yourfamily fall2015
TRANSCRIPT
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FALL2015
5 orchardsto pick yourown apples
Growing Hindu
populationmaking a home
in Dane County
Abouta BoyFinding acceptance with a new gender identity
Day TripOverload on nature at Horicon Mars
SENIOR LIVING:CARING FOR CAREGIVERS
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Baby Liam’s rst birthday was a little extra special this year. Born 12 weeks early and in respiratory
distress, Liam was rushed from southwestern Wisconsin to American Family Children’s Hospital in
Madison. There, he spent 66 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit until he was healthy enough to
feed and grow at home.
“It was an emotional roller coaster,” says Liam’s mom, Samantha. “But everyone took such great care
not only of our baby, but of my husband and me too. It made such a big difference.”
Today, Liam is a fun-loving baby who is developmentally on track with babies his age. “We’re sograteful for the opportunity to have this healthy boy in our lives,” says Samantha. “He is such a gift.”
Learn more about American Family Children’s Hospital by visiting uwhealthkids.org
Liam is Loving Life!
Liam at two weeks Liam at age one
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FALL 2015 YOUR FAMILY
210 S. Main St. • Verona, WI • (608) 845-6478Mon - Sat 6:30am - 9pm, Sun 6:30am - 7pm
For the Classroom:❏ Pencils
❏ Pens
❏ Erasers
❏ Markers
❏ Notebooks
❏ Paper
❏ Folders
For Lunches:
❏ Fresh Baked Bread
❏ Deli Meats & Cheeses
❏ Fresh Fruits & Vegetables❏ Dairy Items
❏ Snack Bags & Chips
❏ Water Bottles
Find what you need in one place.
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4 YOUR FAMILY FALL 2015
FAMILYLIFE
Open-mindednesshas a long way to go
When I was a randy teenager with
nothing better to do, a friend
of mine showed me a magazine
feature that really blew my mind.
It was about a model, accompanied
by a revealing photo spread, who was
what we called back then a transsexual.
And she was shockingly att ractive.
Morality aside, it was the sort
of transformative experience that
challenged my ideals and concepts of
gender identity for a long time. It made
me question many things about not
jus t my stereotypes but eventually my
instincts.
And still , I’ ll admit that like many people , over the years I’ve found plenty
of humor in the classic Kinks song
“Lola,” in Tone Loc’s 80s rap “Funky
Cold Medina” and many other cultural
references to men discovering that their
dates did not have the physical tools
they expected.
Three recent events have really put
that brain back to work, to challenge
its concept of open-mindedness: the
worldwide coming-out of Caitlyn Jenner,
the premiere of the TLC show, “I Am
Jazz” and our coverage in this issue ofYour Family (and this month’s Fitchburg
Star) of a transgender student named
Orion who was brave enough to put his
face on our covers.
It’s been fascinating to follow
reactions to the former and put together
the latter, which included genuinely
positive reactions from not just Orion’sfamily and schoolmates, but also his
church. While many people rightfully
don’t see enough tolerance and
acceptance in our society, anyone my
age can see we have come a long way
since I was Orion’s age, when Jenner
was still known as a track star who’d
been on the cover of Wheaties and
“Tula” Cossey was a Bond girl.
This is a new frontier for an old
issue, one that’s been around as
long as literature and history. While
society is slowly becoming more andmore permissive and understanding,
there’s no telling how long it will take
before there’s a complete acceptance,
par ticularly given how many problems
we continue to have with something as
basic and indefensible as racism.
But this has also exposed, at least
in my perspective, another bothersome
issue that might take longer to
eradicate than those other two issues
put together: our pre judice of physical
beauty.
The unfortunate part of Jenner’s
story that remains is even for most of uwho applauded when we saw the Vanit
Fair cover, part of what we applauded
that she looked good.
Lucky for her, she was an Olympic
athlete who maintained a strong, health
body image for decades.
Ditto for Cossey, who had been a
model for years before anyone knew
she had been born a man. Her Playboy
pictor ial made me and likely many othe
people stand up and take notice that
transgender women did not necessarily
look like square-jawed, muscularmen with breast augmentation, as the
conventional wisdom was at the time.
Orion and Jazz aren’t supermodels o
Olympians, and they’re growing up wit
their gender identities already known t
the world. Perhaps Jenner and Cossey
have helped gather those two and
countless others on less public paths
some respect and understanding that
will allow them to simply be themselve
We can only hope. l
Jim Ferolie is the editor of Your
Family magazine.
N A T U R E
M
A T H
R I T
I N G
R T
G A R D E N
I N G
S
P A N
I S
H
3 2 7 6 S . H i g h P o i n t R o a d , M a d i s o n , W I 5 3 7 1 9
6 0 8 . 8 4 5 . 3 2 4 5 | K i d s E x p r E s s . c o m
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INSIDE YOUR FAMILY BY JIM FEROLIE
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FALL 2015 YOUR FAMILY
CONTENTSYOUR FAMILY Fall 2015
ON THE COVERABOUT A BOYOrion once thought he was alone, but he wasn’t
He’s one of several teens at his Madison high
school who consider themselves transgender, an
he’s found acceptance and encouragement not
only from his family and friends, but also from
his Fitchburg church. But discrimination persist
in many other places as he begins his journey to
being accepted by people around him as a male
despite having been born female.
Photo by Samantha Christia
page18
is published by
UNIFIED
NEWSPAPER GROUP
133 Enterprise Dr. PO Box 930427
Verona WI 53593(608) 845 9559
...................................GENERAL MANAGER
David Enstad
EDITOR
Jim Ferolie
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Ellen Koeller
PHOTO EDITORJeremy Jones
...................................YOUR FAMILY STAFF
Jacob Bielanski, Samantha Christian,
Scott De Laruelle, Scott Girard,
Mark Ignatowski, Nancy Garcia,
Anthony Iozzo, Donna Larson,
Bill Livick, Sandy Opsal,
Angie Roberts, Carolyn Schultz,
Catherine Stang and Laura Young
...................................CONTACT US
Send all questions or submissions to
...................................YOUR FAMILY
is printed four times a year by
Woodward Printing Services
If you would like to have a copy of Your Family
delivered to your home, the cost is $8.00 for 1 year.
Please call (608) 845-9559 for more information.
Publishers of the
Oregon Observer
Stoughton Courier Hub
Verona Press
Great Dane Shopping News
Fitchburg Star
Family Fun
5 orchards to pick your own apples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Day Trip Horicon Marsh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Union gets its due . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Madison Science Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Calendar of events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Family Food
My Blood Type is Coffee
The real life of an empty-nester . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8Recipes Whole-wheat spinach ricotta calzones,
Jamaica lime pie, blueberry ice cream . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Family Health
To Your Health: Should you go gluten-free? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Senior Living What if caregivers need help? . . . . . 22
Family Life
Advancing the art of poetry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Hindus finding a new home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Planning for college
Promote success by instilling love of reading . . . . . . . . 27
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6 YOUR FAMILY FALL 2015
FAMILYFUN
A s trees turn increasingly colorful
throughout fall, some will also
offer fresh, tasty treats.
Whether you want them to make
cider or pie or simply want produce as
fresh as it can be, apple picking can be a
great way to get outside and enjoy a dayin the fall.
