Feature

By Aryn Henning Nichols

We Midwesterners are a hearty lot, but when you live in a place that has winter for nearly half the year, it’s easy to go a little stir crazy. Somehow these last two months stretch out like warm Laffy Taffy on a hot summer day. Wait. Sorry. I’m wishfully mixing my seasonal similes.

The point is, when it seems like the cold, snow, and ice will never end, people are desperately searching for something fun to do. Many lucky folks head south to an exotic locale with palm trees and temperatures above 30, but we’ve got something a little closer and a little nicer on the pocketbook in mind: Decorah.
It’s no secret that we’re inspire(d) by our hometown; we loooove Decorah. With all our great hotels, cuisine, concerts and productions, museums, recreation and activities, we think you will too. So whether you live an hour away or just two blocks, we wanted to share our ideas on how to “getaway” for some late-winter fun and to fall in love with Decorah for the first time or all over again.

Looking to book a romantic weekend as a Valentine’s Day gift? Do you say “weather be damned” and want to get outside for some active fun? Maybe you’re hoping to shop, relax, and hang out with friends. We’ve put together a list of must-do activities for a variety of travelers – mix and match or do ‘em all, and most importantly, enjoy yourself.

Read on to get the inside scoop on how to fly the late winter coop.

Romancing the (Lime)Stone
Valentine’s Day, birthdays, anniversaries – there are lots of romantic excuses to come to Decorah, but you don’t really even need a holiday to enjoy your time here.

1. Head downtown to Magpie Coffeehouse, 118 Winnebago, and try some local, award-winning Kickapoo Coffee and delicious “Little Maggies” They’re like mini quiche cupcakes, and oh, so yummy. Dine in and read the latest Inspire(d) and play a round of Scrabble. Or take it to go and leisurely enjoy your hotel room while you get ready for your day.
2. Hold hands and take a romantic walk up Broadway Street through the Historic District or walk down Water Street, stopping in at the many great shops. On the west end of town, go to the Decorah Hatchery to buy his and hers Quality Chick t-shirts (For him: “I love Quality Chicks.” For her: “I’m a Quality Chick.”). On the east end pop into Agora Arts to check out regional artists’ wares or pick out a print by StoryPeople, the quirky, world-renowned artwork full of poignant and often funny messages. FYI: StoryPeople is headquartered right here in Decorah!
3. Take the short drive north of town to Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, 1966 337th Street, to check out their 140-year-old family farm and try some of their tasty local wines – favorite quirky wine names: “Horny Heifer” and “How Ole Made Lena Blush.” The winery is open Wednesday through Sunday. www.wwwinery.com

Decorah Explora’
Do you like to get a little fresh air while you’re on vacation, even if it is a little cold outside? Get your gear on, ‘cause there’s outdoor fun to be had.

1. Decorah is known for its great mountain bike trails and the paved and newly extended Trout Run Trail – but perhaps you didn’t know many of those trails are groomed in the winter for cross country skiing. And of course, if there’s snow somewhere, you can snowshoe there.
Groomed trails and difficulty levels:
Dug Road, from the campground end of the trail all the way to the Decorah Trout Hatchery and beyond. (Beginner)
Palisades Park, complete loop (Moderate)
Van Peenan Park (Moderate to Advanced)
City Prairie behind Aase Haugen Home (Beginner)
Luther College cross country course and large lower practice field (Moderate)
Need the equipment and maps? Decorah Bicycles, 101 College Drive, rents skis and snowshoes for just $10/day and they’re full of helpful information.
2. Are trails not your bag? There are few winter activities sweeter or more enjoyable than ice skating. Head across the Upper Iowa River on College Drive to the Carl Selland Wayside Park. Decorah Bicycles rents ice skates for just $5 a day.
3. Disc golf has grown in popularity in Decorah, largely through Decorah resident Dan Bellrichard, founder of discgolfdan.com. The course at Luther College has nine holes that wind over the hills and through the woods (but not to grandmother’s house). The baskets are up year-round and the course is open to the public. At Bob’s Standard Gas Station, 208 College Drive, you can rent up to six discs for just $5/day. You can even play at night with an LED light, also available at Bob’s Standard. Visit www.discgolfdan.com for more information.

Live Culture is Good for You
Decorah, like yogurt, is full of good culture, but more the museums, classes, artifacts sort of culture. Make it a “better yourself” trip, and learn a little about what makes Decorah tick.

1. Vesterheim, meaning “western home” in Norwegian, is surprisingly larger than it would seem from the outside, and is one of the best Norwegian museums in the country. It houses a small sailboat, an amazing silver collection, and rotating exhibits that make you forget you’re in a town of just 10,000 people. The 16 historic buildings in its main complex occupy most of a square block in downtown, and it has more than 24,000 artifacts! It’s no boring museum…I suggest you check it out. Bonus: admission is free on Thursdays thanks to Decorah Bank and Trust!
And don’t forget to check back in the spring when Seed Savers Heritage Farm and the Porter House and Laura Ingalls Wilder Museums are open.
2. Are you looking for the perfect souvenir from your culture-rich trip? Just down Water Street from Vesterheim, you can stop by Vanberia to pick out a Scandinavian goody or some Uff Da stickers, or head down the street a little farther and pop into Donlon’s to pick out your favorite Nisse – these “household spirits,” usually under four feet tall with a red cap, are said to be responsible for the care and prosperity of a farm. Just stay on his good side, if you know what I mean.
3. Feed your brain and your stomach at the Oneota Community Co-op, where you can watch Co-op employees make fresh mozzarella. Bocconcini and ovalini (small, semi-soft balls of mozzarella) are made nearly every day. The marinated bocconcini is amazing with the sourdough bread made by local Waving Grains Bakery, available fresh Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. Check out www.oneotacoop.com for more information.

Best Friends Forever, for Guys and Gals
No matter what you like to do, there’s no need to feel boxed-in in Decorah. Maybe you and your friends like to do your nails then go shoot skeet. Or perhaps you want to grab a beer after you’ve shopped ‘til you’ve dropped. Whatever your style, we’ve got it covered.

1. Shopping on Water Street…
For her: Looking for fun clothes, purses, accessories, shoes or souvenirs? Try Fancy Pants, KD Rae, Margaret’s, Happiness Is, or Elaines. For him: Amundson’s Clothing carries awesome lines of men’s clothing… isn’t it time you invested in a suit? Or perhaps you’re a little more casual – check out your favorite team’s gear at The Sport Shop.
2. Relaxing in Decorah. Get a rejuvenating soak and massage at Day Spring Spa or a manicure and pedicure at Eclips Salon. Or grab a booth and one of the 36 tap beers at Rubaiyat. If you’re here on Thursdays you can try your hand at Mystery Beer Night!
3. Or playing in Decorah. Chase the Adventure, just south of town 1838 Middle Calmar Road, has skeet and trap shooting year-round! Call ahead, 563-532-9821, or go to www.chasetheadventure.com for details.

Restaurants
Albert’s – Situated in the Hotel Winneshiek, right in the middle of town, Albert’s provides great people watching out its floor-to-ceiling windows. Start with the spicy Sriracha Rolls then dig into the famous BBQ Ribs. www.hotelwinn.com
Ede’s Gourmet – Reopening in a new Water Street location in 2010, Ede’s has a great selection of deli sandwiches designed by Chef Mark. Try the Craisin Chicken Salad on focaccia! www.edesgourmet.com
Family Table – Their motto, “Nothing fancy, just good food,” says it all. Open daily until only 8 pm, they serve yummy breakfast all day and make a mean piece of pie. www.familytabledecorah.com
Hart’s Tea and Tarts – This English-style tearoom keeps its menu – lunch only –totally simple and totally delicious. I recommend ordering Cream Tea at the beginning of the meal – the pot of whichever tea you choose can be enjoyed while you finish your lunch just in time for the two accompanying scones that are baked to order. www.hartsteaandtarts.com
La Rana Bistro – If you’re looking for an intimate lunch or dinner setting, look no further. Watch the chef prepare your meal in the open kitchen. The mojitos are amazing, and so is the chicken salad at lunch and the salmon and risotto at dinner.
Magpie Coffeehouse – We talked about breakfast (mmm… Kickapoo Coffee and Little Maggies), but Magpie does lunch too. Their deli-style and pre-made sandwiches satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
McCaffrey’s Dolce Vita, out by Twin Springs Park off Highway 52, has great views and beautiful brick oven. Try the Thai Kickin’ Chicken Pizza – it’ll make you want to slather the nutty, sweet and spicy peanut butter sauce on everything you eat. www.mcdolcevita.com
Oaks Steakhouse – The locals rave about the Oak’s half-baked cookie sundae dessert. Order it after you get your own personal bacon-topped meatloaf or the Angry Salad with house-made bleu cheese dressing and blackened sirloin. www.oakssteakhouse.com
Oneota Community Co-op – A big reason the Decorah community is so amazing is our fantastic food cooperative. Bright and cheery, the Co-op has different themes – like Brazilian, Indian, or Mexican – for their daily hot bar specials and offerings. And their caprese panino: delicious. www.oneotacoop.com
Rubaiyat – An anchor to downtown, Rubaiyat Restaurant has cozy booths and a fun bar. It’s hard to pick a favorite thing: the capon, brie, red onion and lingonberry pizza is a tasty treat, but so is the Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar at Sunday brunch. www.rubaiyatrestaurant.com

Pizza is my favorite food. Lucky for me, there are lots of amazing options in Decorah.
Happy Joe’s Pizza, an endearing old-fashioned pizza parlous, hands down has the best Taco Pizza in the state. Maybe the country. www.happyjoes.com
Mabe’s Pizza is famous in Decorah – thin crusted and cut in squares, the regular has been my all-time favorite. A secret: did you know you can order it double-crusted? It’s a whole different animal…
Pizza Ranch is an Iowa chain that does it all – pizza, chicken, salad, ice cream, potato wedges, green beans. But we usually order the thin crust Sweet Swine (Canadian bacon and pineapple). It’s sooooo good. www.decorahpizzaranch.com

Accommodations
We’ve got a lot of great options for lodging in Decorah – from historic B&Bs to a lovingly-restored landmark like the Hotel Winneshiek, we’re sure you’ll be able to find a place to stay that suits your needs.

