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www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge Fort Dodge Living FEBRUARY | 2013 Living Fort Dodge february 2013 50501 WIN FREE STUFF AT WWW.IOWALIVINGMAGAZINES.COM CARAMEL BROWNIES RECIPE MEET DARLENE WINNINGER EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE GARAGE PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID BIG GREEN UMBRELLA POSTAL CUSTOMER BIG GREEN UMBRELLA 414 61st Street Des Moines, IA 50312 LOCAL EXPERTS OFFER THEIR ADVICE FOR EFFECTIVE PLANNING Preparing for RETIREMENT

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Page 1: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge Fort Dodge Living FEBRUARY | 2013

LivingFort Dodgefebruary 2013

50501

WIN FREE STUFF AT WWW.IOWALIVINGMAGAZINES.COM

CARAMEL BROWNIESRECIPE

MEET DARLENE WINNINGEREDUCATION

FOR EVERYONEGARAGE

PRSRT STDECRWSS

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

BIG GREEN UMBRELLA

POSTAL CUSTOMER

BIG GREEN UMBRELLA414 61st Street

Des Moines, IA 50312

LOCAL EXPERTS OFFER THEIR ADVICE FOR EFFECTIVE PLANNING

Preparing for

RETIREMENT

Page 2: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

FEBRUARY | 2013 Fort Dodge Living www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge

515.832.94002350 Hospital Drive

Webster City

We deliver!

Jayme Jackson Certified Nurse

Midwife

Subhash Sahai, M.D. Family Practice/OB

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Mark Andrew, M.D.General Surgeon

Page 3: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

welcome By Shane Goodman, [email protected]

www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge FEBRUARY | 2013 Fort Dodge Living 3

LivingLivingIowaIowam a g a z i n e sm a g a z i n e s

Darren TromblayEditor515-953-4822 ext. [email protected]

Pete GardnerAdvertising

[email protected]

Financial push-upsA good friend told me of a conversation he had several years ago

with a financial planner who asked him what he would do if his wife suddenly died. After being a bit startled by the question, my

friend raised his eyebrows, put his hands on his extended stomach, let out a deep sigh and said, “Well, the first thing I would have to do is start going to the gym.”

That’s a silly answer, of course, but the basic question is one of several we should all consider and ask ourselves. Do we have the finances in place so we can survive financially without our spouse? Have we put away several months of income to live on in case we lose our job or can’t work? Have we saved enough for our children’s education? Do we have funds invested properly so we can retire at the age we desire to do so? Most of us don’t want to face those questions because we already know the answers, and they aren’t good ones.

For this month’s cover story, we interviewed local financial planners and asked for advice on how to properly plan for retirement and other important events in our future. You may find some of their suggestions surprising, but most are just common sense tips we need reminders on every so often — kind of like going to the gym. Thanks for reading.

Shane GoodmanPublisher

P.S. Don’t forget to check out www.iowalivingmagazines.com for exclusives including obituaries, an expanded calendar of events and even more photos.

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Page 4: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

By Lori Berglund

feature Submit story ideas to [email protected]

4 Fort Dodge Living FEBRUARY | 2013 www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge

M an, it’s gonna be great. Let me paint you the picture.When I retire, I’m going to sleep late

every day. I’ll have a sprawling, beautiful house in the country, and it will finally be paid off. No mortgage, no bills to worry about. When I retire, I’m going to travel whenever I want. I’ll spend February in Hawaii; I’ll cruise to Alaska in July. I’ll go on in safaris to Africa, climb the Great Wall in China, and peddle my way through Europe like a college student. When I retire, I’ll never worry again. That’s a great picture, just as long as one never talks to a person who has actually retired. Reality can be such a messy thing com-pared to our dreams. Reality… well, it can be a different picture. Pipes never burst, furnaces never grew old, and the unexpected bills we have today may pretty much be the same unexpected bills we face in retirement… but without the weekly paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you live it long enough, doesn’t always get easier. Fortunately, the life skills that make for suc-cess at any age are pretty much the same skills that can help assure a better life in retirement. It’s a lesson that today’s younger generations are taking to heart as retirement planning begins younger and younger. And no age is too young to start, or even too old. Mitch and Jamie Lunn are a Fort Dodge

Mitch and Jamie Lunn, with children Cambree and McKade, believe saving for the future is important.

