. Initially, the ladies were a little skeptical until they learned that their fitness photos would be combined with tips and positive statements about healthy living, wellness and fitness. Marge

Phot

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phy

by D

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is featured as Miss September in her Packer gear and hand

weights, and other ladies take on similar seasonal and fitness

poses.Miss November is

86-year-old Dorothy Allen who works out

3-4 times a week. She eagerly signed onto the project noting that fit-ness keeps mind, body and spirit connected. “Not only do we need muscles, but we need strong connective tissues.” She said. “All of the moving helps everything to work properly and stave off aging.”

All the calendar girls range in age

from 73 to 91, and all are active in classes and personal training at Touchmark. According to Health & Fit-

ness Coordinator Calissa Palches, they are all examples of active aging. At Touchmark, exercise training focuses on functional fitness — developing strength and balance to do daily tasks easily, like getting up out of a chair.

The calendar girls have taken advantage of a range of exercise classes including Stretching Basics, Strong Bodies®, Chair Yoga, Sit to be Strong, and Strength & Cardio. Most classes are free to Touchmark residents and are open to the public for a fee.

“We do cardio in the chairs. I’m 26 years old and I break out in a sweat,” Palches said.

For seniors starting a fitness routine, she says the advice is simple.“Just move,” Palches said. “After the age of 30 we lose up to 3% of our

muscle mass each decade. You don’t need to be doing football agility drills, we just need to get you up and moving to maintain your functional ability to safely perform your daily activities.”

Palches says repetition is key to building strength. Whether seated, standing or lying down for floor work, classes also incorporate mental


by MARY K. SCHMIDT

MYTHS ABOUT EXERCISE AND AGING

I’M TOO OLD.Actually NOT moving will do more damage to you as you age. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of activity at least five days a week, but even a 10-minute walk is a good start.

I’LL HURT MYSELF.Not if you take it easy and work within your limits. Working with a pro will help ease into a routine and develop exercises tailored just for you. At Touchmark, many of the fitness programs are done sitting down.

MY HEART ISN’T STRONG ENOUGH.You don’t have to sign up for a 5K — just taking a walk will help you start strengthening your heart rather than putting it at risk.

I CAN’T AFFORD IT.You don’t need health club memberships or expensive weight systems to start getting fit. Taking a walk outside, walking up and down your stairs or even doing resistance training with canned goods can get you started. And don’t overlook exercise resources on YouTube!

I DON’T MOVE LIKE I USED TO.Neither do most people. Don’t judge what you can do today by what you did in your 20s. You can move at your own pace and still realize benefits from exercise.

( source: WebMD )


SPIRIT preparedness

It’s unfortunate that this is a hot topic right now, but the reality is that active threats are more common than you may think. This is a sensitive topic for many and it’s easy to look the other way. However, it’s a very important matter to address and discuss in this day and age.

Picture yourself at your desk, in your conference room, at the hospital or out and about in your daily life. Your personal safety is always at risk in these circumstances and it’s critical you recognize that you’re vulnerable when out in public. The truth is that the person with the threat has a plan. Do you?

DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN THERE’S AN ACTIVE (SHOOTER) THREAT?



by KATIE CARLSON

•

WHAT’S YOUR PROTOCOL OR PLAN?

Every organization regardless of specialty or in-dustry should be addressing workplace violence and threats. When your facility is prepared for an active threat you reduce the chances of injury and death from occurring. What you need is a way to communicate with each other be-cause most people aren’t sure what to do if faced with an active threat. For example, fire and tornado drills are essential to pre-venting any negative outcomes and active threats are no differ-ent.