And the Dane County area offers
plenty of opportunities. Some include
hay rides, corn mazes and other picking
opportunities and plenty of ways to
entertain children for a whole day. Here
are five of the numerous options within
driving distance.
P i c k
t he da y a w a y
by Scott GirardPhotos by Samantha Christian
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FALL 2015 YOUR FAMILY
FAMILYFUN
Photo submitted
Door Creek Orchard3252 Vilas Road, Cottage Grove
(608) 838-4762
doorcreekorchard.comThe Door Creek Orchard, just 10
minutes outside of Madison, has a feel
of getting far away from bustling city
life and offers plenty of picking options.
The family-owned and run orchard has
been around since 1984 and began usingorganic growing practices soon after it
opened.
“Back in the mid-80s, growers/owners
Tom and Gretchen realized that the less
they sprayed their fruit … the less they
had to spray,” the orchard’s website
reads.
The chance to pick from among 86
variet ies of apples begins Aug. 29 thi s
year.
If apples aren’t your favorite, the
orchard also grows grapes and pears,
plus has sheep for wool and meat,
honey and beeswax from bees on siteand onsite apple cider making.
Sutter’s Ridge2074 Sutter Drive, Mt. Horeb
(608) 832-6445
suttersridge.comIf you’ve got kids to entertain,
Sutter’s Ridge has plenty beyond apple
picking to keep them going for a day.
The orchard, located in Mount Horeb,
includes 20 varieties of apples and a
raspberry picking section.
But once you’ve gotten your fill of
fruit to eat and cook with, you can tryout the corn maze, get a wagon ride or
let your kids play in the activity area,
which includes a tricycle track, giant
hay pile, animals to feed and more.
The orchard, which accepts cash
or check only, also includes a small
shop with hot apple cider, pumpkin
bars, caramel apples and more to enjoy
while looking out over a beautiful rural
Wisconsin scene.
The orchard is open Thursday
through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
beginning Labor Day weekend through
the month of October.
Eplegaarden2227 Fitchburg Road, Fitchburg
(608) 845-5966
eplegaarden.comIf you’ve got Norwegian in your
blood, Eplegaarden is the place to go
for a bit of home nostalgia.
It also will offer some exciting
mystery, as what is available to pick and
where to pick it can change every day
throughout the season.
Depending on when you visit, you’ll
find apples, raspberries, squash, grapes,
popcorn, Indian Corn, pumpkins and
gourds to pick from.
Eplegaarden is open Tuesday,
Thursday and Saturday from 9 a.m.
to noon throughout August; Tuesday
through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout
September and October.
This orchard also hosts special
events most weekends throughout
September and October. For a full list,
see the website.
Appleberry Farm8079 Maurer Road, Cross Plains
(608) 798-2780
theappleberryfarm.comThe Appleberry Farm in Cross
Plains offers the chance to learn about
agricultural practices while getting you
fresh fruit.
The farm, which has apples and
pumpkins throughout the fal l season,offers educational hayrides, as well
as farm tours for larger groups that
schedule in advance.
If you’re there on a weekend for
lunch, the farm offers a “Cider Brat”
from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays and
Sundays. The twist on the Wisconsin
classic includes sweet apple cider adde
to a bratwurst, which is soaked in hot
cider after grilling. Top it with apple an
onion relish and a dab of mustard to
complete the treat.
The family also makes fresh pressed
apple cider each week, with a blendof different apple varieties to balance
taste.
For information on hours and what
else to do at the Appleberry Farm, visi
the website.
Eugster’s Farm3865 Highway 138, Stoughton
(608) 873-3822
eugsters.comLocated between Oregon and
Stoughton, Eugster’s Farm offers
“u-pick” apples as maturity and harvestallows.
Their farm market also sells
prepicked apple variet ies if picking
isn’t your goal. Call ahead to find out
availability for picking.
Even if it’s a day without picking,
the farm includes a market and a large
pet ting farm where you can learn abou
traditional farm animals and farming
while enjoying different fun activities.
There is a charge for admission and
limited hours for the petting farm, thoug
so check out the farm’s website. l
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8
YOUR FAMILY FALL 2015
MY BLOOD TYPE IS COFFEEBY RHONDA MOSSNER
The reality of being an empty-nester
FAMILYFOOD
We’re moving to a condo. You all
know what that means.
We’re downsizing. Again.
I believe this is the fourth, no the
fifth-time in the last 10 years. Did we
really start way back in 2005? Yep. I
have the boxes to prove it. I even have
one with stickers dating back to Pierre,
S.D.
I hate to admit it, but our son, who
just celebrated his 28th bir thday, was
born there. Yeah, it’s that bad.I needed to downsize even before
downsizing was cool.
Let’s be honest: I have a craft room
with some fabric and a few quilting
supplies. Maybe it’s a lot. Do you think
it’s too much if I have so many large
plastic tubs ful l that I have simply
slapped on the new moving destination
sticker each time we have relocated? It
seemed like the easiest way to deal with
the issue of clutter.
I thought if I ignored the problem it
would suddenly disappear. It didn’t.
My husband, in the interest of a
peaceful intervent ion, suggested we
try to take some pointers from the TV
show “Tiny House Nation.” If you are
unfamiliar, this is a show where they
build basically a small RV on wheelsinto a “tiny house” usually between 200-
400 square feet.
It all looks so easy. They just take
some trailer hitch and start putting up
walls and then the next thing you know,
it’s a “themed” little house.
Supposedly, if you have to live in
this “tiny house” it will cure all of your
clutter woes. I doubt it.
While the builders do their thing,
the new owners have to downsize
everything they own into a space as big
as a twin-sized bed. I’m not kidding.
Everything they own, right there on the
bed.
Oh, in case you are wondering, they
can’t take the bed. It’s too big.
What I’d like to see are the arguments
that go on with the couples behind-the-
scenes. The producers must get paid
overtime to keep quiet.
With this “tiny house” downsize
model in mind, I decided to first
conquer my craft room. I probably
should mention that I am an equal-
opportunity crafter. I pulled out tubs full
of quilting, scrapbooking, crocheting,beading and watercolor painting out of
my closet and spread it out all over the
floor.
For motivational purposes, I emptied
the last box after my husband was in
the room, and he was trapped. The room
was so full, the floor was no longer
vis ible.
Both of us stood in amazement, or
maybe it was the shock of reality. It
wasn’t long before we decided we were
too old for this kind of decision-making.
It was time to take care of the problem
once and for all.
It was also time for supper. We had
take action or starve, which left us onl
one solution.
We lined up the boxes and tubs and
very carefully along one wal l and start
packing. Just like before , everything fi
neatly back inside those tubs and boxe
Congratulations to our sons! They
will someday inherit old crochet hooks
and yards and yards of lovely fabric!
Won’t they be thrilled to take thesetreasures home to their wives?
Now, all we need are new destinatio
stickers and we’re all set to move to
that new condo. l
In addition to her blog,
TheDanglingThread.blogspot.com,
Rhonda Mossner is a professional
speaker, quilter and chef. She is
known as The Quilter Cook and travel
throughout the area sharing her quilts
stories and recipes.
MONSTERCOOKIES
Here’s a favorite recipe as old as
that box from South Dakota!