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LOCAL EXPERTS OFFER THEIR ADVICE FOR EFFECTIVE PLANNING

Preparing for

RETIREMENT

Page 5: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

couple in their early 30s with two young chil-dren of their own. The couple say their parents stressed the importance of saving, even from an early age. “My parents have always been very smart with money, and so have Jamie’s. Growing up and then being married, I think we both had good influences on us,” Mitch says. The retirement years seem far off for this couple, and indeed they are, as even Mitch and Jamie’s parents are still working and have not retired. Still, it’s something that Mitch says should be factored in all throughout one’s life. “I started back when I was with HyVee,” he recalls. Mitch started working with the grocery chain when he was 19 and attending college, and worked there full-time for his first year after college graduation. He enrolled in their 401(k) program as soon he was eligible. As happy as he was to participate, he also acknowledges that it was the first financial mistake he made, and one that’s he’s happy to share so that others learn from it. “The one thing I learned is that cashing out when you change jobs is not a good idea because you get hit with a penalty a lot of times, and it’s going to increase your taxable income that year,” he explains.

Fortunately, after only one year, he didn’t have much in that first 401(k) and was able to learn that lesson on the cheap. When he made a professional change more recently, he was certain to protect what he had established in his 401(k) and continue building and saving for the future.

As a couple, Mitch and Jamie focus not only on what they are putting away in savings, but they also work to trim their spending. Making smart choices, even as college students, enabled them to start marriage with little debt and no student loans. Again, the couple gives credit to their parents for helping them with college, and also encour-aging them to make smart choices about their schooling. Mitch and Jamie are both graduates of Iowa State University, and each of them started their college careers at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. They are huge fans of Iowa Central and believe that it gave them a good leg up on starting their professional lives on sound financial footing. “I know that I saved my parents tons of money by doing that, getting the basic classes out of the way. Iowa Central is such a good place to do that, and I lived at home and worked and saved my money,” Jamie notes. Jamie’s mom, Shari McGough, says she and her husband were happy to help as parents, and is equally glad that the lessons about the value of saving for the future seem to have taken hold. “It’s never too early to start saving,” Shari says. As a young grandmother, Shari enjoys being spending time with Cambree, 6, and McKade,

www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge FEBRUARY | 2013 Fort Dodge Living 5

feature Submit story ideas to [email protected]

Shari McGough spends a few afternoons a week with her grandchildren, McKade and Cambree Lunn.

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Page 6: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

who will turn 3 in March. While retirement is still a ways off, one wish for when those years do come is being able to spend more time at the couple’s home in Florida. Now as a mother herself, Jamie sees the benefit of that little extra time at home to really determine what she wanted to study, and then be serious about it when she did reach the university. “I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do at first, so I don’t think I would have been ready to go away,” she says. The couple has made the most of that sound financial start by con-tinuing to save and plan for the future. Many of his generation, he notes, doubt that Social Security and Medicare will still be around — at least in their present forms — for their generation. “I think most people our age wonder if it will be there,” Mitch says. Those concerns make saving even more important, even if it’s difficult. The best thing to do is start, even if you’re starting small. “One of the mistakes people make is saving very little or not sav-ing at all. If you create a goal that you want to save 10 percent, but you can only afford to put away 2 or 3 percent, start with that. You can always do better; you can always increase that later,” he says. A common impediment to sav-ing should be obvious, but can often be overlooked. After all nothing robs from the future faster than debt. “One of the problems I see is that people carry too much debt and they are unable to save for retirement because they have too much house loan, or too much car loan, and it hampers their ability to save,” he explains. Mitch and Jamie are working to enhance their retirement years in another way as well. They try to protect their health by staying active and working out often. Indeed, tak-ing care of one’s health may be one of the most effective and often overlooked ways to save money for the long run, and make it possible to better enjoy those retirement years. In her early 40s, Brenda Lastine