It’s always best to pre-pare for the worst-case scenario. Realize that hav-ing a plan saves lives, plain and simple. One solution according to Michele Oostenbrug, National Busi-ness Development Manager at Forward Move, is to apply a process to the threat. For instance, her company offers clients an economical and effective way to respond via an app called YOU Threat Alert. While speaking with Michele she adds, “It’s all about teaching clients muscle memory to use their phone to notify the right people in a timely manner regarding the active threat.” For instance, the benefits of this tool include:

• Ability to send a mass notification to those with the mobile app and at the same time notify 911 in a matter of seconds (create personalized groups of who receives the alert)

• Ability to send an anonymous tip if you see a sus-picious person or activity and describe what you’re witnessing

• Alerts can go to your laptop, tablet or iPad if you’re not using your phone

• Execute test drills so everyone feels comfortable

using the mobile app • Cuts down response time of all involved by using

active human surveillance

IMPORTANCE OF TRAINING YOUR EMPLOYEES

Your first obstacle is to get past the mentality that this can never happen to you in your workplace or school. Believing this is true will only prevent you from tak-ing the proper precautions and active measures in ad-

dressing a threat.So, do you know what to do when there’s

an active threat? Below are a few action steps to keep in mind:

• Look around/find exits/evacuate (al-ways be aware) • Run

• Hide/take cover • Report the emotional tragedy using the

YOU Threat Alert • Fight back



SPIRIT trends

Your home is where you spend most of your time. It’s where you relax, raise children, entertain, cook,

dance and so much more. It should be a pure reflection of your per-sonality, interests and qualities so that it is the sanctuary it is meant to be. From a first apartment to purchasing a first home, our style is sure to shift and transform, as do trends in furniture and interior design. Whether you have a de-sire to renovate your whole home or your little corner of it, 2019 has some trends that are sure to match a part of your personality. Here are the top 10 hottest trends to look for.

ART DECO

One of the most influential pe-riods in décor history is making a strong comeback. Think geomet-ric shapes from fabric to wallpa-per to furniture. Bright and deep yellows, black, chrome, greens, blues and pinks are the colors most closely associated with this style.

BLUSH TONES

Champagne and rose-colored tones are making their way into the new year. The biggest perk

HOTTEST DÉCOR TRENDS OF 2019to these hues is that they pair with both earthy and bold palettes.

COZY BEDS

No more super-sleek lines and per-fectly made beds. Plush and relaxing headboards, large comforters, throw blankets, warm toned fabrics, pillows and shams will embrace you with a nurturing and comforting feel-ing. If you’re looking to add a splash of col-or to your bedroom, Kimberly Scray, de-signer at Knox Fur-niture, suggests using teal, navy and orange, as they are the hottest colors coming to 2019.

BACK TO NATURE

Luxury meets sustainability. In today’s world, we must be conscious of the materials we are using and what kind of footprint they are leaving. Be-cause of this, we are seeing a trend of utilizing natural stones and woods along with sustainable materials and dyes. Going back to nature is the fu-ture of décor!

HANDMADE PIECES

Custom, handmade pieces are one of a kind and along with that comes a story of how it came to be. Each piece carries with it history, and we all

Dressing UpYour Home:


by MIRANDA WERKHEISER

love a good story. Easy ways to find “your” special piece is to find a local small business or artist, hire a friend to make you something or create something yourself.

MATTE BLACK AND GOLD

These two can be paired together or stand strong on their own. Nicole Kelly, former Green Bay native and well-known interior designer across the country and to many celebrities, says if you need to start small, a wall sconce, lamp, hardware or railings is a great place to start with adding gold to your home. “Being based in Atlanta now and traveling all over the world, the extra touch of gold we are going to be seeing in 2019 is going to bring a touch of luxury anywhere it is placed. And you know, being from Green Bay, I’m all about that green and gold!”

BAR CARTS

Because there are so many op-tions in shape and color, you can make a real statement by finding an art deco piece or something gold, which are also on the list. Bar carts are great for displaying your drink selection but also can be used to showcase glassware, bottles and themed vignettes.

GO GREEN

Get your garden on! Plants of all kinds are ready to be loved inside your home. Not only do they as-sist in increasing oxygen levels but they add a great pop of color as well. Bringing nature inside is no longer outside of the box.