Decorah B&B/Hotels in Three (or so) Words

Bed and Breakfast-Style Stays

B&B on Broadway, 305 West Broadway, www.bandbonbroadway.com – royal, antique, lavishly-restored
The Loft on Water Street, 106 East Water Street Suite 203, www.agoraarts.com/loft – contemporary, convenient, luxurious
Decorah Guesthouse, 202 St. Lawrence Street, decorahguesthouse.com – comfortable, cozy, cottage-style
Dug Road Inn, 601 West Main Street, www.dugroadinn.com – classic, Zen-like, elegant
Palisades Inn, 2566 Ice Cave Road, just on the outskirts of town near Palisades Park, www.palisadesinn.com – private, relaxing, scenic

More Traditional-Style Hotels

Hotel Winneshiek Downtown, 104 East Water Street, www.hotelwinn.com – turn-of-the-century restored, Decorah landmark, charming
Country Inn and Suites, 1202 Highway 9 West, www.countryinns.com/decorahia – country-style, indoor pool, spacious rooms
Heartland Inn, 705 Commerce Drive, www.heartlandinns.com – indoor pool, casual, clean
Super 8 Motel, 810 Highway 9 East, www.super8.com – affordable, simple, standard rooms
Bluffs Inn, 1101 Highway 9 West, www.bluffs-inn.com – affordable, attached bar/restaurant, retro-style

Maps and information about Decorah are available at the Winneshiek County Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, 507 West Water Street, or online at www.decoraharea.com.

Aryn Henning Nichols truly does love Decorah, and doesn’t mind winter all that much when there’s this much fun to be had.

For this Decorah destination guide, we joined forces with the Winneshiek County Convention & Visitors Bureau. The name’s a mouthful (try WCCVB instead!), but we really think you should know about these guys. They’re a local non-profit organization that’s marketing efforts (radio, print, billboards, web, travel shows and more) drive visitors to this gem of a place we call home. All businesses featured here are current CVB members. If you’d like to become a member and be part of their Midwest tourism campaign, contact them to sign up! Contact WCCVB Director, Brenda Balk for membership information:
wctc@alpinecom.net
507 W. Water St., Decorah
800-463-4692
www.decoraharea.com

By Sam Wiles 

The Wailin’ Jennys might just have the coolest name in modern music. The obvious but clever pun on country music legend Waylon Jennings’s name is memorable, rhetorically satisfying, and translates broadly across cultural divides. It symbolizes folk music’s ability to span generations. And it was also an accident.

The band’s first gig – a guitar shop in Winnipeg, Canada – was supposed to be a one-time concert for three Canadian solo artists. But when the show was a big success, the owner of the shop suggested the three women form a band and tour as…the Folk Vixens.

“He thought we should have a name, but he kept trying to give us terrible names like ‘the Folk Vixens,’” Nicky Mehta says with a friendly voice and a self-deprecating sense of humor. “He eventually thought of The Wailin’ Jennys and we thought it was okay. So we made these posters before a concert as a joke, with terrible pictures of us that said ‘The Wailin’ Jennys,’ but they actually ended up getting us a lot of attention.”

Since their beginning in 2002, the all-female folk trio has recorded four albums, topped the US Bluegrass charts, appeared on ‘A Prairie Home Companion,’ and rotated personnel a few times.

Mehta, along with fellow Canadians Ruth Moody and Cara Luft, made up the original Wailin’ Jennys until 2004 when Luft went on to pursue a solo career. Enter Annabelle Chvostek, a solo artist from Indie music hotbed Montreal. While the band’s 2004 album 40 Days, recorded with Luft, sounds different than 2006’s Firecracker – recorded with Chvostek – the difference isn’t a deterrent. Chvostek’s distinctly smoky voice is simply an enjoyable change of pace. But in 2007 she left the group to pursue what has been a successful solo career and was replaced by current member Heather Masse, a Maine-born singer who was living in New York. Again, Masse has a distinctively different voice than her predecessors, bringing a slightly smoother element to the group vocally, although the off stage banter is now full of over-the-border jokes.

“There’s some good natured ribbing between us Canadians and Heather,” Mehta says. “We’ll tease her sometimes and she teases us for saying things that Americans don’t usually say, like ‘is it ever cold in here,’ or ‘is it ever hot outside,’ or ‘soory.’”

In spite of the phony rivalry, the group has a great sense of continuity, and that shows through their music. At least some portion of every Wailin’ Jennys song on 40 Days and Firecracker features intricate and beautiful harmonies created by Moody’s soprano, Mehta’s mezzo, and the revolving door of talented altos. The genuine blend of the three voices happens just the way a listener would imagine: organically.

“A lot of times if someone is singing the melody, and when everyone’s familiar with the song, everybody just kind of sings and sees where it goes,” Mehta says.

In addition to of course being talented vocally, The Jennys, as Mehta refers to them, are a cerebral bunch. In an era far removed from the origins of folk, The Jennys understand the difficulty of writing lyrics that sound new but at the same time have a genuine folksiness. For example, the song “Apocalypse Lullaby,” a title that certainly seems post-modern, is inherently soothing. The lyrics sound new, and probably couldn’t have come from a far away time period, but they seem authentic somehow. When Chvostek sings “Spin the speed of light/Tetrahedron blue/One last paradise/You can make for you,” it sounds like bluegrass self help for the modern era. Then some songs sound like old school heartbreak. Others empowering. There’s a non-specific spirituality to The Jennys music that calls on the gospel roots of folk, but is left wholly up to the listeners interpretation (intentionally). Folk music, like The Jennys’ name, is a constant in the American music scene because of its ability to unite old and new followers under a tent of commonality.

“It’s almost a self-revitalizing genre because it spans so many generations. You have people who’ve grown up with the originals,” Mehta says. “And you have the younger bands that are making folk music fresh and new. It can be in world music, or people paying homage to a particular artist. There’s been a lot of evolution in folk music. We’re all trying to make something fresh while trying to honor what’s come before.”

Folk music isn’t the only thing evolving. With the advent of home recording, coupled with the accessibility of the Internet, getting your name and sound out takes a whole new strategy.

“It was harder to get an album made before, but if you got an album made it was easier to get it heard. Now it’s inverted,” Mehta says. “You have to market so much smarter now.”

What’s great about The Jennys is that, no matter how things change, they seem to understand their music and what the genre means in this era of arrogance, cultural indulgence and corporatism.

“It’s more than being quaint. It’s about remembering times when community was more important,” Mehta says. “It’s about embracing the concept of evolution and change, but reminding everyone that we’re part of a global community.”

The Wailin’ Jennys will perform at the Center for Faith and Life at Luther College on February 20 at 7:30 pm as part of the Center Stage Series. Tickets are available to the public Thursday, February 4 – see www.centerstage.luther.edu for details. For more information on Wailin’ Jennys, visit www.thewailinjennys.com.

Sam Wiles enjoyed writing this article, doing the interviews and listening to the music. Additionally, Sam now has plans to star in his own all-female folk trio, the Confusin’ Susans. They will begin touring this summer.

By Lauren Kraus

Strength, as they say, comes in numbers. When Luther College art students were recently looking for something to meld their imaginative talents together – a bond to intertwine their efforts and passions as they were painting, drawing, creating artwork – they joined forces and formed the Luther Artists Collective.

Established in the fall of 2008, the Luther Artists Collective (LAC) offers cohesion and a distinct art community for keen students in Luther’s art program. The group wanted a supportive place to work on projects, critique each other’s art, put on collective shows and grow artistically. LAC, in fine democratic fashion, elects officials each year including a president, vice president, head of publications, secretary, treasurer and even a trip planner. Last April they visited Chicago and toured the Art Institute and various galleries and sculptures the city has to offer.

Ben Moore, assistant professor in the art department, serves as the group’s advisor. He’s impressed with the work that’s happening in the Luther art scene.

“There was always this separation before – they didn’t really know each other,” Moore says. “But now they do, and they have become more dedicated in their art. Having a place where they can discuss their art is crucial to being an artist. These students are organizing and developing their own shows – and the work they’re doing isn’t course work. They are behaving as artists rather than student artists.”

The Collective is well on its way to establishing itself as a fixture at Luther College. They are proud of their efforts and hope to attract younger students to carry on the LAC legacy into future years. Two art shows in the college’s Student Union gallery have helped to bring attention to their work as a collective. “Trash & Salvation,” LAC’s 2009 fall exhibit examined a juxtaposition the group saw prevalent in today’s society. The artists’ statement said: “Trash is composed of the objects that civilization throws away and forgets, while salvation is the lofty ideal pursued in some fashion by most human beings. Trash & Salvation seeks to observe and develop the idea of the two opposed concepts inhabiting the same space and time.”

In addition to their shows, LAC holds art sales in Luther’s Union. These sales are a great venue to purchase quality student art work including pottery, paintings, drawings, jewelry, and knit goods at a low price. The next sale will be this spring, with details to come.