also stays active, works out and eats healthy. She is only a little closer to those years when a person is sup-posed to be able to take it easy and enjoy life. Her focus isn’t so much on “retirement,” but on building a sound financial future to protect her family when life hands you a surprise. Brenda is a woman driven to work hard. She got her first job when she was just 14 years old. She even graduated from high school a year early, and she was happy to be able to attend Iowa Lakes Community College, but always worked to make sure that her own children would be able to get a four-year degree. “I always wanted a better life for my kids,” Brenda says. “I grew up with very little. My parents didn’t have much, and I worked from a very young age. I’ve always been a care-taker, wanting to take care and make a better life for my family.” That hard work paid off. Her oldest son, Joshua, earned a bach-elor’s degree in economics from the University of Northern Iowa and is now in his second year of Law School at Pepperdine University in

Malibu, Calif. Her youngest son, Colten, is a senior at St. Edmond’s and wants to study forensic science, possibly looking to attend Simpson College. “I’ve always been very conser-vative, and kind of a saver, so we started a college savings plan when my oldest was probably in kinder-garten. And then with Colten, we started right away,” Brenda recalls. Saving for college and saving for retirement is one of the hard-est balancing acts that families can face. Parents can take heart in a recent study from the University of California that found a correlation between better grades and student contributions to their own tuition costs. Paying some of their own way seemed to encourage greater responsibility. Brenda says her own dedica-tion to saving is something that has been very important for when the unexpected happens in life. She never imagined that she and her former husband would divorce, but that’s just what happened two years ago. By having saved all those years, and by funding her 401(k), she was better able to come through that

divorce and ensure that her children would continue to enjoy the same financial quality of life as they had when their parents were married. It hasn’t been easy, as Brenda really had to start over in building her savings and building her 401(k), but had she not had those savings, it would have been even more life-changing. “Life would be very different today if I had not had that money set aside,” she notes. Knowing that life is full of the unexpected, Brenda sees the impor-tance of planning. “Being able to protect my fam-ily was always very important,” she says. Life insurance, disability insur-ance and long-term care insurance are a few of the tools that people can talk about with a professional, she suggests. Making out a will is another important step in the planning pro-cess. Many people make out a will when their first child is born in order to choose guardians should both parents die. But couples with-out children, and couples who have children from previous relation-ships, also need to have and update their wills as life changes. If you chose a guardian for your child when that child was born 10 years ago, is that person still the one you want to care for you child should the unthinkable happen? Life is full of unthinkables. Some people do get to go on safari to Africa, and walk the Great Wall of China. But most of us don’t. Some folks are blessed with good health, strong bones and hearts that do not grow weary. But couples do divorce, and spouses do die early. The road to retirement is full of surprises. Planning makes the road much easi-er to traverse. Neither Brenda nor Mitch and Jamie see themselves retiring in the way that it was envisioned for previous generations. Rather, the retirement years — with the help of careful planning — will be years when they continue to be active and pursue the best that life has to offer.

feature Submit story ideas to [email protected]

6 Fort Dodge Living FEBRUARY | 2013 www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge

Brenda Lastine with son Colten. Saving for college and saving for retirement is a balancing act for most parents.