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 stick butter, softened1½ cups brown sugar
1½ cups peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
4½ cups oatmeal
¾ teaspoon vanilla2 ⁄ 3 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon light corn syrup2 ⁄ 3 cup candy coated chocolate pieces2 teaspoon baking soda
Mix in order. Drop by
teaspoonsful onto ungreased cookie
sheet. Flatten slightly. Bake at 350
degrees for 10 minutes.
KidsNeed
GoodHomes
Foster Parents Needed!
608-233-9204 or 800-660-9204
Desire to make a difference in a child’s life?
Family Works Programs, Inc. is looking for people interested inbecoming treatment foster parents.
We provide: • Training
• Weekly Social Worker Contact• Respite• Monthly Support Groups
• 24-Hour Crisis Intervention
• Compensation Based on theNeeds of the Child
Make a difference, call today!
Foster Parents Needed!
www.family-works.com a
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A s a retail dietitian, I get asked
all kinds of questions related
to food and nutrition. I love the
variety of questions I receive, but one
topic that is consistently at the top is
gluten.
Among other things, people wonder
if gluten or wheat is bad for them, if
they can stop weight gain by not eating
it and if they’ll be healthier if they go
gluten-free. These questions and more
are common concerns of customers Ihear thanks to the barrage of – often
misleading – information coming at us
every day from the media.
It’s no wonder that sales for gluten-
free food and beverages were up
to $10.5 billion in 2013 and that 36
percent of people who eat gluten-f ree
do so for reasons other than sensitivity
and 65 percent do so because they
think it’s healthier.
But that’s not necessarily the case,
particularly if it comes at the expense
of a well-balanced diet.
Before you even think of goinggluten-free, it’s important to know
what gluten is. Gluten is a protein
found in wheat products, including
wheat, rye and barley. The purpose
of gluten is to help provide structure
in baked goods, and it gives bread its
elasticity. This should make sense,
since most gluten-free products are
usually flat and crispy or very dense.
There’s really nothing bad about
proteins found in wheat. Only
individuals who have Celiac disease –
an autoimmune disease where the body
reacts to the gluten – or who have a
gluten intolerance would benefit from
staying away from gluten.
While a gluten intolerance isn’t life-
threatening, the discomfort of having
gluten can be enough to cause people
to stay away from it.
While you may not have a gluten
intolerance, the question remains
whether it’s a healthy switch from your
wheat-based foods. That all depends on
what you’re currently eating right now.
On one hand, going gluten-free may
help you steer clear of the processed
foods and packaged desserts that
have gluten hidden away in them. A
diet filled with refined grains, such
as white bread and pasta, can lead
to inflammation, obesity and chronic
diseases. If a gluten-free diet helps you
eliminate these, then sure, maybe a
gluten-free diet is what you need to be
healthier.
Choosing naturally gluten-free
whole foods will help you start feeling
noticeably better – whether you’vemade the decision to be strictly gluten-
free or not.
However, because so many
individuals are going gluten-free,
companies are providing more
products for you to choose from now,
from cookies and pastries to refined
grained pastas and breads. If you
switch from gluten-containing cookies
to gluten-free cookies, both of which
are full of added sugar and refined
grains, you’re not eating healthier or
benefiting yourself. Not to mention,
gluten-free products often have moreingredients added in to reach the same
consistency we are used to.
The same concept applies if a
vegetarian was to eat almost only
grains and carbohydrate sources,
leaving out the fruits and vegetables –
which hardly counts as a “vegetarian.”
While the concept of following a
vegetarian diet can be a good one (if
followed the way it’s intended), in
reality, it can do little more than leave
you with an unbalanced li festyle.
My suggestion is this: If you don’t
have to eat gluten-free for dietary
reasons, rather than restricting
yourse lf to a limited number of gluten
free grains and feeling deprived in
order to “be healthier,” opt for a well-
balanced diet that includes whole
grains, fruits and vegetables, and lean
sources of protein most of the time. And your dessert – wel l, that can b
a cookie with or without gluten. Your
call. l
Kara Hoerr, MS, RD, CD, is the
registered dieti tian at the Fitchburg
Hy-Vee. This information is not
intended as medical advice. Please
consult a medical professional for
individual advice.
FALL 2015 YOUR FAMILY
FAMILYHEALTH
The facts and fiction ofgluten-free diets
TO YOUR HEALTHBY KARA HOERR
www.siennacrest.com
Memory Care
989 Park St.835-0000
981 Park St. Oregon
(608) 835-7781
Your Community Resourceto Older Adult Care!
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Story and photos by Samantha Christian
D a y
T r i p...
Fall is fleeting and ever-changing, especially in
Wisconsin. One day, the sun shimmers through rustling
treetops of auburn and gold … and the next, rain clouds
pel t the leaves to the gro und in damp, drab layers .
If you want to take advantage of the sights and sounds
of autumn before the cold hush of winter arrives, one great
way is to lace up your hiking boots, bring along a pair of
binoculars and pack a snack for a trip to Horicon.
This small city in north-central Dodge County is only
an hour’s drive from Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh or
Whitewater, which leaves the whole day open for exploration.
Banners affixed to its downtown light poles highlight the
centennial legacy of the John Deere Horicon Works factory(where many of its 3,600 residents are employed), but it is
the nearby natural wonders that draw tens of thousands of
vis itors to the area each year.
Best known is the Horicon Marsh, a state and national
wildlife refuge for more than 300 species of birds and other
critters. The “City on the Marsh” is at the southern tip of the
country’s largest freshwater cattail marsh, which spans over
33,000 acres to the north, into Fond du Lac County.
To catch an elevated glimpse of this massive sanctuary
and surrounding woods popping with color, take a short
drive east to Ledge Park. But watch your step while walking
along the rocky cliff, which is part of the Niagara Escarpment
geological formation that arches through the Great Lakes
region.
Both of these sights were familiar to me through class fiel
trips and family outings, since I grew up in a rural farming
community just south of Horicon. My mom, Carol Christian,
and I decided to revisit them last October, which ultimately
got us on a nature kick.
Despite being amateurs, we even signed up for a birding
festival along Lake Superior this past spring, but it proved to
be much easier to spot and identify migrating birds at their
resting stop at Horicon Marsh.
Go out on a ledge As we dro ve on country roads past dairy and wind farms,
my mom pointed to a cluster of trees on a hill in the distance
“That’s it,” I said.
But the phrase, rather than an exclamation, trailed off into
a question. Clearly, Ledge Park was a distant memory for me
My skepticism was reversed once we made it to the top of
the hill, where we were met by towering maples cloaked in
yel low and signs for campsites and hiking trails. I was eager
to get out of the vehicle and start our adventure.
What surprised me most was how quiet walking through
the woods was, with the exception of the occasional
chattering squirrel or chipmunk. The birds must have been
busy visiting the marsh, which is visible from a scenic
overlook. The view is impressive year-round but especially
Natural
wonders
FAMILYFUN
Fall foliage, migratory birds ourish in
Dodge County gem, Horicon
The Eggerts from Caledonia and Sweets from Milwaukee explore Ledge Park in October 201
10 YOUR FAMILY FALL 2015
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FAMILYFUNLedge ParkPark Road, HoriconOpen 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.for day use(920) 386-3700www.co.dodge.wi.us/index.aspx?page=422
Centers and FriendsHoricon Marsh has state, federand nonprot centers as well as
two Friends groups to help withprojects and plans.