Art has great impact on the Driftless Region and these students are honing in on that influence as much as they can. Be on the lookout for ways to support their work or see their shows. Luther’s art galleries are open to the public and constantly displaying awesome work. See galleries.luther.edu for details.

Members of LAC are certainly not slacking in any way. Check out a few here and find out what inspire(d) them to create art.

Laurel Whitis: Biology/Art major
Favorite medium: Oil painting.
Started getting into art: Her first art class ever was during her last year of high school.
Current project: Her senior art show for Luther. She was inspired by a histology class where they spent the entire time looking at cells under a microscope. Her show will display several pieces depicting specific cells with an informative write-up next to the painting. “It will be an educational show,” she explains. Both her biology and art professors will be her advisors for the exhibit.
Inspired by: Being around other people working on art. Also, Decorah is a very accepting place for artists!
Future plans: Medical school, being an artist on the side.

Astri Snodgrass: Art/Spanish major
Favorite medium: Oil painting.
Started getting into art: She’s a true lifer. Astri’s mom is an art teacher and has influenced her involvement in art since she was little.
Current project: Portraits. They are a good challenge, and capturing expressions and interactions between people is her goal. Astri is also working on a nightmare/dream series where she paints two panels: one depicts someone sleeping and the other shows a nightmare they are having. This series allows Astri to explore her interest in the subconscious. Her portraits are currently on display at the Oneota Community Food Co-op, go check it out.
Inspired by: The people at Luther! Her work is all about people.
Future plans: Graduate school in painting.

Ryan Kitchen: Art major, Philosophy minor
Favorite medium: Oil painting.
Started getting into art: He really got serious about art at Luther.
Current project: Conceptual landscapes. Ryan loves studying the spaces and places we typically take for granted and how we, as people, interact with our surroundings, our environment. He enjoys watching “French new-wave” films and painting scenes from those movies.
Inspired by: The environment, as well as people, poetry, literature, interactions, movies.
Future plans: Something with art – perhaps graduate school in art or maybe teaching at the collegiate level.

 Lauren Kraus loves art, especially local art. She also loves French toast, avocados, yoga and sunshine. It is a great time of year for all of the above. Not as much sunshine, though.

By Aryn Henning Nichols

The room is literally abuzz. If caffeine were palpable, you could carve your initials in the air at Kickapoo Coffee headquarters in Viroqua, Wisconsin. Cups line a shelf, half-filled, grounds stuck to the lip after a morning cupping session.

Caleb Nicholes and TJ Semanchin, co-owners of Kickapoo Coffee along with Denise Semanchin, are busy tasting espresso. A basket (or gruppa) of ground espresso beans is thrust under my nose, “Smell like blueberries?” Caleb asks. He moves on like a mad scientist, working quickly and making plenty of noise as he grinds, whirs, and thwacks the various tools it takes to make the perfect cup of coffee. Oh, that elusive perfect cup.

“We totally geek out on coffee,” says TJ. “The other day we used the same type of beans, brewed the same way, but with three different kinds of water. And the coffees were all completely different from each other.”

Therein lies the most difficult aspect of the Kickapoo crew’s – and any other coffee roasters’ – trade. The bean is merely an ingredient to be properly prepared, like asparagus or sweet corn. It’s sometimes compared to the nuances of wine grapes: the origin of the bean, growing and cultivation practices, and ways it’s dried, stored, and roasted are all of utmost importance. Every coffee-producing region makes a different tasting bean and every roaster processes it in its own unique way. But the finished product, the cup, is not up to any of this. It’s up to the barista or the mere at-home-coffee-drinker to heat the (right) water correctly, grind the beans to the perfect consistency, and steep it not too long, but not too short. It’s not bottled and corked with an “open on” plan.

“You send the coffee out and trust that the consumer will prepare it properly,” TJ says. “There are so many variables.”

But Kickapoo closely controls the variables on their end to help you start with the very best ingredient. That begins for these roasters with a melding of Fair Trade AND great-tasting beans. And they’re quick to note these things are not always synonymous, although they’re striving to make it more so.

“The Fair Trade price is just the floor – it only covers the cost of farming,” TJ explains. “We want to do better than that, treat the farmers better, and we want to help them learn that if they put a little more work into the quality of their beans it will really pay off.”

They became owner-members of Cooperative Coffees to help further this cause. A fair trade importing business owned by 23 like-minded roasters, Cooperative Coffees sets the bar higher for the fair trade world. According to the Kickapoo website, the Coop’s pricing minimum is 10 cents above fair trade standards at $1.61. (“A price that in practice we routinely exceed,” Kickapoo says.) They also offer farmer-partners pre-harvest financing. Kickapoo imports more than 80 percent of their coffees through this avenue.

As Kickapoo and the other Cooperative Coffee partners grow in popularity, it’s the hope that consumers will realize these beans are not just good politics, but are the best-tasting as well.

“It’s about getting those two things to combine and cross. It’s at the core of what we do,” TJ says. “And we do it for our own sake too – we love to drink a good cup of coffee.”

This commitment has helped get their business buzzing (pun intended). Kickapoo Coffee was named 2010 Micro Roaster of the Year by Portland-based magazine, Roast, and has received favorable nods from Consumer Reports and Coffee Review. In just over four years since their first roast in November of 2005, they’ve grown Kickapoo to produce 1700 pounds of coffee each week – and last year they even saw a profit: no small feat for any new business. It seemed that fate led them all to the tiny Wisconsin town of 4,400 people.

With Organic Valley headquartered in La Farge, Wisconsin, just 15 miles from Viroqua, many locals were knowledgeable about what they put in their bodies and where it came from. TJ, originally from Buffalo, New York, came to know Viroqua through his work with Minneapolis-based roaster Peace Coffee, where he pushed for social change in the industry for years, spurred on by his travels in Latin America that focused on sustainable development. He was convinced that fair trade, organic coffee farming could change the face of rural Latin America. When he and his wife, Denise, were planning on expanding their family, they also planned on a move.

“I didn’t see myself in a city long term. Viroqua was on the radar for a long time,” says TJ. “It’s a hotbed for organic farming. We planned to move here and start our own roastery.”

Unfortunately – or so it seemed – someone had “beaten them to the punch.”

Caleb had begun Kickapoo Coffee with his sister, Haley Ashley, after having roasted coffee at home for the past five years. Originally from the West Coast – Oregon and then Idaho – Caleb has spent most of his life dedicated to food and drink, including three years as a boutique European wine importer. This work took him all over Europe, but it was family that brought him to Southwest Wisconsin.

When TJ decided to introduce himself to the new Kickapoo Coffee roasters, it appeared Caleb’s talented palette was a perfect match for TJ’s years of experience.

“I knew right away we could work well together, so I asked if they wanted to join forces,” TJ says. It turned out there was nothing unfortunate about the combined Kickapoo team. They all bring various talents to the table: Caleb is the head roaster, in charge of roast profiles. Denise, currently taking a leave to be a stay-at-home-mom, maintains marketing and outreach. Hallie is the office manager, doing much of the business-end/paperwork-side of things, and TJ is a self-proclaimed “Jack of All Trades,” being able to pinch hit in any of the positions should it be needed.

“No one’s really sure what exactly I do around here,” he says, joking.

The roastery is housed in Viroqua’s old train depot, a formerly vacant historic building that Kickapoo restored. The restoration process, like their business, was focused on sustainability. They reclaimed studs, salvaged trim and wainscoting, installed efficient heating and recycled insulation, and sourced local carpenters for their custom storage bins and cabinets.

The result is a bright, warm space that has a comforting feel and retro appeal. The vintage 1930s German roaster (that even runs on handmade Amish belts!) and complementary mint-green vintage canner help this aesthetic along, and the sustainable good looks continue with their packaging: reusable, recyclable steel cans containing 80 percent post-consumer recycled steel that bear the artwork of Viroqua-based woodcut artist. And their one and five-pound coffee bags are biodegradable.

Although they ship coffee all over the county, they’ve also gained local popularity. The bulk of their beans is hand-delivered or shipped within a 200-mile radius.

These smart business practices don’t stop with their roastery; they also strive for a sustainable home life, working just four-day weeks so they can spend time with family.

“It’s kept us really efficient,” TJ says. “I don’t think we’d get any more work done even if we spread it out over five-days.”

Of course, it makes sense. Family values fit right in with the laudable vision that has made Kickapoo Coffee what it is.

“We’ve been very clear about what we set out to do,” says TJ. “Having and staying true to that vision makes it easy to make decisions in our business. We know what the right thing to do is before the question is even asked.”

Find lots of great information about coffee, Fair Trade, Kickapoo and more at www.kickapoocoffee.com

Aryn Henning Nichols spent many mornings attempting to achieve the perfect cup of coffee after this interview. She was successful about half the time. Must be something in the water…

Where to get Kickapoo Coffee in the Driftless Region:
Decorah: Oneota Community Co-op, Magpie Coffeehouse
Winona: Mugby Junction Café, Bluff Country Co-op
La Crosse: Pearl Street, People’s Food Co-op, Root Note, Sip & Surf
Viroqua: Chilito Lindo, Driftless Fair Traders, Harmony Valley Farm CSA, OZone, Viroqua Family Market, Viroqua Food Co-op

Below is a run-down on the best brewing and storing practices, directly from the coffee masters themselves (see more info at www.kickapoocoffee.com).

Brewing is a critical aspect of making great coffee. It is extremely important to follow a few basic guidelines related to water quality, temperature, equipment and grinding. Below is a list of general coffee brewing principles. For more specific brewing recommendations, please click on one of the brewing icons.