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Page 7: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

D arlene Winninger’s third grade classroom today may be just about as big as the

entire school she first attended as a child growing up in rural Webster County in the 1960s and ’70s. Winninger graduated from high school in Barnum in 1976, a big school compared to the two-room country schoolhouse she attended from kindergarten through eighth grade. Each of those schools may have been tiny by today’s standards, but she remembers them as places where teachers were respected and the basics were always applied. “I went to a German Lutheran School out in Deer Creek Township,” Winninger says. “I had only two teachers, one in the lower grades and one in the higher, and there was always an oral reading book.” Most all the students were farm kids, and they all learned to work and play well together. “We had to learn cooperation, not only in the classroom, but even if you wanted to play ball you had to work together; otherwise there wasn’t enough for a team,” she recalls. The education she received at Barnum and Deer Creek served her and others well. “We have a lot of teachers and pastors and other professionals who came out of that two-room school,” she notes. After high school, Winninger studied for a year Concordia

College in Nebraska before com-ing home to marry. She worked for a few years, attended Iowa Central, and earned her bachelor’s degree from Buena Vista University. Now in her 30th year as an elementary teacher in Fort Dodge, Winninger still shares the excite-ment of making learning come to life. “It’s very helpful to have an administrator who understands that science is often messy,” she says after wrapping up a classroom experiment. Winninger likes her students to have hands-on experience in whatever they are studying. “They understand the concepts a lot better when they see the prac-tical application of it,” she explains. As different as it is from that two-room schoolhouse, for Winninger the goal is much the same: To help children develop the same love of learning she found as a child. The number of rooms isn’t really all that impor-tant for a teacher who cares about students.

www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge FEBRUARY | 2013 Fort Dodge Living 7

What do you like best about Mrs. Winninger?

Kyla Thoma:“She likes to teach us a lot of things.”

Jace Ulrich:“She’s a very kind person and tries to be fair to everyone.”

Haley Wills:“She helps us with anything we need.”

education Submit story ideas to [email protected]

Darlene Winninger enjoys making learning come to life for her students.

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Teacher enjoys making learning come to life

By Lori Berglund

Meet Darlene Winninger

M ost of us, at one time or another, have fallen into the pattern of eating the

same thing, at the same place, over and over again. For example, each year with the first smudged foreheads of Ash Wednesday, all the way through Good Friday, I see the same friends at the same place we’ve been coming to for “fish season” for many years now. For Mom and me, it’s a Good Friday tradition after the noon service at Corpus Christi to join the throng at Long John Silvers. It’s almost a party in there that day, flooded with people and everyone having a good time. For my husband and me, it’s a place we love to frequent all year long — even if I’ve been accused of ordering the same thing just about every time. And so it was that on our most recent visit I resolved to find something on the menu that I had never sampled before. After a few minutes scanning my choices, I decided to go healthy with the “Hold the Batter” selec-tions. I ordered two pieces of cod and then had to choose between the creamy garlic butter or sweet and zesty Asian preferences. I always like a little zing in my fla-vorings, so I went with the sweet and zesty cod.

For sides, I had to resist the temptation (after all, this is the season of resisting temptation) of checking out the new onion rings, and went instead with a side of

fresh green beans and, of course, coleslaw. Because how can one possibly come to Long John Silvers and not order coleslaw? That’s practically a sin in itself. I was delighted with the com-bination of lightly sweet and zesty cod served on a bed of white rice. I checked out the LJS website later and added up my calorie count for this delicious meal. The two pieces of cod weighed in at only 90 calo-ries. The green beans had a skimpy 29 calories. And while the coleslaw had 200 calories, that meant that my entire meal totaled only 319 calories, plus a few more for the rice. And that saves room for my next visit, when I’m loading up on batter-dipped fish, hushpuppies, and extra crumblies. I figure the best diets are the ones you break once in awhile.

Sweet and zesty Asian style cod is a healthy choice for Lent at Long John Silvers.

dining Submit ideas to [email protected]

Long John Silvers407 S. 25th St.515 576-3711Hours:Sun. - Thur.: 10:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.Fri. - Sat.: 10:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.