CURVES

Couches, chairs, desks and shelving are taking new shape and embracing their curves. Inviting and inclusive, the curvy furniture trend is sure to round out your home makeover!

ANTIQUES

We have all heard that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Consider antique and thrift stores to be your map to your treasure chest. Bringing the past to meet the present is one of the hottest trends for 2019.

Whether you have a small or large budget, an open space or a corner nook, incorporating even one of these trends is sure to give your space a new feel. As we progress and as life shifts, let your home be where you find your com-fort. Investing in the personality of your space is a great resolution for 2019. w


Michele emphasizes, “It’s critical to train everyone in your organization to be their own first responder so they understand how to best help themselves.” Make sure they’re fully informed of what to do and how to respond, should they be put in this type of unfortunate situation. Take the time to walk through drills and protocols with them so everyone’s on the same page. Learn the actions on the mobile app to send an alert quickly.

BE WILLING TO CHANGE

Statistics show that of the 74.6 million students in the U.S., 1 out of every 1,000 students will experience a violent act at school (National Center for Educa-tion Statistics). According to Molly Mares, Principal at Notre Dame of De Pere, “As a principal, there are a lot of things that keep me up at night but the No. 1 thing is student safety. The two main groups to guide on board with changes in processes and protocol are staff and parents. At the end of the day, both of these groups are fully invested in creating a safe environ-ment for students, which is what this all about. Most of my conversations regarding changes that have been implemented are simply providing background infor-mation on how this change will be beneficial and how it improves on our previous practices.”

While it’s hard to keep up with technology, the flip side is that it’s also hard not to. You have to be willing to adopt new processes and responses to active threats and to accept that the world is changing and to change with it. Molly adds, “With our current reality, not hav-ing an action plan is not an option. The lack of an ac-tion plan is leaving everything up to chance when there are tangible action steps that can and should be taken. When your “why” is student safety, there is no coun-terargument.”

CONCLUSION

Take all of these suggestions seriously and you’ll find you’re a lot calmer and in control if you ever find yourself faced with an active threat. If nothing else, let this be an opportunity to draw more awareness to this matter so you’re never caught off guard. If nothing else, know that it’s better to act and do something than it is to sit back and refuse to address this very important is-sue. A good plan will reduce the “Life or Death Gap.” By reducing that, there will be less death and injury. w

THREAT | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 33CALENDAR | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31

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agility. Instead of counting reps, Palches has class members count backwards, recite the months of the year or a list of tasks such as the steps needed to bake a cake, all while doing an exercise.

“Repetitive movement keeps the oxygen flowing to your brain and also keeps your mind sharp,” Palches says.

The calendars were unveiled to the public shortly before Christmas and are on sale for $8. A portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to Harbor House, the domestic abuse shelter in the Fox Cities. Organizers selected Harbor House because it sup-ports women as they actively change their lifestyles.

“Women supporting women is what Harbor House is all about,” said Jennifer Krikava, development and marketing manager for Harbor House. “That this group took this inspirational calendar and used it to lift up and inspire other women couldn’t mean any more to us.”

Calendars can be ordered by calling Touchmark of Appleton at 920-832-9100. w


HEARING LOSS | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

The Shattuck Middle School Blast Team won the Live Mannequin Frozen Award

Robyn & Jersey Harma and Marista & Jess FraleyChristine Rondeau and Shirley & Harv Millar

PEOPLE AND EVENTS

ARµUNDTµWN

from Green Bay to Oshkosh

A Very Neenah Christmas was held on Dec. 7 in Downtown Neenah.

Investment Planners Inc. held their annual Christmas in a Cup on Dec. 6 in Neenah.

“You get a colonoscopy when you turn 50,” Long said. “You should also get a hearing test at 50 so you have a baseline.”