WATER
Excellent coffee requires excellent water ­– there’s no way around it. Do not use distilled water; instead use filtered water, spring water, or Artesian well water. Minerals are important for coffee flavor so reverse osmosis water, while filtered, will not yield optimum results.

TEMPERATURE
Coffee tastes best when brewed between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. Most drip coffee makers don’t quite hit this temperature. You can achieve this range on your stove by bringing water to a boil and letting it rest for a minute or two. Do not use boiling water – it will cook the nuances out of the beans.

 GRIND
For best results, we recommend a burr grinder because it produces a much more consistent grind (though a blade grinder is still preferable to pre-ground coffee). As a general rule, coffee should be ground finer for quick extractions like espresso, medium for the auto-drip method and coarser for slower extractions like the French press. Measure your coffee first before putting it into the grinder and only grind as much as you need per brew. Once the coffee is ground, its flavor will immediately begin to deteriorate.

 STRENGTH
A general rule of thumb is 2 rounded tablespoons, or 8 to 10 grams, per 6 ounces of water. If you like a weaker or stronger cup, adjust the amount of coffee you use, not the grind of your coffee. A grind that is too fine under a long extraction period will taste bitter and over-extracted, while a grind that is too coarse will taste weak and diluted. Remember that the full expression of the coffee will become most evident as the coffee reaches lukewarm temps, so drink slowly and appreciate your brew as it cools off. If it is too strong, or too weak, this is when you will taste it most.

 STORAGE
Coffee should be stored in a dark, cool, dry place (like a kitchen cupboard). Our coffee cans are ideal storage vessels so feel free to use them throughout the season. The only time storing coffee in a freezer is appropriate is when you have more than a few weeks’ supply. If you do use the freezer make sure to put the coffee in an airtight container.

(What’s got 8 wheels, 25 strings, 5 heads and is 140 years old? Well, The Alaska String Band of course…)

By Benji Nichols

When faced with the choice to either buckle down with a “day job,” or leave your career to tour across the country playing music and traveling in a 40-foot bus with your three children, it’s safe to say that a lot of parents might chose the day job. But life is short, fragile really, and children don’t stay kids for long, which are all reasons that Paul and Melissa Zahasky and family made a collective decision from their home in Juneau, Alaska to quit their jobs and buy a 40-foot MCI tour bus site unseen. Their extraordinary musical talents would not only entertain crowds from Juneau’s Gold Creek Salmon Bake to the southern-most tip of Texas, but would also pay the bills. And heck, who knows, maybe along the way they’d have the time of their lives. The bus, and Zahasky’s parents (Don & Helen) live here in Decorah, and lucky for us, the Alaska String Band uses this as a home base while traveling to and from the lower 48 states.

Inspire(d)’s Benji Nichols recently caught up with the “Z-Family” to ask a few questions about how this whole family string band thing got started – and the next thing you know there was a show scheduled in Decorah with the AK String Band. Don’t miss your chance to meet Paul and Melissa Zahasky and their three incredibly talented kids – Laura (18), Quinn (16), and Abigail (12) – as Inspire(d) and The AK String Band host a benefit concert for Decorah’s Free Clinic Thursday, February 18, at 7 pm at First Lutheran Church. Admission will be a cash donation to the Free Clinic, but no will be turned away for lack of funds.

Insp(d): How did the Alaska String Band come to be?

Z: We (Paul and Melissa) were introduced by a common musician friend many years ago. Our first performances together as a duo were in churches in Juneau and on board cruise ships. Music has always been a passion and a natural part of our lives so the children were exposed to it from infancy.

It is a common occurrence that children will imitate the behavior of their parents and that seems to be what has naturally occurred. Of course, we offered to teach the kids how to play various instruments from when they were very young, but never insisted that they do so. We did say that if they wanted to participate in performances that they would have to take lessons and practice but that decision was left with each child. As they have matured and shown the dedication to learning and loving music, we have actively searched for venues that could accommodate our growing family band.

Making the decision to transition the Alaska String Band from a local music group to a full-time performing ensemble was slow and somewhat agonizing. We both reached a point of overload where we realized that Paul could no longer work full time as an Alaska State Parks employee and run his own excavating business, while Melissa oversaw the home and education of our children. At the same time the Band continued to increase its schedule to the point that nothing was being done well. We spent months discussing our visions and goals, talking with friends whom we felt could offer sound council, and praying for direction.

We asked ourselves tough questions such as: When I am really, really, old (a lot older than I am now) will I have any regrets of not following my dream? If we give up the security that a full time position with the State of Alaska including benefits provides, in exchange for only a year or possibly two to pursue this musical dream with our children, will it have been worth it? We always consulted the children on their desires as well. A good Juneau friend offered us this helpful gem; “God is not in the habit of showing you the net until after you jump…” We are a year and a half past the point of no return, and we have no regrets.

Insp(d): What Inspire(d) you all to start playing music as a family, and perhaps more importantly continues to inspire you to keep playing together?

Z: In the process of becoming a family string band we have discovered that it not only feeds our musical passions but also knits us closely together. We share a common dream, which includes success and failure, fear and courage, totally cush gigs and crummy hardships, frustrations, disappointments and delights, humor, humility and pride, and of course faith, hope and love.

Wherever we perform there are comments that continue to spur us on: “Thank you for being willing to share your faith publicly. Don’t ever stop doing what you’re doing!! What do you really do for work?!? Do your kids ever fight? You guys are shredders!! Do you sleep in the refrigerator to keep warm?”
Melissa was originally inspired with the family string band idea by seeing the McLain Family Band perform (www.mclains.com) when she was a child in Juneau.

Other inspirations have been “The Sound of Music” – which leaves one wanting… Wanting to know the rest of the story, which our family discovered when we read aloud “The Story of the Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp. In addition The Von Trapp Children – today’s great, great grandchildren of Captain George and Maria Augusta Von Trapp – have been fun for us to read about and see in concert. Another read-aloud that our family enjoyed was “Don’t Think It Hasn’t Been Fun: The Story of the Burke Family Singers” by Sarah Jo Burke.
Finally, music is eternal. There will always be one more song to sing, one more genre of music to aspire to. We will never arrive, but are continually led on to greater depths of feeling and communication through the exploration of music. Ultimately it is our Creator who inspires and enables us to continue to sing and make music.

Insp(d): Tell us about home schooling your kids. What has that been like in addition to keeping up performances and a national touring schedule?

Z: Laura, Quinn and Abigail have been educated at home from infancy. Alaska hosts a large population of home-schooled students and the state has been very accommodating to this form of education as the remoteness of many homes inhibits public school access. Our children are currently enrolled in a state funded correspondence school that provides certified teachers, guidance counselors, yearly state mandated testing, educational resources, and an accredited high school graduation ceremony. We choose the curriculum that best suits each child’s course of study and teach it ourselves. Laura is our first high school graduate having received her diploma in May of 2009.

The transition of schooling at home to schooling on the road is seamless. It’s just as hard on the road as off! Staying disciplined and focused at home has proven to be as difficult as studying in the midst of travel. There will always be a million distractions no matter what our circumstances are. When the Alaska String Band is faced with a split decision the kids get three votes, Mom and Dad get 10.

A few techniques we have found that seem to foster better study habits are: Feed the kids, Academics first. Study in the morning and practice music no later than 6:00 p.m. if possible. Separate the kids – this can be a challenge in a 40-foot bus, but if left together in too close of proximity without fairly close supervision they act just like every other school kid in America. While traveling use a tippy cup – or your essay on “Bus Dwellers Across America” will be coated in Gatorade. Avoid study or practice/rehearsal outside the bus – due to the public arena that we are immersed in while touring we have found it is just about impossible to work without interruption if we are outside the confines of the bus. People love t

o visit with us and are naturally curious about what we are doing. They also love to talk about Alaska if they have been there themselves or ask us what it is like. We love to do this but find it has to be separated from school and work responsibilities.

This touring experience touches on all aspects of education and richens their awareness in ways that a textbook cannot. Often the children will study on weekends, at odd hours and through holidays knowing that there will be interruptions in the coming days on the road.

Insp(d): Tell us how you came to be the proud owners of a tour bus and any favorite bus stories from the gang.

Z: When we began dreaming up our first national tour we all agreed that a bus would best accommodate our needs and desires. Old of course was a prerequisite due to our “vast” financial resources and all the derelict busses around Juneau were spoken for, so we surfed the Internet. Eventually Paul came across a 1978 MCI 8 which appeared to fit our criteria. It was located in Missouri and had been converted by a contractor who had used it for his own family’s RV. Paul carried on correspondence via email for quite a while and in the end it was a huge step of trust in an unknown, but thankfully genuine and honest cyber seller.

We packed up an excessive amount of tour gear which included all things relating to music performance, school and recreation and which we were sure all music stars would find necessary, hopped on an Alaska Airlines jet and flew to Chicago where we rented a car and drove the rest of the way to our bus’s home in Eureka, Missouri, then hit the road. As we are currently into our fourth cross-country tour, our bus is maintaining consistent performance. Gas mileage: five miles per gallon, down hill with a tail wind traveling south. On an average we end up in the maintenance shop once per tour.

Late one evening while driving down the Crooked Road – Heritage Music trail in Virginia, Quinn recalls one hysterically funny escapade. It was a dusty drive and the windshield had coated over with a pretty heavy layer of cruddy mud. Paul saw a toll booth rapidly approaching and yelled, “Somebody fill the largest bowl you can find with water and as soon as I stop at the toll booth I want one of you kids to jump out and rinse off the windshield for me so that I can see properly!” Quinn was the quickest responder and as we rolled to a stop he jumped down and crossed in front of the bus. He gave a good heave to the bowl of water. The water flew up in an arc then swooshed down with a huge splash through the open tollbooth window, drenching the attendant and filling the change drawer and his lap with water. Quinn shot back into the bus and dove to the darkened recess of the furthest back room. He didn’t surface for quite some time. Melissa and the girls were howling with laughter and Paul was left trying to explain to a shocked tollbooth operator the purpose of his 14-year-old son’s agua ambush.