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Long John Silvers offers health alternatives

By Lori Berglund

Hold the batter

Page 8: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

I t can be hard to work a morn-ing prayer or worship into your schedule. For a student with

school and other activities, it can be a challenge to find time for your faith, but First United Methodist Church is happy to provide that outlet. The church, along with Trinity United Methodist Church, offers Donuts and Devotions every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. for high school students. The group meets at Trinity United Methodist Church, 828 N. 25th St. Donuts and Devotions also host a gathering for seventh and and eighth graders that meets every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at First United Methodist Church. Adults looking for fellow-ship and a place to learn more about personal faith have a place at Trinity, too. The church offers adult Sunday school classes every week from 10:05 - 11 a.m. All are welcome, and you can start at any time — no need to wait until a new book or study begins.There are currently three differ-ent sections: Adult I, Adult II and a men’s class. For more happen-ings at Trinity United Methodist Church, check out its website at www.trinityumcfd.org.

If faith through music is more your speed, First United Methodist Church can take you there. Youth are invited to sign up by Feb. 27 for the church’s April 5 - 7 trip to Branson, Mo., for Young Christians Weekend. More than 10,000 youth across the nation are expected in attendance at this premiere youth worship event. Participants will be in trusted hands, as the church has been going for almost 10 years. Weekend highlights include speakers as well as bands such as Dave Crowder, Leeland and the Rhett Walker Band.

The festival has a history of attracting both big and upcoming names in Christian music. The fun doesn’t stop there, though. Thrill seekers can hop on one of the many rides and attractions offered. For more information on this and other events, contact the church at 576-7586, visit the website at www.fumcfortdodge.org or stop by at 127 N. 10th St.

8 Fort Dodge Living FEBRUARY | 2013 www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge

faith Submit story ideas to [email protected]

Spread the WordHave an upcoming event or church news you would like to announce? Send information to [email protected].

Methodists welcome busy youth to join Donuts and Devotions, a youth group for students who want to keep the faith despite busy schedules, offered at Trinity United

Methodist Church and First UMC.

Methodist churches offer studies and a trip

By Cady Colosimo

Students of faith

St. Paul Ev.Lutheran Church

400 S. 13th Street Fort Dodge955-7285 www.stpaulfd.org

Rev. Allen Henderson and Rev. Nathan PeitschST. PAUL IS HANDICAP-ACCESSIBLE

Join us!Worship Services

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Page 9: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

O ne of the misconceptions that could hurt your retirement plan is assum-

ing retirement will last 10 to 15 years. Historically, retirement has lasted about 10 to 15 years for most Americans. The key word here is “historically.” When Social Security was created in 1933, the average American could antici-pate living to age 61. By 2005, life expectancy for the average American had increased to 78.1 So assuming you’ll only need 10 or 15 years worth of retire-ment money could be a big mis-take. In 2010, the American Academy of Actuaries said that the average 65-year-old American male can expect to live to 84½, with a 30 percent chance of living past 90. The average 65-year-old American female has an average life expectancy of 87, with a 40 percent chance of living past 90.2 Assuming too little risk. Holding onto your retirement money is certainly important, and so is your retirement income and quality of life. During the last few decades, we have had moderate inflation (and sometimes worse; think 1980). What happens is that over time, even 3 to 4 per-cent inflation gradually saps your purchasing power. Your dollar buys less and less. If your income doesn’t keep up with inflation, essentially you end up living on yesterday’s money. As you retire, you may assume that an extremely conservative approach to investing is manda-tory. But given how long we may

live — and how long retirement may last — growth investing may be important. Investment Advisor Representative with and Securities and Investment Advisory Services Offered Through Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. (TFA) Member FINRA/SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor. Non-securities products and services are not offered through TFA. TFA and KHI Financial Solutions are not affiliated. This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary.Net Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affili-ates. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, we make no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Please consult your Financial Advisor for further information.. www.petermontoya.com, www.montoyareg-istry.com, www.marketinglibrary.net 1 nytimes.com/2008/04/27/w e e k i n r e v i e w / 2 7 s a c k .html?pagewanted=print [4/27/08] 2 usatoday.com/money/perfi/retirement/2010-04-30-401k28_CV_N.htm [5/3/10]

www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge FEBRUARY | 2013 Fort Dodge Living 9