Horicon Marsh Educationand Visitor Center N7725 Hwy. 28, Horicon(920) 387-7860Explorium open 9 a.m. to5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. weekends, exceptmajor holidays Admission: $6 adult, $4 studen(5-17), free children 4 and undednr.wi.gov/topic/lands/wildlifeareas/horicon
Horicon National Wildlife
Refuge Visitor Center W4279 Headquarters Road,Mayville(920) 387-2658
fws.gov/refuge/Horicon
Marsh Haven Nature CenteW10145 Hwy. 49, WaupunOpen April through mid-November: Noon to 4 p.m.weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.weekends Admission: $2 adult, $1 child(920) 324-5818marshhaven.com
Friends of the HoriconNational Wildlife Refuge(920) 387-2658 ext. 117horiconnwrfriends.org
Friends of Horicon MarshEducation and VisitorCenter (920) 387-7890horiconmarsh.org
FALL 2015 YOUR FAMILY A great blue heron stalks its prey in the shallow marsh.
A chipmunk pauses on a log while carryingold leaves in its mouth at Ledge Park.
A gartersnake slithers through fallenleaves at Horicon Marsh.
Maddy and Miguel Osuna traveled with their family from Chicago to see the Horicon Marsh.They are pictured outside of the Horicon National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in October 2014.
when the leaves are changing in fall.
As we walked down natura l limestone steps and tried to squeeze through
crevices and peer into caves, I imagined how exhilarating it must have felt for
someone to stumble upon this place long ago. Light penetrated an opening in the
rocks where a single tree stood, cascading shelves of fungi clinging to its aged
bark.
Although trails total just over two miles in the 83-acre park, the going is slow on
the rocky terrain and outcroppings, especially because the moss-covered rocks and
carpet of leaves can be slick. One of the trails took over a half-hour to complete,
though we were also making frequent stops for photos.
Park officials warn that extra caution is needed for children who walk near the
cliffs due to steep drop-offs, some between 30 and 50 feet. However, some of the
trails on the lower part of the park are much more accessible.
Benches surround the Contemplation Tree at the base of the park for those whowant to take a break or reflect. Continued on page 12
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FAMILYFUNNATURAL WONDERSContinued from page 11
Maze through the marshKnowing how much there is to see at Horicon Marsh, we
decided to leave Ledge Park early and just snack on granola
bars rather than breaking the momentum with a full lunch.
It is possible to walk, drive, bike, paddle and even hunt in
different areas of the marsh, but it can become a confusing
maze through the prairie, marsh and forest unless you are
equipped with a detailed map. If snow comes early, there arealso opportunities for cross country skiing and snowshoeing.
Be sure to check out resources and trail maps online or at
the various visitor centers before you decide how you want to
experience the marsh.
My mom and I made the mistake of just winging it. We
still had a great time driving through some parts and walking
others, including a floating boardwalk on the northern end
that is also handicapped-accessible, but we could have
covered more area instead of backtracking if we had chosen a
specific route to follow.
Still, there is no required start or finish line, since you
can pick up the trail at various points along the loop. And no
matter where you are or what time of year you come, you will
see birds. Lots of them.
Four-season fun A sign near one of the parking lots refers to the changing
seasons as acts in a play and asks the reader which act
the refuge is performing that day. Act 1: Winter – A Subtle
Scene of owls, hawks, deer and foxes; Act 2: Spring – An
Awakening of coots, herons, egrets and warblers; Act 3:
Summer – New Life Emerges with baby muskrats and fluffy
ducklings; and Act 4: Fall – The Big Finale of geese, ducksand cranes flocking to the marsh to rest and feed before the
long migration south.
We were certainly witnessing the final act. The shallow
water was full of honking Canada geese and a variety of
ducks. From a distance they all looked like mallards, but ou
binoculars revealed several different species that we had
never seen before.
In some areas we were driving with water on both sides o
us, so I poked my head through the sunroof for a 360-degree
view while my mom steered, which came in handy to captur
shots of an egret flying overheard. We pulled over to watch
great blue heron deliberately dip its stilts into the water wit
barely a ripple to search for its next meal.
While you can cover more area in a vehicle, you’ll needto step outside to really get immersed in its melodies. The
overlapping cackle of sandhill cranes may drown out the
sound of water gurgling, frogs ribbiting or tall reeds shaking
in the wind, but each note signals the vitality and season of
the marsh.
People of all ages can learn more about the history of the
marsh and the types of birds and animals that stop there
through informational signs on the trails and interactive
exhibits at the nature centers, including the Explorium,
which opened in August 2015.
Food with local flair
For those looking to fill up their bellies before embarkingon this active trip, consider stopping in at Horicon’s local
establishments for a bite to eat.
Enjoy a sandwich or burger with a view at The Rock Rive
Tap, 110 W. Lake St. This bar and gri ll has expanded over
the years to add a dining room and deck for outdoor seating
overlooking the Rock River.
If kids’ palates can be hard to please, drive across the
bridge to try the expansive menu at Mother’s Day Family
Restaurant, 417 E. Lake St., open daily, for an affordable
meal. The dated decor, scalloped booths and floral chairs on
wheels only add to the charm of this homey diner.
Then, for dessert, walk up a block to the Ice Cream
Station, 518 E. Lake St., and choose from over 25 flavors of
Cedar Crest ice cream at the corner of, wait for it ... CedarStreet. Fall hours may vary.
Since there are multiple access points to the marsh, you
could visit Ledge Park first and break for lunch in Mayville,
just northeast of Horicon, before winding through the water
and prairies. Within just a few blocks downtown you’ll have
the options of American, Chinese, Mexican, Italian and
Creole cuisine.
But nothing says fall like a caramel apple, and Tom Doole
Orchards, W5759 Hwy. 49, Waupun, at the northern tip of th
marsh, does not disappoint. Opening late August through
November, the bakery will offer all things apple, including
breads, scones, pies and new cider apple cream puffs, all
made from scratch and prepared fresh daily. l12
YOUR FAMILY FALL 2015
To
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May, 2012
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Wet Periods: May not be passible duringhigh water / rainy periods.
Gravel Road: May not be suitable for thin bike tires / difficult travel.
Traffic: High speed and/or heavy vehicle traffic adjacent to bike route. Use extra caution or alternative route.
Community Access Route
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Map sponsored in part by the Friends of Dodge County Parks, Inc. in memory of Frank Dummann (1924-2007); teacher and entrepreneur.Frank owned The Bike Shop in Mayville and was a long time supporter of the Wild Goose Trail and biking in the Horicon Marsh area.
Map sponsored in part by Horicon Bank – The Natural Choice – www.horiconbank.com
Federal Refuge Office/ Visitor Center
Bud Cook
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Marsh Haven
Nature Center
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Dodge Co. Ledge Park
BIKE ROUTE / AUTO TOUR AND HIKING TRAILS
Suggested Bicycle Route
(Entire Loop: 36 Miles)
Auto Use
(Entire Loop: 36 Miles)
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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resourcesis unveiling the new Explorium in the Horicon MarshEducation and Visitor Center in August 2015.