Insp(d): What would the “ultimate show” be?

Z: Garrison Keilor’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” a round-the-world music tour, Carnegie Hall, or Sarah Palin’s presidential inauguration.

Insp(d): Can you tell us about the musical advantages of being a family band?

Z: Quinn would most definitely say the food. We would say living and raising a family in Alaska is an amazing opportunity. Our remote location in Juneau, which can only be accessed by air or water, poses some serious restrictions on travel. We have found that the travel afforded by the entertainment industry has been an incredible boon. Young pickers also learn faster and are more nimble than their elders and they breathe new life into old songs.

Singing in harmony is an ongoing challenge. It’s a spine tingling moment when the pitches meld together so perfectly that the harmonics buzz in your ear. Because we are family our voices naturally sound similar and identical phrasing and breathing becomes intuitive. We do not personally detect a difference in our blend compared to other musical groups that are not tied by blood, however many who have heard us sing do say we possess a sound heard only in family ensembles.

Insp(d): What has the biggest highlight of the past year been – musically, and non-musically?

Z: Completing a summer season of Southeast Alaskan Odyssey Shows in our homeport of Juneau on board Norwegian and Holland America Cruise lines. Doing a chapel service as well as the Southeast Alaskan Odyssey Show in the 2500 seat Belcher Center for the Arts at LeTourneau University in Longview, Texas, one day and giving an Alaskan String Band performance at Curtis Rountree’s Bluegrass Pickin’ Place in Lonestar, Texas, the following day. Sharing stages across the country with other awe inspiring musicians as well as meeting other family string bands who are following a similar dream. Enjoying untracked deep powder slopes at the Eaglecrest ski area in Juneau during a record breaking 20-foot snow fall winter followed up with a summer of record-breaking sunny days and warm temperatures in our rainforest home.

Insp(d): What is the temperature out right now where you are, and what was the last wildlife that any of you saw before answering these questions?

Z: We are on North Padre Island, on the Gulf of Mexico in southern Texas. It is 73 degrees Fahrenheit.

Abigail: a jackrabbit
Laura: a sand crab
Quinn: a sea worm
Melissa: a pelican
Paul: an out-of-control Texas road hog

Insp(d): What do you miss the most about home and Alaska when you are not
there?

Z: Family, friends, regular aerobic exercise, excellent mountain drinking water, our spacious home, pristine wilderness, abundant wildlife, and alpine meadows.

In response to one of Quinn’s Vocational Tech classroom assignments Quinn is currently keeping a travel blog entitled Quinn’s Extraordinary Travel Ramblings. This is an ongoing account of his adventures with the Alaska String Band and can be accessed via the Alaska String Band website www.alaskastringband.net.

You can see the Alaska String band play live in Decorah, Thursday February 18 in a benefit concert for the Decorah Area Free Clinic. The concert will be at First Lutheran Church at 7 pm.

Benji Nichols is completely inspire(d) by the Zahasky family and their adventures. He also has to thank his Dad, Paul Nichols, for tipping him off about the Alaska String Band. Benji is no stranger to old busses and touring – and looks forward to more escapades to come, along with the comforting hum of a diesel generator lullaby…

By Jim McCaffrey 

I got to thinking about what inspires volunteerism recently. It was after McCaffrey’s Dolce Vita joined several other area restaurants in hosting groups for Decorah’s Holiday Showcase of Homes Tour. Two stellar volunteers, Linda Quaas and Kris Kraft, formulated this novel idea just two short years ago. They approached the Winneshiek Medical Center Foundation. A committee would be formed. It would solicit four homeowners to open their doors and let area merchants deck their homes out for the holidays with products from their stores. It was a lot of work for the committee, merchants and staff, and the homeowners too. Applause! Applause! This year’s event raised funds for Winneshiek Medical Center to purchase two new Advanced Life Support monitors for its ambulances. It was a rousing success, raising $28,000 for the project. The Dolce Vita had the breakfast buses. We served fresh spinach and onion quiche, popovers, and fresh fruit salad along with mimosas. Nothing like a little champagne for breakfast to whet one’s enthusiasm for the upcoming day! When the buses pulled up at 7:30 am, it was still pretty dark out. A bevy of excited ladies, along with a sprinkling of men, descended upon us. While our staff and some volunteers were getting food and drinks out to everyone, three more tour volunteers were arranging raffle ticket sales. $5 a ticket with a chance to win half the pot as prizes during the meal. The other half went to support the event. One volunteer, the ever so elegant Elea Uhl, enthusiastically exhorted her captive audience of the enchanting prospect of extra enrichment for the holidays. (How do you like that line, eh?) Everybody reached for their purse or wallet. Amazingly well organized and efficient. I was duly impressed. After a culmination of ten months of hard work and dedication, the end result was truly outstanding. A commitment of many to achieve a common goal. This was true altruism. A few days after, I thought about this project and others. I pondered the motivation. Is it an act of selfishness to be rewarded by someone’s smile and gratitude or truly an act of selflessness? Probably the line falls somewhere in the middle. Definitely nothing to feel guilty about, however. Volunteerism is a gift of the most precious possession a person has. The gift of time. As poet/songwriter James Durst said, “Help one another; there is no time like the present and no present like time.” Material goods come and go but the memory of lending a hand to a friend, stranger, or community is for a lifetime. Besides that, it just feels good, gol’ darn it! As I go through life, sometimes I just shake my head and chuckle. The paradox is this: I find as a rule the busiest people I know are also the ones I see doing the greatest amount of community service. Those type A people just never seem to be able to sit down. One of my favorite projects that I have been fortunate enough to be involved in is “Empty Bowls.” This event raises funds for local food pantries or national projects like Lutheran World Relief. Restaurants, bakeries and private individuals make soup and bread, and area potters throw one-of-a-kind soup bowls. For a donation of $20, a person selects a bowl and has a choice of a multitude of different soups and bread. They take the bowl home as a remembrance of the event. There is electricity in the air. Everybody is abuzz. All of the many volunteers and attendees are overtly enthusiastic. It is a win-win situation for everyone. Last year more than 900 people shared the communal tables at Empty Bowls. A time to make new friends and renew relationships with old friends. I was in charge of soup. (Who made that decision?). We had something like 180 gallons with very little left at the end. This type of project is so inspiring. You just want to be involved. Now that the holiday season is descending upon us, take a moment or two to reflect on the real meaning of giving. There always is someone who is less fortunate than ourselves. Whether we help individually or as a community, we become a stronger society because of it. Lily Tomlin once said “Somebody should do something about that. Then I realized I was a somebody.” Be that somebody and reach out. It just feels good! If you are thinking of volunteering, here are a few places to take a look at in the area: Northland Agency on Aging which provides Meals on Wheels to inbound citizens and other services, any of the area nursing homes, Winneshiek Medical Center, Seed Savers Exchange, public libraries, RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) which is located in the Decorah Public Library, local museums and schools just to name a few. Online extra: Read an great Inspire(d) story about Empty Bowls here or a fabulous interview with Winneshiek Medical Center ambulance drivers here. Jim McCaffrey is a chef, author, and co-owner with his family of McCaffrey’s Dolce Vita restaurant and Twin Springs Bakery just outside Decorah. He is author of a humorous cookbook titled “Midwest Cornfusion.” He has been in the food  industry in one way or another for 40years. Visit Dolce Vita’s website: http://mcdolcevita.com or email Jim at mcdolcevita@gmail.com. Spinach and Onion Quiche 1 9-inch deep dish pie crust 1 egg yolk beaten Filling 1 pkg fresh spinach 1 red onion sliced 1 ½ cups grated Swiss cheese 1 cup heavy cream 3 eggs beaten 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp white or black pepper Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Brush pie crust with beaten egg yolk. Cover the bottom of the crust with spinach. Add a layer of onion. Cover with half of the cheese. Add another layer of spinach and onion. (You will have enough left over for the start of a salad.) Cover with the other half of the cheese. Whisk the remaining ingredients together and pour over the top of the pie. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes clean.  (Author’s note: This is for all of the ladies on the bus tour who asked for the quiche recipe.)

By Benji Nichols

Passion. Grit. Soul. Rhythm. Truth. Stories. History. David Gonzalez is a man of words. Born of Puerto Rican and Cuban parents in the Bronx, Gonzalez embodies that which America is made of. With over eight original productions in his repertoire, a career in music therapy and public radio, and a steady performance schedule, Gonzalez’s tales of growing up in both Cuba and “la republica de Bronx” prove to be just as provocative as musically gripping.

Brought up by his grandmother and mother, along with a sister, brother, and two cousins, Gonzalez recalls his neighborhood as diverse as one can imagine. Irish, Italian, Latino, Jewish, and African American cultures were all woven through his Bronx block – and yet he not only identified, but also embodied and clung to his Latino upbringing and culture. Music, as diverse as the cultural make-up of his neighborhood, was strung all throughout his childhood. When Gonzalez was eight, a crafty Uncle, José, made him a guitar as well as a puppet theater where the creative youth could put together shows. By age 13 he had learned to play the guitar from his cousin Victor, and never slowed down.

A brief stint at the Berklee College of Music helped Gonzalez realize he needed to be back in New York, not Boston, and led to enrolling at NYU to follow his passion in music and beyond. “Working with people, the intimacy and collaboration – the energy from that is the wind beneath my wings. The creative process with a person – it’s not about entertainment but development and transformation, that’s what my work is about – a sense of that transformative intimate contact.”