Options abound for free, quickie hearing screenings. But both specialists maintain that a proper hearing evaluation should be done by a licensed audiologist to get a full, clear picture of what’s going on in the ears.

In addition to measuring hearing thresholds and tolerances, a hearing screening can also alert the audi-ologist to medical issues, Zellmer said. He added that unlike a hearing aid salesperson, an audiologist is not tied to one particular manufacturer. “You can get the solution that you need,” he said.

“You know they’ve met the criteria, and they aren’t just trying to sell you something,” Long said of audiolo-gists.

WHAT TO EXPECT

At a typical screening, the audiologist will review the patient’s health history and background information, any noise exposure history or family history of hear-ing loss. He or she will look into the ears to check for any wax, debris or infection and check the health of the

eardrum. After that, Long said, it’s a lot of “raise your hand when you hear the beep.”

The patient will be asked to repeat a series of words to check for clarity, Long said. The audiologist will also test the bones of the middle ear. If there’s a problem with those tiny, little bones, Long said she might rec-ommend a consultation with an ENT surgeon to see if the hearing issue can be improved with surgery. “It’s about finding out,” Long said. “Then you know and you have the information.” w

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recipe

Recipe courtesy of eatright.org.

vegetable stir-fry with cashews

Serving size: 3/4 cup. Serves 8.

Nutrition Analysis (per serving)

Calories: 130; Calories from fat: 70; Total fat: 7g; Saturated fat: 1g; Trans fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 160mg; Total car-bohydrates: 12g; Dietary fiber: 3g; Sugars: 3g; Protein: 5g.

Directions1. Cut the Broccolini tops in florets; set aside. Cut the Broccolini stalks and carrots in matchsticks.

2. Heat the oil in a wok or large non-stick skillet over high heat.

3. Add the Broccolini stalks, carrots, ginger root and garlic. Stir-fry (or cook and stir continuously) for 1 minute.

4. Add the Broccolini florets, snow peas, mushrooms and green onions. Toss gently to mix ingredients.

5. Combine the water, soy sauce, rice wine, if desired, and sugar in a small bowl. Stir into the vegetable mixture. Cover; cook for about 2 minutes, until vegetables are fork tender. Remove from heat.

6. Drizzle the sesame oil over vegetables; toss gently.

7. To serve, sprinkle with cashew nuts.Cooking Notes

• If Broccolini is not available, substitute 1 pound fresh broccoli with the woody stems removed.

• Adding cubes of firm tofu or tempeh adds protein and turns stir-fried vegetables into a vegetarian main dish.

• In place of any of these vegetables — or in addition to them — use sliced bell peppers, carrots, green beans, summer squash or zucchini. Dried Chinese mushrooms (soaked) or portobello mushrooms can be used in place of shiitake mushrooms.

Ingredients1 pound fresh Broccolini2 medium carrots2 tablespoons canola oil1 tablespoon minced peeled ginger root1 clove garlic, minced2 cups (6 ounces) fresh snow peas, ends trimmed, strings removed, or 1 (6-oz.) package frozen snow peas, thawed

By Roberta Duyff, MS, RD, FANDRoberta is author of Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Complete Food and Nutrition Guide and 365 Days of Healthy Eating.

Stir-fry — often associated with Asian cooking — is frying small pieces of food quickly over high heat in a large skillet or wok, stirring constantly. Not only is stir-frying a lower fat cooking method, it also helps fresh vegetables retain their nutrient-rich benefits, bright colors and crisp textures.

1 cup sliced shiitake mushrooms2 green onions, cut in 2-inch pieces½ cup water2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce1 tablespoon rice wine (sake), optional1 teaspoon sugar 1 tablespoon sesame oil2 tablespoons chopped cashew nuts

At the YWCA Greater Green Bay,we understand the potential associatedwith providing support to one woman:Heal one woman, heal a whole family;

heal one family heal a whole community.This is the opportunity within our grasp.

visit www.ywcagreenbay.orgfor more information.

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