I got a sneak peak of the $3.7 million project, which
features wildlife displays, historical artifacts and interactiveexhibits, on a tour led by wildlife conservation educator LizHerzmann two weeks before opening day.
When she opened the door in the lower level of thebuilding and flipped on the lights, I almost let out a shriek.I was startled by a realistic mannequin (which, I found outmoments later, was modeled after Herzmann) crouching in
front of a partially 3-D marsh scene just in front of me.“The Explorium’s goal is to tell the story of the marsh,”
she said. “So basically, to tell people about how the marshwas created, the human history on the marsh, the wildlife
on the marsh and then the ways that we take care of andmanage the marsh today.’’
The journey through the Explorium will take people backthrough time to understand Horicon Marsh’s history while
having fun along the way. It starts with a walk through theglaciers in the Ice Age and a face-to-face view of a woollymammoth to illustrate the marsh as hunting grounds 10,000 years ago. People wil l learn how humans have affected the
marsh over time, including building a dam in 1845 to createa lake and draining it in 1910 to convert it to farmland, aswell as introducing commercial hunting.
Look for a clovis spearpoint on displays to be your guide
through different periods of time. Quotes from naturalists,
such as Wisconsin’s Aldo Leopold and John Muir, are scribed
on walls to transition between rooms.
Since many school-aged children are expected to visit
the Explorium, there are a few hands-on activities, such as
a predator-and-prey matching game. Kids can also crawl
through a muskrat hole and look up to see live turtles
through a glass bottomed display.
You may feel as though you’ve been shrunk upon entering
the oversized, underwater world of the marsh and its
creatures, and you can also get a photograph souvenir after
riding an airboat simulator.
Herzmann said that conversations about this projectstarted in 2009, but the design process didn’t take off until
2013. She has been part of the project’s core team and
has seen it progress from beginning to end. Before the
Explorium opened, she estimated that 50,000 people would
come through the visitor center each year.
“It’s our goal in the next three years to triple that,” she
said.
The center is planning a few free programs for the public
at the end of August to mark the Explorium’s grand opening.
They include Archery Day at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27,
Wild Edibles of the Marsh at 10 a.m. and Night Sounds Hike
at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28, and Edible Berries at 10 a.m. Aug. 29.
Explorium opens at marsh
FALL 2015 YOUR FAMILY
Kids can learn about predator and prey relationships by playing a matching game with oversized photo blocks at Horicon Marsh’s new Explorium.
FAMILYFUN
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14 YOUR FAMILY FALL 2015
O ver the next year-and-a-half,
Kimberly Blaeser hopes to
make poetry more accessible to
Wisconsinites and to take the art form
to “unexpected places.”
As someone who grew up around
poetry and had a love for language, she
wants to see poetry appear in places
outside its normal classroom setting –
on the radio, at recreational events and
at botanical gardens.
That’s how she’s approaching her
two-year duty as Wisconsin PoetLaureate, which she was appointed to
in January. A University of Wisconsin-
Milwaukee professor of English, Blaeser
has published three collections of
her poetry and has written and edited
several other books. At the university,
she teaches creative writing, Native
American literature and American
nature writing.
Blaeser is the state’s first Native
American to serve as poet laureate. Her
Anishinaabe ancestry and upbringing
on the White Earth Reservation in
northwest Minnesota play a significantrole in her work and interest in
literature, she said.
She has been active in Milwaukee’s
social and academic community,
having founded the Milwaukee Native
American Literary Cooperative in 2012.
The organization helped to bring 75
Native American writers to Milwaukee
for the 20th Anniversary Returning
the Gift Festival of Native Writers and
Storytellers.
And since being appointed, she ’s also
been active in trying to promote her
vis ion of bringing poetry to the masses.
The sound of language
In an interview with Your Family,Blaeser said her family instilled the
importance of “the sound of language”
in her at a young age.
“As a child I began writing poetry, but
beyond that, both my parents enjoyed
poetry,” Blaeser recal led . “My dad used
to recite it. We would take long road
trips back to Montana, because he
worked construction out there, and at
the least provocation he could just go
into a poem. He was of an era when
people did memorize poems.”
In fact, her entire family memorized
poems, including hersel f and her
brother, and she could name her
parents’ favorites.
“I don’t think everyone could say th
about their parents,” she observed.
Blaeser’s childhood experiences gav
her “a sense of this oral reality – that
the sound of language is important –
since I was small. And it was not just
poetry. It was also storytel ling and
music.”
As an adult, she ’s wri tten and
published fiction, creative nonfiction,and worked for a couple of years as
a journalist. So while not exclusively
a poet, Blaeser said the art form has
remained important to her, and she’s
“always kept some kind of writing
going.”
“I’ve been a steady journal writer fo
most of my life,” she said.
Blaeser thinks part of the reason
she’s been drawn to the written word
is that she was “such a shy little child.
Writing allowed her to express though
and feelings that she may have been to
reticent to convey verbally. As Poet Laureate, she hopes to tak e
that interest and love of language to a
larger community.
Spreading the wordBlaeser’s charge as Poet Laureate is
to foster and encourage the growth of
poetry in Wisconsin. She wasted no tim
in meeting that challenge after being
appointed in January.
She began by being a guest on the
Milwaukee School of Engineering publ
radio station, WMSE, 91.7, where she
Photo by John FisherKimberly Blaeser was appointed Wisconsin Poet
Laureate in January and hopes to make the artform “more accessible” and less formal and
“staid” for the state’s residents.
FAMILYLIFE
About Wisconsin PoetLaureate
In May of 2011, the Wisconsin Academy announced its stewardshipof the Wisconsin Poet Laureateprogram to ensure its survival andsupport the Wisconsin Poet LaureateCommission after Gov. Scott Walkereliminated state support for theposition.
Created by Gov. Tommy Thompsonin July 2000, and continued byGov. Jim Doyle, the Wisconsin PoetLaureate Commission’s purposeis to conduct the Wisconsin PoetLaureate selection process, assignresponsibilities to the elected poetlaureate and assist that individual inperforming ofcial duties.
Advancing the art of
Poet Laureate hopes to spread it to‘unexpected places’
by Bill Livick
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FAMILYLIFE
talked about her background and plans
for the coming two years.
She plans to make a monthly
appearance on the station as a guest
host, where she’ll put together a show
on poetry featuring Wisconsin poets or
events that are happening in the state.
Blaeser has also been featured on
Wisconsin Public Radio, where she talked
about art and her role as Poet Laureate.Other public appearances early in her
two-year tenure have taken place at the
Madison Museum of Contemporary Art,
and at various commencements around
the state. Each time, she writes a poem
specifically for the occasion and recites
it.
Blaeser said she hopes to “revitalize
the recitation element of poetry”
throughout the state. One way is
simply by asking poets and others what
poems they know by heart as she vis its
classrooms and other venues.
She’s also working on a plan toorganize “a big recitation event” next
Apr il – poetry month in Wisconsin.
“I’ve already gotten people excited
about this,” she said. “When I go to do a
reading or a talk, I often ask, ‘Who in this
room knows a poem by heart?’
“I often get my students to do this as a
part of our class as wel l,” Blaeser added.
“I think it’s important to memorize poems
and recite them.”