 That collaborative path brought him to deep experiences in volunteering with developmentally disabled people, and eventually to a decade-long career in the bourgeoning field of music therapy. The music, he discovered, brought understanding.

“It made my life – to play music. It is a grossly capacitated means of communication. Music can make a bridge and I found a meaning into that – I followed that stream into an ocean of experience,” he says.

Through those early-life cultural and personal experiences, David Gonzalez began to weave a unique combination of words, music, and feelings into performances that are unlike anything that most audiences have ever seen. “I’m a good entertainer, but what’s driving me is the relationship of what can be created – the journey together,” he says. “Story telling conjures an experience that has connectivity, on stage and with the audience. You discover things together, and that esthetic comes from my soul building years in music therapy.”

David Gonzalez’ show “City of Dreams” blends spoken word poetry and a hot Afro-Cuban jazz quartet with a cutting edge multimedia experience. Gonzalez says the show is “a catalog of impressions, a kaleidoscope of images of New York. It’s about the place we’ve chosen to make our lives – the wild wonder of the city, and its enchantment. The music surrounds the words with a soundscape of groove and tone – poetry you can dance to.”

 He goes on. “The sounds of the street, and the people of the street – jazz, blues, salsa – the groove is there, rooted in the aesthetics of funk. That’s a big part of living in a city; you are exposed to those rhythms. The best, the hardest and funkiest – come from the street. There is a place where embodiment and intellectual curiosity come together. And living in the city is about that – being able to flow intellectually and physically.”

David Gonzalez will not only bring his show to the stage of the Center for Faith in Life in February, but will also facilitate three workshops on the Luther College campus. Tanya Gertz, director of campus programming says that the workshops will vary from “Merging spoken word, poetry, theatre, and jazz to create a passionate, creative and distinctively unique art experience,” to utilizing “a variety of exercises to help folks claim their own creative juices around the stories they are living in our community.”

“The idea,” sums up Gonzalez, is to “encourage other people to discover their own creativity.” 

Through his work in New York, Gonzalez has had the fortune to discover plenty of creativity, utilizing the talents of some of Afro-Cuban music’s biggest names like Larry Harlow, and Yomo Toro of Fania Records fame (one of the most successful Afro Cuban / Latin record labels ever.)  The Poetic License Band joining Gonzalez in Decorah has been described as “a quartet of New York’s hottest players setting David’s compelling poetry like a diamond in a mambo/funk music box.”

Those players include Erik Lawrence on Sax, Louis Martinez on Drums, and Daniel Kelly on piano. Gonzalez and the ensemble will be coming off a week-long run at Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, part of Jazz at Lincoln Center, just days before coming to Decorah.

The opportunities to interact with Gonzalez and his Band are too good to miss out on, and luckily, the creative workshops are geared to students, staff and faculty of Luther, and the general public as well. The “City of Dreams” show featuring The Poetic License Band will perform as part of the Center Stage Series Friday, February 12, 2010 at 7:30 pm.

For tickets, more information on workshops, or general inquiry about the Center Stage Series contact the Luther College Box office at (563) 387-1357, or visit: www.luther.edu/programming/centerstage/.

Benji Nichols has long been a fan of a wide variety of Afro-Cuban and Latin music – and has most enjoyed discovering some deep and hard grooving cuts from the live recordings of the Fania All Stars while working on this story. He welcomes a little bit of NYC to NE Iowa with enthusiasm!

Decorah area and Luther communities team up to support local and global hunger efforts

Originally published in Inspire(d) March 2008. 2010’s  Empty Bowls project is Sunday, March 7,  from 11 am to 2 pm at Luther College’s Center for the Arts.

By Lauren Kraus

Finding spare time between psychology class and biology lab with a goal of 20 bowls, Maria humbly works toward something she believes in. She’ll get into the ceramic studio, hone in on her throwing skills and use the wheel to create bowl after bowl, hoping to reach her target number.

Maria Woo Ching, an aspiring potter since high school and a Luther College sophomore from Longmont, Colorado, candidly stated, “At the end of the day, you should use your talents to help out.” Woo Ching is an advocate for local awareness and is delighted to be a support on the local hunger front for the third annual Empty Bowls Project at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.

Justin Scardina, head chef at La Rana Bistro in Downtown Decorah, shares Woo Ching’s passion in backing efforts to curb world hunger. Scardina revels in community action by cooking with ingredients from the area and serving fresh food. On the day of the fundraiser, he’ll get up early to prepare – from scratch, of course – five gallons of Irish lamb stew made with meat from the Breezy Bluffs Farm in Spring Grove, Minnesota. Scardina says he’s pleased with Decorah’s energy and momentum toward this great project and is excited to be a part of it.

Ching and Scardina are only two of countless Luther and Decorah folks using their talents and time to bring the Empty Bowls Project to fruition.The participant makes a $20 donation for the handmade bowl, homemade soup and bread, and good deed. They may then decide where the money should go: local or global.

Among the local organizations receiving aid are the First Lutheran Food Pantry, Decorah Lutheran Food Closet, Winneshiek County Health, and Greater Area Food in Calmar while on the global scale, Lutheran World Relief will receive funds.

Created in 1990 by a high school art teacher in Michigan, Empty Bowls is a national project that enables communities to act locally to end the imbalance of food distribution in the world. Realizing that they wanted to be a part of something bigger, Luther pottery instructor George Lowe and former Luther professor Jack Radditz brought Empty Bowls to Decorah. Lowe had heard of a woman in Sarasota, Florida, who raised $60,000 for local food pantries through the Empty Bowls Project. Decorah’s Empty Bowls aims to be a prominent donator in local hunger efforts and a solid supporter of global efforts. 

In addition to Scardina at La Rana Bistro, several Decorah restaurants will provide soup, bakers will provide bread, and volunteers will get everyone fed. Last year, participants of Empty Bowls gobbled up 80 gallons of soup and 80 loaves of bread. The goal this year is to serve 100 gallons and 100 loaves. Visiting and local artists created 500 bowls the first year, 750 the second year and are shooting for 1000 bowls for 2008.

Generous potters like Karen Misseldine, Nate and Hallie Evans, Dawn Deines-Christensen, and Val Newman (Luther parent) collectively work with Lowe to mold clay for this year’s fundraiser. Lowe, who has been a potter for 34 years, can sculpt a bowl in 45 seconds and has even made several while being blindfolded. He says making bowls is “like a dance” for him and he continues to learn something new with each one.

Empty Bowls is truly a community event and has earned a very positive response. Folks all over are preparing their offerings for the day. A Decorah High School class is making aprons and Luther’s Harley Refsal and his January-term Scandinavian Fine Handcrafts class made silverware to debut during the event.

The Empty Bowls Project brings together a community for a meal intended to remind participants of what they have, and what others don’t. Because when it comes down to it, it’s as simple as what one Empty Bowls advocate stressed, “We can fill our bowls, but not everyone can.”

Lauren Kraus loves Decorah and the surrounding environment – the river, the trails, the bluffs, the trees, and the vibrant downtown all keep her Rocky Mountain High buzzing. A Colorado native and Luther graduate, Lauren now works for the college as an admissions counselor, trying to convince 17-year-olds that they, too, could love Decorah. 

Fact: More than 850 million people in the world go hungry
11.7 million children in the United States live in households where people have to skip meals or eat less to make ends meet. That means 1 in every 10 households in the U.S. is living with hunger or is at risk of hunger.

www.bread.org

(Courtesy of Bread for the World Institute)

By Aryn Henning Nichols

The truth, inconvenient as it may be, is that we’ve got our work cut out for us if we want to save the world. The people on this planet need to learn (or relearn) how to be sustainable.

Organizers of the first Oneota Film Festival are taking a step forward on this monumental path. On January 22 and 23, the key word on Decorah’s Luther College Campus – even more than usual – is sustainability. The Oneota Film Festival (OFF) will screen more than 20 films highlighting food, energy, economies and life choices relating to sustainability. Ranging from 10 minutes to nearly two hours, the films will both entertain and educate about the interconnectivity of all that we live and consume.

Biodiesel, backyard chickens, the life of a paper cup, bald eagles and Iowa murals are just a few topics OFF will touch upon. The films will serve as catalysts in discussions about local sustainability initiatives and how communities and regions can develop and maintain a more sustainable local economy. Regional and local experts will lead the forums.

“Our hope is also that we can broaden the definition of sustainability and include more voices in the discussion,” says OFF executive director Kyrl Henderson. “It’s important for all of us to share a vision of a sustainable local economy based on helping each other in positive ways.”

OFF is sponsored by Luther College, Seed Savers Exchange, Decorah Regional Arts Council, and Winneshiek County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Luther will host the entire festival in different locales across campus. With the college’s efforts in green initiatives, it seems a great fit for a festival highlighting just that.

“We’re excited to be part of a new event that can carry Luther’s commitment to sustainability into the wider community, and use our facilities and energy to share the message,” says Dan Bellrichard, Luther College sustainability coordinator.

Students are also looking forward to relating their efforts at Luther to ones beyond the college borders.

“The film festival is going to be great for students. From the bike share program to eating local food in the cafeteria, the campus is working on and talking about sustainability all the time. The film festival will be a fantastic way for students to see how people around the world are practicing sustainability in exciting ways – from young people driving a vegetable oil-fueled truck to great kayaking spots around the continent to grassroots leaders fighting for water rights,” says Luther student and OFF volunteer Erin Lunde.