Information supplied by Andy Hejlik, KHI Financial Solutions, 130 N. 25th St., 576-1800, www.khisolutions.com.

finance By Andy Hejlik

Two common misconceptions to think about

Assumptions may hurt retirement plans

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Page 10: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

10 Fort Dodge Living FEBRUARY | 2013 www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge

Contact Darren at 515-953-4822 ext. 304 or [email protected] to recommend someone for an upcoming issue of “What’s In Your Garage?”

DART drivers, from left, Tim Thoma, Marsha Waldschmidt and Chris Scott enjoy providing safe and affordable rides for people.

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what’s in your garage? recipe Submit ideas to [email protected]

DART buses provide a useful service for all

By Lori Berglund

For everyone

S ome services are hard to appreciate the value of until a person truly needs it. For

the people who rely on Dodger Area Rapid Transit (DART) buses to get around, it’s hard to imagine doing without it. DART provides anywhere from 200,000 to 250,000 rides each year, in sunshine and in snow, according to Cliff Weldon, execu-tive director of the Midas Council of Governments, which adminis-ters the DART program. Hop on a DART bus at any give time and one might be surprised at the variety of people using the service. There are kids getting a safe ride to school, senior citizens out buying their groceries and folks who simply would rather leave their own wheels in the garage. “I wish that more people would understand that the service is for everyone. It’s not just for any one group. It’s not just for persons with disabilities, although we serve a lot of persons with disabilities. It’s not just for the elderly; it’s not just for kids. Anyone can use it, and all are welcome to use it,” Weldon says. Perhaps the drivers under-stand that better than anyone. Marsha Waldschmidt has been driving for 12 years and knows

many of her regular riders. “I enjoy meeting the people,” she says. “They really appreciate having a ride.” One of Marsha’s favorite routes is the church route on Sunday mornings. Rides are provided to Corpus Christi, Sacred Heart and St. Paul’s each Sunday morning. Anyone needing a ride simply needs to call 24 hours in advance to schedule door-to-door service. Chris Scott is a new driver, but already enjoys meeting the people. “I’ve learned all the routes, and I’m enjoying getting to know the people,” he says. Tim Thoma has been driving for two years and says there’s a great diversity of people taking advantage of DART. “I run the college route so I see a lot of different kids. Getting a ride across campus on a cold day is great,” he says. “This a great, economical way to travel.” For Weldon, it’s good to know that the rides make a difference for people. “Everyone who uses us has a real need for transportation, and that’s the most satisfying and enjoyable part of it,” he says. For information on routes or to catch a ride, call (515) 573-8145.

I f you are looking for a treat for that special someone in your life, and if they happen to like cara-

mel, here are the brownies for you. There are many sweet com-binations that people enjoy — for example chocolate and peanut but-ter — but my personal favorite is chocolate and caramel. In my mind there is not a better candy bar than a Milky Way, and this is my version with a brownie base. I have been working on this recipe for some time now. I feel like I finally have it right and thought I would share. If you have a favorite base recipe for cookies or brownies, start thinking about how you can make a new combination between your favorite flavors. It is fun to try new combinations and see what the results are. Sometimes you are successful, and sometimes not so much. With this recipe I really took some of my favorite parts of different recipes and combined them all into one. This recipe does have several steps with it, so it is not as quick as some of my recipes. I think the brownie is super moist, caramel is just the right amount of gooey, and the chocolate on top is just the right amount. The only thing that might make it better is if you served it warm with vanilla ice cream.

Beth McDonald is a wife and mother and works full time in Des Moines.