Another idea is to take poetry to
“unexpected places.” For example,
close to her home in Lyons Township,
near Burlington, there’s a place called
Northwind Perennial Farm, which she
described as being like a botanical
garden, petting zoo and a plant nurseryall in one.
“I thought it would be great to have
some poetry events among the flowers
– have a performance but also have
people come and be encouraged through
a process of writing, and then share their
work,” she said.
Blaeser said she’s working with the
owners to find a date for the event.
She has other places in mind, all with
the intention of taking poetry outside
the classroom, where it’s often viewed as
something for academics and “is sort of
stiff and formal and staid.”“So I want it to have other homes and
come alive for people in a way that you
don’t have to be an academic or a ‘poet’
to enjoy,” Blaeser said.
“I hope to bring poetry to unexpected
places and have it be a less fearful
activity for people.” l
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Blaser’s
poetry
collectionBlaeser is the author of three
acclaimed poetry collections:“Apprenticed to Justice”(2007), “Absentee Indiansand Other Poems” (2002),and “Trailing You” (1994).Her books have earned
national as well asinternational recognition.Her poems have beentranslated into severallanguages, including Spanish,Norwegian, Indonesian and Anishinaabemowin.
Blaeser has performed her
poetry at over 200 differentvenues in a dozen countries,including performancesat the Borobudur Templein Indonesia and in a FireCeremony at the BorderlandsMuseum Grounds in arcticNorway.
FALL 2015 YOUR FAMILY
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16
YOUR FAMILY FALL 2015
Story and photos by Scott De Laruelle
FAMILYLIFE
A s the Hindu population in the
Dane County area continues to
grow – along with local interest
in the culture – work continues to
fund a new facility under construction
designed to serve the entire community.
In the past decade, the number
of Hindu families in the county has
exploded, with people arriving fromIndia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal,
said American Hindu Association (AHA)
chair Mahesh Sharma, who has lived in
the area for more than two decades.
“When I moved here, there were only
20-25 families,” he said. “Now there are
3,000-plus families, just from Madison,
not Dane County suburbs or Rock
County. That is why we wanted to buy
a bigger (area of) land, so there will be
enough place.”
The AHA is a non-profit Hindu
cultural and heritage organization
founded in 1997 to serve the greater
Madison. The group is building a new
7,000-square-foot temple and community
center at their 7-acre property at 2138
S. Fish Hatchery Road to replace the
existing facility, a converted old house
that holds only around 50 people.
The outside of the structure has been
completed, but the group is still raisingfunds to finish the inside. Sharma said
the AHA has “big plans” for the facility,
and continued improvements to the
area.
“We can make it a very nice grounds
and park,” he said. “And it’s not just for
the Indian community, it’s for anybody
else. If anybody wants to come, they are
most welcome.”
Stretching outPeople from the area have been
coming to the temple in larger and
larger numbers for a variety of reasons
Sharma said – from July’s Rathyatra
Festival to practicing yoga, another
famous export of India.
A yoga session in June drew 200
people , mostly from outside the Ind ian
community. That’s a connection Sharm
hopes to build on.
“My motto is to give everybody a fre yoga class and that wil l drive them to
come inside and know about you more
Find out moreAmerican Hindu Association
Community Center
2138 S. Fish Hatchery Road
aha-svtemple.org
234-8634
The American Hindu Association’s fourth annual India Festivaldrew more than 800 people on July 18.
Spreading cultureLocal Hindu leaders hope to increase awareness of area’s growing community
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‘It’s a different kind of
culture, different kind of food
– colorful, unique.’
— Mahesh Sharma,
American Hindu Association chair
he said with a laugh. “Yes, (yoga) is from far; from the
Indian people. But we want to provide, and we can
provide, a lot of facil ities and guidance and free things
here.
“It’s a different kind of culture, different kind of
food – colorful, unique – once you start knowing it,
you get sort of curious and want to know what it is. ”
Sharma hopes yoga’s recent rise in popularity in
the United States bodes well for people of traditional
western upbringings wanting to learn more about
Hinduism. Yoga and meditation – key Hindu practices– are good for everyone, he said, no matter what their
religious background.
“It’s a scientific fact – if you do a lot of meditation,
you wil l have a lot of rel ief ; a lot of disease wil l go
away if you practice that,” he said. “Meditation is just
the religion that we do.”
AHA member Bik ash Pattanik said vis itors are
welcome to drop by anytime, as there is a priest who
lives on-site.
“We can answer any questions,” he said. “Our priest
speaks English and five other Indian languages.
“Hindus are most liberal – if you don’t want to pray,
you can come here and join some functions, or join a yoga class, or if you just want to come and see what it
is and ask questions.”
Rathyatra FestivalOn July 18, nearly 1,000 people came out for
the AHA’s Fourth Annual India Festival, held in
conjunction with Rathyatra, one of the most popular
Hindu celebrations of the year – in part because it’s
held outside.
That works locally as well, Pattanik said, given the
group’s “crowded” space situation.
The one-day event, which features lots of Indian
food, dancing and music, as well as the traditional
Hindu chariot procession, provides a snapshot of the
growing Hindu population and its thriving culture in
the Dane County area. Pattanik said the 5,000-year-old
ceremony attracts millions of people around the world.
He said the chariot ceremony incorporates some of the
most important traits of the Hindu religion.
“It’s a pretty big event,” Pattanik said. “I saw one
in Paris; if you go to Detroit, there are four chariot
festivals. We bring in the chariots, and they are like
living gods.”
Sharma would love to someday see a chariot
being pulled down Madison’s State Street in front of
enthusiastic crowds.
“That would be something,” he said with a big smile.
“That is our goal.” l
American Hindu Association member Bikash Pattanik and AHA chairMahesh Sharma stand in front of the new temple and cultural center undeconstruction at the Fish Hatchery Road location. The outside is complete,
but the association is raising funds to finish the inside.
FAMILYLIFE
Festival women line up from inside the temple to the chariot to carry GoddessSubhadra (Sister of Krishna or Jagannath) on their head as a procession duringthe Rathyatra Festival on July 18.
FALL 2015 YOUR FAMILY
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18 YOUR FAMILY FALL 2015
Becoming
himself
FAMILYLIFE
A Fitchburg teen’s transgender journey
begins with family, school and church
O
rion is not your typical teenager.The 15-year-old student at
Madison West studies Latin andis interested in the field of acousticallevitation – the science of using soundwaves to suspend and move objects.
He claims to be a “huge” Dr. Who fan,though he admits he hasn’t seen manyepisodes prior to the 2005 reboot.
And Orion – whose las t name Your
Family magazine is withholding at thefamily’s request – was born with thename “Molly.”
In April of this year, he revealed his
new identity to his church congregationat Memorial United Church of Christ in
Fitchburg, following his announcementthat the church would be holding a
workshop on the matter. When “Molly”told those gathered that the event wasimportant to him because he wanted tobe called Orion and henceforth referred
to as “he,” the announcement was metwith wide applause, according to pastorPhil Haslanger.
“That startled me, I hadn’t expected
that response – I thought people would just nod and say ‘OK, cool, ’” Haslangersaid, “So it was really a very affirmingmoment, I think, for Orion to have
that experience.”Orion’s mother said his true gender
identity has expressed itself since middleschool, which, she jokes, made clothesshopping that much easier.