Lunde had a big hand in assisting OFF board member Kristin Torresdal in probably the most important task of a film festival: selecting the films! Torresdal and the rest of the board worked together to whittle the list down to their absolute favorites.

“I think that I can safely speak for everyone when I say that it was certainly a bit nerve-wracking but ultimately very exciting for all of us to be a part of the process of manipulating the list and watching our first Oneota Film Festival take shape,” Torresdal says. “We absolutely cannot WAIT to share these films with everyone who attends the festival!”

OFF activities will spill into the evening with partnered events planned for both Friday and Saturday night. Details can be found at www.oneotafilmfestival.org. Or for more information, you may contact OFF Director Ruth Jenkins at ruth@oneotafilmfestival.org.

“It’ll be a great winter activity,” Jenkins says. “We’re excited about warming everyone up in cold, late January with great films, interesting conversation, and new ways to better the world.”

Aryn Henning Nichols is happy Inspire(d) is a media sponsor for Oneota Film Festival. It’s going to be a truly great time!

Check out some of the films being shown at OFF!

King Corn  (50 min)
A feature documentary about two friends, one acre of corn, and the subsidized crop that drives our fast-food nation. In King Corn, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, best friends from college on the east coast, move to the heartland to learn where their food comes from. With the help of friendly neighbors, genetically modified seeds, and powerful herbicides, they plant and grow a bumper crop of America’s most-productive, most-subsidized grain on one acre of Iowa soil. But when they try to follow their pile of corn into the food system, what they find raises troubling questions about how we eat-and how we farm. 

Big River   (30 min)
Following up on their Peabody winning documentary, the King Corn boys are back.  For Big River, best friends Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis have returned to Iowa with a new mission: to investigate the environmental impact their acre of corn has sent to people and places downstream.  In a journey that spans the heartland to the Gulf of Mexico, Ian and Curt trade their combine for a canoe- and set out to see the big world their little acre of corn has touched.  On their trip, flashbacks to the pesticides they sprayed, the fertilizers they injected, and the soil they plowed now lead to new questions, explored by new experts in new places.  Half of Iowa’s topsoil, they learn, has been washed out to sea.  Fertilizer runoff has spawned a hypoxic “Dead Zone” in the Gulf.  And back at their acre, the herbicides they used are blamed for a cancer cluster that reaches all too close to home.

Tapped   (76 min)
Is access to drinking water a basic human right, or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce?  Stephanie Soechtig’s debut feature is an unflinching examination of the big business of bottled water.  From the producers of  Who Killed the Electric Car and I.O.U.S.A., this timely documentary is a behind-the-scenes look into the unregulated and unseen world of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back the one resource that ought never become a commodity: our water.  From the plastic production to the ocean in which so many of these bottles end up, this inspiring documentary trails the path of the bottled water industry and the communities which were the uwitting chips on the table.  A powerful portrait of the lives affected by the bottled water industry, this revelatory film features those caught at the intersection of big business and the public’s right to water.

Fuel   (112 min)
With America so dependent on oil, filmmaker Joshua Tickell sets out to prove that biodiesel, made from vegetable oil, is a viable alternative. Although politicians and energy execs have done their best to quell it, the benefits of biodiesel are real. This documentary chronicles Tickell’s quest to popularize the untraditional fuel source, citing the environmental and economic advantages the country could reap by adopting it.

Seed Hunter   (60 min)
Our planet is heating up and one of the first casualties will be the crops that supply our food. Scientists are working overtime to find solutions including going back to the ancestral origins of our staple foods.  Seed Hunter will take you on a remarkable journey from the drought ravaged farms of Australia, to the heart of the Middle East, to the mountains of Tajikistan where charismatic Australian scientist Dr Ken Street – a real life version of Indiana Jones – and his team of ‘gene detectives’ hunt for plant genes that will help our food withstand the impact of 21st century global warming.  Along the way we meet farmers around the world who are struggling to grow crops in a climate that’s gone haywire, as well as scientists working at the front line of gene technology to save tomorrow’s food. At journey’s end, deep in the Arctic Circle, Ken deposits his bounty of seed in the newly constructed seed bank known as the ‘doomsday vault.’

Mad City Chickens    (81 min.)
Witness if you will Gallus Domesticus…the backyard chicken. A mere few pounds of feather, bone, and muscle; a creature regarded by many as a rather humorous, though not so intelligent agent of food production. And yet make note of a most singular phenomenon now taking shape across suburb and city.  From backyard eggs to the family’s new favorite pet, the urban chicken is forging a fresh place in the pecking order of human importance.  Mad City Chickens deftly weaves multiple stories and contextual issues on city chickens and their keepers in a non-linear fashion that one rarely sees in a documentary. From leading experts to urban newbies, experience the humor and heart of what’s fast becoming an international backyard chicken movement.

Paddle to Seattle: Journey through the Inside Passage  (87 min)
An independent documentary chronicling the progress of two intrepid adventurers paddling handmade wooden Pygmy kayaks from Alaska to Seattle. They navigated the 1,300-mile Inside Passage.  From Alaska to Seattle, it’s North America’s only rainforest.  Their brown bears own the shores. Rain falls for weeks without rest. What’s most unexpected are the surreal encounters with unexpected marine life.  The film presents these interactions, in addition to interviews from peoples of the region.  All threaded together by the adventurer’s friendship and unusual sense of humor.

16 to Life  (91 min.)
The one non-documentary film included in our festival… A small town teenager’s angst about sexual inexperience drives a comic quest for love and understanding on a birthday to end all birthdays.  This film was produced by Luther College alum Terry Trimpe, was shot entirely on-location in Iowa, and features several Iowa actors.

Gimme Green   (27 min)
Lawns are undeniably an American symbol.  But what do they really symbolize?  Pride and prosperity? Or waste and conformity?  Gimme Green is a humorous look at the American obsession with the residential lawn and the effects it has on our environment, our wallets and our outlook on life. From the limitless subdivisions of Florida to sod farms in the arid southwest, Gimme Green peers behind the curtain of the $40-billion industry that fuels our nation’s largest irrigated crop—the lawn.

American Outrage   (56 min)
Two grandmothers, Carrie Dann and Mary Dann, have been at the forefront of the Western Shoshone Nation’s struggle for land rights and sovereignty for nearly forty years. American Outrage documents their fight against the U.S. government’s unlawful attempts to take over traditional Shoshone land in Nevada, part of 60 million acres guaranteed to them in the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley. Over the years the Dann sisters have endured steady harassment from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and they have squared off against international gold mining corporations and the nuclear industry. Their courage and perseverance in asserting the rights of indigenous peoples have brought them numerous awards, including the 1993 Alternative Nobel Prize and the International Right Livelihood Award.

Asparagus: Stalking the American Life   (53 min)
Our friends in Michigan are having a tough time. Not only are thousands of union members out of work, the government is helping other countries grow asparagus as part of the war on drugs, creating unfair competition for farmers in Oceana County, once the Asparagus Capital of the World. But Michigan farmers are not giving up! Taking on fast food, free trade and the U.S. drug war, these indomitable Michiganders struggle to find creative ways to save their livelihood and their beloved roots. This fascinating, award-winning film, called ‘oddly brilliant’ by New York Magazine, unveils the complex connections between community identity, farming, politics and trade.

Light of the Himalaya   (70 min)
A moving story of giving back where it counts from award-winning filmmaker Michael Brown. At the heart the most formidable mountain range on earth lives a gracious people who suffer from the highest rates of cataract blindness on the planet. The North Face athlete team joins eye surgeons from Nepal and America in hopes of making a difference. This spectacular film follows the doctors’ work on the Himalayan Cataract Project all the way to the summit of a 21,000-foot Himalayan giant. The team visited the Tilganga Eye Center in Kathmandu as well as a remote Cataract Surgery Camp in a rural part of Nepal where Dr. Geoff Tabin and Dr. Sanduk Ruit provided high level eye care to locals including sight restoring cataract surgeries in many cases. After the eye camps the the team traveled to the Khumbu area of Nepal to climb 21,000-ft Cholatse. The North Face has joined together with GlobalGiving to sponsor the climb and proceeds raised from the ascents will go towards the Himalayan Cataract Project.

For the Price of a Cup of Coffee   (14 min)
What is the cost of convenience? For the Price of a Cup of Coffee is a short environmental documentary examining the life cycle of a paper cup and the repercussions of a society reliant on convenience. Why are less than 1% of coffee shop patrons bringing their own cup? Why do we have so much garbage, and where does it go? What is the true cost of a disposable culture? Shot throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including interviews with local activists, environmental experts and coffee shop owners. This film is full of information that all consumers should know about the products that we use every day, and the steps we need to make towards a more sustainable world.

Oil + Water  (55 min)
Oil + Water tells the story of two world-class kayakers and good friends who embark on the longest-ever petroleum-free road trip, traveling over 21,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina in a retro-fitted Japanese fire truck named Baby.  After converting the truck’s regular diesel engine to run on any kind of natural oil, Seth Warren and Tyler Bradt journeyed for over a year through 16 countries, an endless summer adventure of paddling, driving, exploring and promoting alternative fuel sources. By collaborating with schools, local governments, farmers, agricultural research centers and media, they held demonstrations, workshops and community gatherings to spread the word about sustainable energy, meeting many inspiring people and enjoying some of the best whitewater paddling in the Americas along the way.