“He would just go up to (his older
brother’s) old clothes, which I wassaving for (his younger brother), and juststeal them all,” Orion’s mother said.
But his father counters that special
occasions were made that much moredifficult.
“It was also surprisingly difficultwhenever we said, ‘You need a dress for
eighth-grade graduation’ or, ‘You need adress for homecoming,’” Orion’s father
said. At this, mom broke into laughter,
“That was quite funny seeing (Orion)walk out in a green, lacy dress, walkinglike a football player.”
Though Orion remembers feeling at
odds with his birth gender as early asmiddle school, it was his arrival at highschool, and the discovery of other transteens, that helped him understand those
feelings.“The more I got to know about being
transgender, the more I realized – that’swho I was,” Orion said.
Photo submitted
Photo by Samantha ChristiOrion smiles while listening to his brother during an Aug. 5 interview with Your FamiBelow, Orion poses near his home in Fitchburg just prior to receiving a haircut in Ap
by Jacob Bielanski
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FALL 2015 YOUR FAMILY
FAMILYLIFE
Journey to acceptanceEven as transgender issues take
center stage, the path to genderaffirmation and acceptance is not as easyas finding new clothes.
Darla Lannert, a volunteer with theOutReach LGBT Community Center anda transgender woman, explained thatfamily acceptance is the most important
component to a healthy transition.“Parents really have to get in the
groove and really saturate themselveswith what’s happening in the transgender
community,” Lannert said.It’s a fact that’s not lost on Orion’s
family. His oldest brother, who will go tocollege this fall to study material science,
said that though Orion’s revelation wasnot a surprise, he still sometimes hastrouble with the pronoun. He admittedto slipping up only a few days prior to
talking with Your Family magazine.“I can’t say I was surprised because he
had never been feminine at all, “ Orion’sbrother said. “It was just tough to get
used to at first.”Though small, Orion said that simple
act of acceptance – saying he versus she,
him versus her – has a noticeable impacton his mood and quality-of-life.
“I feel a lot happier beingacknowledged as male,” Orion started,before clarifying further. “When peopleacknowledge me as male, I feel a lot
happier.”The journey to this acceptance,
however, went through more than merely
the sensibilities of those closest to Orion.
Attending Madison West High School ,he said, was his first exposure totransgender identity. Up to that point, hehad only ever heard the term transsexual
and, even then, “only in passing and witha negative connotation.”
The distinction is not a minor one tothose like Lannert, who does not like the
term.“Well, I think that when we say
transsexual … what (that) connotatesfor me is ‘something sexual,’” Lannert
said. “Transgender is nothing sexual – it’sabout becoming who we are.”
Orion credits his ability to comeforward as male, in part, to the open
presen ce of other transgender teens atthe school. Lannert added that manytransgender people seem to continue
hiding their identity, in part, with the
belief that they are alone.Orion said he first started
experimenting with his gender identity
at school by signing his assignments“Orion” and placing his birth name,
Molly, in parenthesis. Educators at Westcaught on, and simply began referring thim as Orion.
The acceptance grew with the steps
he took.“I went to school one day and told on
of my gender-fluid friends … ‘Hey, could you please cal l me Orion, use he and his
instead of she and hers for pronouns
from now on?’” Orion said. “They justlooked at me and said ‘Hey, high five! Awesome!’”
Price of discriminationIn Madison and beyond, coming to
grips with transgender feelings has rare
been about high-fives and awkwardclothing moments.
For decades, people who haveidentified as transgendered have faceddiscrimination that has significantlyaffected their ability to live healthy
adult lives. Lannert said even schoolsthat profess LGBTQA friendliness, suchas West, often stop short of mitigating
the effects of non-acceptance by fellowteachers and students.
“Accepting (trans teens) and actingon that are two different things – what
happens to trans people is the bullying
that takes place while they’re intransition,” Lannert said. “I think that’sthe thing that drives young trans people
to take their lives – it’s a huge issue inthe trans community.”
‘Transgender is nothing sexual – it’s about
becoming who we are.’ — Darla Lannert, OutReach LGBT volunteer
Continued on page 2
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Photo submittedMolly, as Orion was then known, poses with her
homecoming date.
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20 YOUR FAMILY FALL 2015
FAMILYLIFE
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BECOMING HIMSELFContinued from page 19
Madison doesn’t have to dig deep to
find examples of this impact. In early
2014, the community was rocked by the
suicide of Madison West senior Mindy
Fabian.
Born Nathan Fabian, the teen also
dealt with issues of anxiety and anger
throughout her life, the Wisconsin State
Journal reported. Fabian ult imately
jumped to her death f rom a downtown
apartment building.
“In hindsight, I’m sure everything
was tied together,” Fabian’s father
told the State Journal at the time. “I
can’t imagine getting up every morning
and not wanting to be in the body youhave.”
Luckily, Orion doesn’t profess to
having dealt with similar emotions.
He attributes the issue to teens who
are forced to hide who they are, often
living at odds with the body they were
born with, and the person they feel they
are. As such, Orion said he hasn’t dealt
with any major psychological issues
surrounding his gender identity.
For someone like Fabian, who was
out, Orion posits that it can also come
from being out, but “facing a lot of
negative pressure from family and
friends,” – the last word spoken with a
sarcastic gesturing of air quotes.
Lannert acknowledges her struggles
a decade ago might not be the same
ones faced by trans teens today.
Lannert was 54 when she finally
came out about her gender to her wife
in 2004. Up until that time – from stints
serving combat tours in Vietnam toworking what she called a “macho”
job in transportation – Lannert had
never considered the possibility that
her feelings were part of a genuine
expression of identity.
“I just assumed I was a cross
dresser,” Lannert said.
Cultural awakeningBoth Lannert and Orion’s family
see hope in the recent high-profilecoming-out of Caitlyn Jenner, who firstgained fame four decades ago as a male
Olympian decathlete. Orion’s father notethat Jenner’s outing helps to show thatidentifying as transgender is not “weird.
“Again, maybe Caitlyn isn’t a goodexample of that,” Orion’s father joked.“She did marry a Kardashian.”
Though Jenner’s launch into thespotlight has been controversial,
Orion’s family, their pastor and Lannertagree that it’s forcing people to have aconversation that traditionally has beenignored.
Having that conversation, withoutfear of reprisal, is the first step toward abetter life for teens like Orion.
“I think the transgender issues are so
out, so visible, that we are at least gettin
to speak without maybe sometimesgetting a hostile environment,” Lannertsaid.
The changes can be seen at the policylevel.
In addition to the recent affirmation bthe U.S. Supreme Court of gay couples’
right to marry – which is importantto trans couples since gender identitydoes not necessarily include a changein sexual orientation or even surgical
modification – California has recentlyled the way with legislation banning
the “gay-’’ or “trans panic” defense incourts. Though rarely invoked, the legal
defense has granted leniency in casesof serious assault and murder when thedefendants claim to have been “shocked
by discovery of the assigned gender orsexual orientation of the victim.
Though few cases of it have been
successfully invoked, the defense was
most famously used in the case of Gwen
Araujo. Araujo was born a man and
identified as female when she was beaten
and strangled to death by four different
men. Using the “trans panic” defense
resulted in a hung jury in the first trial,which sought first degree murder charge
The defendants ultimately received
convictions on lesser charges of second-
degree murder and manslaughter.