American Eagle  (50 min)- Local submission (Bob Anderson)
Everything about them is big. They are one of nature’s largest raptors, with wings that can span eight feet, and nests that can weigh up to a ton. Unique to North America, the bald eagle is the continent’s most recognizable aerial predator, with a shocking white head, electric yellow beak and penetrating eyes. Yet most people know little about it beyond its striking appearance.  In the 1960s, the bald eagle was on the brink of extinction caused by the pesticide DDT and other human pressures. Following their protection as an endangered species, bald eagles have come roaring back. But even in the best of times, life in the wild for these birds is a surprisingly tough struggle.  From the pristine wilderness of Alaska to the Upper Mississippi River Valley, American Eagle goes behind the scenes and into the nest to provide the ultimate bird’s eye view into the private life of an American icon.

Tracking the Iowa Mural  (12 min)- Local submission (Kyrl Henderson)
Travel the roads of Iowa visiting the public art — murals — painted by noted Iowa Muralist Carl Homstad. Carl’s work is seen by more people every day than any other artist in Iowa because of his many murals all over Iowa. Hear Carl talk about the murals and hear the people who hired Carl and who live with his murals talk about working with Carl and his work. Funded in part with a grant from the Iowa Arts Council.

 Coming Home: E.F. Schumacher & the Reinvention of the Local Economy  
(27 min)- submission  (Chris Bedford of MI)
Coming Home tells the story of the Society’s remarkable work that includes founding of the nation’s first CSA, economic development based on Community Land Trusts, and the creation of the nation’s most successful local currency – BerkShares. “This film offers anyone thinking about relocalization of their community’s economy an inspirational model and a practical guide to that change,” said Denise O’Brien, candidate for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture. “Schumacher’s vision has never been more relevant.” 

Iowa Learning Farm DVD   (several 10-min shorts)
A new video series “A Culture of Conservation” from the Iowa Learning Farm. The series of six short videos explores the relationship humans have with soil and water and offers ways for everyone to have an active role in protecting and preserving the Earth’s natural resources.

Seed Savers Exchange DVD  (7 or 20 min. versions)
All about Seed Savers Exchange.

Photo by Studio J Photography

Strap on your quads; We’re goin’ derby

By Aryn Henning Nichols

 By day she’s the housewife. The attorney. The writer, the stylist, the chef. She moves with confidence, a fresh bruise merely a reminder of her latest battle, and like a rogue superhero, she can’t wait to pull on her fishnets and hot pants, slap on some red lipstick and get back in the rink to kick some derby ass. It’s just the way she rolls.

In a post-feminist era where romance is no longer a dirty word, but yes, the lady still just might want to mow the lawn, roller derby seems a natural fit. It rides a line between burlesque and brawn: the girls are sexy AND tough. They come together from all kinds of backgrounds and in all kinds of packages, united by their love of all things derby. Or they just like beating the crap out of each other while on old school quad skates. Either way, it’s not exactly your grandmother’s roller race.

Inducted in the 1930s by Chicago businessman Leo Seltzer, roller derby experienced a series of highs, lows, and evolutions over the decades until the 60s and 70s when the spectacle of it took precedent over the sport. Roller derby’s popularity fizzled out. Revival efforts didn’t take until 2001 when a group of Texas women pulled it out of its grave and gave it a whole new look.

The game goes like this: Two teams of five players are on the track, each with one jammer (she has a star on her helmet and is the one who scores) and four blockers (the blocker with a stripe on her helmet, the pivot, leads her blockers). For every opponent the jammer passes, her team scores a point. But short of throwing elbows or making human clotheslines, these girls are doing everything they can to keep the opposing jammer back and get their jammer through.

 “One of the reasons roller derby is so popular is because of the explosive, fantastic combination of sport, entertainment, female aggression, and (dare I say it?) sex appeal,” says Decorah native Regan (Johnson) Jacobsen. “Let me be explicit – this is a real, full-contact sport.”

Jacobsen, aka Tammy Faye Undertakker or more often, TFU (a tribute to Ms. Tammy Faye Bakker, the late overly-made up televangelist), lives in Madison and has been skating with the Mad Rollin’ Dolls going on four years. For her, all it took was one bout. She wanted in.

“The second I walked in the door I was hooked. I just KNEW I had to do this,” she says. “I didn’t for a second consider the time, the money, the injuries, or the fact that the closest thing I ever played to a sport was marching band.”

The Mad Rollin’ Dolls (MRD), kicking off their sixth season the end of January 2010, were Midwestern pioneers of the sport alongside other leagues like the Minnesota Roller Girls (MNRG). Leagues like these frequently have thousands of people come to see them skate (at a recent MNRG bout, they had nearly 4,000 attendees!), but it definitely took a lot of work getting there. And as with most things, being a pioneer has its pros and cons.

Zara Danz, aka Candi Pain (“I picked my name because it seemed sweet and bad ass. The play on words thing is pretty big with derby names. Also I really like candy!”), has been with the Minneapolis-based Minnesota Roller Girls since day one. She says being one of the first Midwestern teams had some physical perks.

 “I decided I wanted to be the one hitting the hardest, not the one getting knocked over. That motivated me,” Danz says. “I was lucky though, because at the point I started it was new to all of us. We were the first league to bring derby to Minnesota. Now when rookies start, they get pounded by seasoned vets.”

Jacobsen says MRD had to blaze a wide trail for leagues that would one day join the ranks.

“Madison didn’t have any blueprints, any mentors, or any limits. That’s been a challenge and also a great responsibility – to help the leagues that formed after us learn from our mistakes, improve on what we did right, and succeed where we have failed,” she says.

According to Jacobsen, everybody has a “fresh meat” story – “I was scared as hell when I started. The first time I went to a practice with ‘veteran’ skaters flying by me on the track on all sides, their wheels clacking up against my wheels… it was terrifying” – but teammates work hard to train new players.

“Derby is very ‘Three Musketeers’ in that regard,” Jacobsen explains. “Don’t get me wrong, we want everyone to improve so it’s more of a challenge to knock them down and more exciting to watch, but we want everyone to improve, regardless. It’s just not fun to knock down someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing. Ok, it is, but you don’t feel as accomplished.”

Closer to home, smaller cities like La Crosse are founding their own leagues. The La Crosse Skating Sirens, not even one year old yet, look to teams like MRD and MNRG for guidance and advice. Because starting a roller derby league isn’t easy: it’s a business. You need organization, recruits, money. Skating Sirens founder and president Melissa Larivee, aka Skin Kitty, is proud of how far they’ve come in just a few short months. They have great sponsors (“The people who back us, back us.”), skate all their home bouts at a great venue – the La Crosse Center – they have enough members for two teams on their league, and they’re improving on the track.

“We got our asses kicked at our first bout,” Larivee says. “But we’re getting better. We’re losing by less now.”

At the interview, Larivee’s left wrist is in a cast, and her nose is healing nicely after a dirty bout punch, she says.

“She’s our league clutz,” jokes Skating Sirens vice president Marghie Arttus, aka Hiss’n Kitten.

“No, I’m just aggressive,” Larivee retorts. The two agree they are complete opposites, but because of derby, they’re best friends.

“It’s all about the comraderie,” Larivee says. “We want women to have a place to go to be athletic and skate. Women can dominate this sport. It does take a certain kind of woman, you just don’t know who that is exactly. There isn’t a stereotype for it. You can have your basketball star and your Goth out there on the track together. But I think it’s popular because it’s all women – the guys are in the minority.”

So the fact that men’s leagues are starting to form across the nation naturally raises the derby dander a bit. Jacobsen explains.

“When I first heard about men’s derby leagues popping up, I was upset. I felt, “Can’t we just have one thing!?” because women have traditionally been so excluded from sports; and women’s sports and women athletes are not given the same clout or attention as men’s sports and male athletes. I was afraid men’s roller derby would surpass women’s derby in popularity and co-opt all the hard work derby leagues have done to popularize the sport and bring it into the mainstream.”

She continues, “But, then I saw men playing roller derby… let’s just say my fears were waylayed. It’s an entirely different animal than all-female derby. And also, derby is fun. I don’t want to discourage anyone from having fun, working out, and participating in a community. Seriously, though, have you ever seen a six-foot tall man with hairy legs in hot pants? Yikes.”

Beside men, the derby leagues all have their rivals. For Danz, it’s the Mad Rollin’ Dolls.

“As far as our Allstar traveling team, our biggest rivals would be Madison,” Danz says. “Madison has an amazing league! We have a fantastic fun-loving border battle with them.”

MNRG has four home teams that play each other, and Danz is the captain of the Dagger Dolls. “I think this year we’ll be the force to be reckoned with. We have some amazing rookies and killer vets!”

MRD has six teams in their league, and Jacobsen skates for the Unholy Rollers. She’s her own biggest rival (“I am constantly trying to improve my game”), followed by MRD’s Reservoir Dolls. (“There is no team I enjoy beating more than the Res Dolls.”)

The Skating Sirens are still figuring out their opponents. “We don’t have any real rivals yet,” Arttus says. “Although we’ve played some pretty dirty skaters, most everyone is having fun.”

Fun is the emphasis for skaters and attendees at derby bouts.

“Everyone goes to see derby,” Danz says. “There are bands, games, giveaways, food and delicious PBR! I think there is a serious cool and fun factor that nothing else out there has. I could go on and on. Roller derby fever is contagious!”

Perhaps it’s the short skirts and stockings. The racy names. Or the motley crew that is the roller derby norm. But it truly does seem to kick ass.

“Derby is like the Island of Misfit Toys for grown-ups,” Jacobsen says. “We’re all a little nutty, injured, socially inept, what have you, but we came together because no one else would accept us or no one else was doing what appealed to us. We accept each other for better or for worse, and together we make something phenomenal.”

Aryn Henning Nichols thinks it would be amazing to start a Decorah derby league. I mean, WFTDA rhymes with UFFDA…can you think of a better sign? Now…to find the time…