“We’re protected here in Dane County
Lannert said, referring to discrimination
protections that extend to those who
identify as transgender, “But once
we leave Dane County, we’re not so
protected.”
Orion said he’s not overly concerned
with the world he’ll approach when he
becomes an adult, but recognizes that
‘When people acknowledge me as male,
I feel a lot happier.’Orion, transgender teen
Continued on page
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When Darla Lannert first began running meetings of the
Madison Area Transgender Association at the OutReach LGBTCommunity Center in 2013, the crowds, she said, drew perhaps
“eight or nine” attendees.
Now the semi-weekly meetings draw anywhere from 20 to 50
people .
“It blows my mind,” Lannert said.
The OutReach LGBT Community Center traces its roots
to back to 1969 and the incorporation of the Madison Gay
Center. Since its inception, the group has provided support and
educational services in defense of gay and lesbian groups.
Over the years, the group has expanded its mission, and
it now includes advocacy and support for the transgender
population. Par t of its mission is to “create a community where
the presence and contributions of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender people are welcomed and celebrated,” according toits website.
Lannert said that estimates at the national level identifies
roughly 1,000 transgender people in the area – three to five
percent of approximately 25,000 who identi fy as LGBT.
“I don’t know a thousand trans people – I know hundreds,”
Lannert said. “But some people just never come out – we stay
hidden, we’re afraid.”
Getting the word out that there are other trans people is
often the first step to helping people come out.Technology,
Lannert said, has expanded the reach of trans issue awareness,
helping those confused about their gender identity to know that
there’s tens of thousands of others who share their experience.
“What’s comforting for young people is that if they know
that there’s other people like them, this gives them such
hope,” Lannert said. “You might think you’re the only person inMadison … that identifies other than their birth gender.”
Lannert’s own journey to accept herself began in 2004,
in Montana. The Vietnam veteran had simply felt she was a
“cross-dresser,” but found comfort in the “authentic” life she
experienced as a female. Lannert moved back to Wisconsin in
2007, and today drives a cab and is a regular volunteer with the
OutReach center. Lannert, who saw 20 months of combat durin
her enlistment, also runs an LGBTQ veterans support group.
“I will tell you this – 90 percent of the people who attend th
meeting are transgender,” Lannert said.
During an interview with Lannert in mid-August, center
director Steve Starkey emerged from his office and apologized
for the unusually barren walls. Banners and flags had been
removed, he explained, for the recent Pride Parade down StateStreet. Throughout the office were posters for the parade, with
prescient theme for the year printed at the bottom of a rainbow
design: “the ‘T’ is not silent.
“When we have a meeting and there’s 35 people and 8 or 10
who have never been to a trans meeting before, it just amazes
me,” Lannert said. “It gives me just so much hope that things a
changing in Madison – and Wisconsin and the world.”
Transgender association meetings are held the second and
fouth Fridays and the first and third Saturdays of each month
at the OutReach LGBT Community Center, 600 Williamson St.,
Madison.
For information about the OutReach LGBT Community
Center, visit lgbtoutreach.org.
The ‘T’ is no longer silent
FALL 2015 YOUR FAMILY
FAMILYLIFE
Photo by Jamie PeacoDarla Lannert stands in front of the OutReach LGBT Community Center in Madison. Lannert, a trans woman who has been out since 200
has volunteered with the center for the last two years, running the regular meetings of the Madison Area Transgender Associatio
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FAMILYHEALTH
Family caregivers need your support
M y wife has been the primarycaregiver for both her momand dad for many years.
Because she is the oldest of seven
and a registered nurse and lived
closest to her parents, she had,
over time, taken on the mantle of
responsibility.
Truly, she wanted to wanted to be
there for her mom and dad, and infact, we built a duplex so she could be
in close proximity to her folks in their
declining years. If it weren’t for my
wife – who often missed work or was
late attending to their needs – her dad
would have probably died much earlier
than he did.
But it’s been a long time. And now,
she continues to remain “on duty” for
her mother who is now 88 and a brittle
diabetic.
Fortunately, she is retired and able
to spend the time with her motherto care for her in her home as she
continues to age in place. But even
with four sisters in the area, she’s
often on her own.
Hers is not an uncommon situation.
Recent surveys show about one in
five adults is a caregiver of some sort.
Family caregivers are a wonderful
commodity, but they are also prone to
problems.
Over time, family caregivers can getburned out, develop depression and
suffer illnesses and health problems.
Most elders or those with disabilities
have families that are providing some
level of care and support, and this
“informal care” can be substantial in
scope, intensity, and duration.
Caregivers are sometimes referred
to as “secondary patients,” and as tha
designation suggests, they need and
deserve protection and guidance.
Most notably, research shows
caregiving demands place them at hig
risk for injury and adverse events – a
many as 13 percent die before theircare recipients do. But beyond that,
family caregivers are unpaid provider
who often need help to learn how to
become competent, safe volunteer
workers who can better protect
their family members (i.e., the care
recipients) from harm.
Caregivers spend a substantial
amount of time interacting with their
care recipients, and the job can last
for a short period of post acute care
(especially after a hospitalization) to
more than 40 years of ongoing care.On average, informal caregivers devo
4.3 years to this work, with about 20
percent spending a decade or more.
More than half provide eight hours a
week, and 20 percent provide more
SENIOR LIVINGBY STEPHEN RUDOLPH
22 YOUR FAMILY FALL 2015
Caregivers are often counseled to make
sure they take care
of themselves.
Dad deservesto live with
dignity ...
Ask for
(608) 466-1130
Care & Support Through theStages of Serious Illness
adno=420014-01
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8/20/2019 YourFamily Fall2015
23/36
FALL 2015 YOUR FAMILY
FAMILYHEALTHthan 40 hours a week.
And that doesn’t begin to capturethe complexity and stressfulness ofcaregiving. It’s not just giving a bathbut bathing someone who resists it.
It’s not just helping with medications,it’s medication administration, withsome patients receiving multiplemedications several times a day,
including injections, inhalers, eye
drops and crushed tablets.The need to make decisions on
behalf of family members who are
unable to do so is stressful, as is beingresponsible for medical and nursing
procedures like managing urinary
catheters, skin care around a centralline, gastrostomy tube feedings and
venti lators, the sorts of things that can provoke anxiety provoking in novice
nursing students.Trying to balance caregiving with
other aspects of life can make it
difficult to focus on the positiveaspects of caregiving, particularlywhen those involved are employedand subject to missed days orinterruptions. On the other hand,
employment can be a respite fromongoing care activities and can serveas a buffer to their feelings of burden.
The result of long-term caregiving
can be feelings of loneliness andisolation, fearfulness and beingeasily bothered, as the demands ofcaregiving limit their personal time,
not to mention altered sleep patterns
that can bring on depression andexacerbate symptoms of chronicillnesses. And most are rarely asked
how they’re holding up by people whoactually want to hear the answer.
So family caregivers, who are the primary mainstay of those who are
elder or disabled, deserve all thekudos, credit and support we can
provide them.There are many resources available,
in the interest of their overall health –and that of the person being caring for– so caregivers should not approach
caregiving responsibilities as if theyare alone.
Caregivers are often counseledto make sur