Caramel brownies

Ingredients2 cups sugar3/4 cup baking cocoa1 cup canola oil4 eggs1/4 cup 2% milk1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour1 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon baking powder1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet choco-late chips

Topping14 ounces caramels1 can (14 ounces) sweetened con-densed milk8 oz. of semi sweet chocolate4 oz. of white chocolate1-2 tablespoons of milk

Directions1. In a large bowl, beat the sugar, cocoa, oil, eggs and milk. Combine the flour, salt and baking powder; gradually add to egg mixture until well blended. Fold in chocolate chips.2. Spread the batter into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes. When it comes out of the oven, poke holes in your brownies.3. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat the caramels and condensed milk over low heat until caramels are melted. Next melt the semisweet chocolate and white chocolate with the milk. 4. Spread the caramel on the top of the brownies then the melted choc-olate, swirl together and let cool.

Treat that special someone with gooey goodies

By Beth McDonald

Caramel brownies

Page 11: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

I f asked, most couples would say it’s important to protect the financial future of their families

in the event of a spouse’s unex-pected death. Yet 74 percent of couples rarely or never discuss the topic of life insurance as part of their finan-cial planning strategy, according to a 2010 State Farm® Life Insurance Study. A 2011 study from finance research firm LIMRA revealed that 41 percent of U.S. adults don’t even have life insurance. That doesn’t mean it’s not on their minds. Sixty-two percent of respondents said uncertainty in the economy makes having life insurance even more important than it had previously been. Bringing up the subject can be difficult. It may be that discussing the unexpected death of a spouse is awkward. Or that one spouse already feels the pressure of being the primary wage earner. Or that a spouse who has recently lost a job will react negatively to the topic. But whatever the obstacles, talking about life insurance is criti-cal to both partners — even if one earns substantially more than the other, or one doesn’t earn an income. To start the discussion, try these tips: financial crisis. Pick a time when you’re not stressed, and treat the topic as you would any other aspect of your financial planning. will. This is an important docu-ment and will help facilitate a dis-cussion around how things are to be handled if you, your spouse, or

both are deceased.

ry component of your overall financial strategy. Having a plan in place can be reassuring if your circumstances change. and learn what options you can afford. Schedule follow-up evaluations and adjust your cover-age as your needs, family situation and income change. expert who can provide an out-side perspective and make the discussion less stressful. the love you have for your family and your desire to protect it from financial burdens, rather than on the possible death of a spouse. Having a plan in place will help your family in the event of an unexpected death to cope with the emotional side of losing a loved one which is difficult enough without the increased burden of financial worries.

Information provided by Mitch Lunn, State Farm Insurance, 616 N 15th St Fort Dodge, 576-4171

www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge FEBRUARY | 2013 Fort Dodge Living 11

insurance advice By Mitch Lunn

Couples should discuss unexpected death

The toughest conversation to have

By Mitch Lunn, State Farm® agent

More photos. More events. More news. More of everything you are looking for from your community and beyond.

You enjoy receiving your local Iowa Living magazine in your mailbox each month. Now you can access news and information from all of our 23 Iowa Living magazines

at one convenient site. You will find community blogs, obituaries, photo galleries, calendars and other information you won’t find in our print editions.

Check it out now!

www.iowalivingmagazines.com

Living?Living?Looking for more

Mitch Lunn, Agent616 N 15th Street Fort Dodge, IA 50501Bus 515-576-4171Fax 515-619-5760www.GoLunn.com

Page 12: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

12 Fort Dodge Living FEBRUARY | 2013 www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge

Friday, Feb. 15 No School- Fort Dodge Schools

V State Wrestling Tournament

FDHS 9/10/V Boys Basketball vs.

SEP, 4:45/6:15/7:45 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 16 V State Wrestling Tournament

Monday, Feb. 18 President’s Day

No School - Fort Dodge Schools,

possible snow make-up day

FD Senior High Choir Concert,

7 p.m., Auditorium.

FDMS Winter Concert, 7 p.m.,

Phillips MS.

FDSH Booster Club Meeting. 7 p.m.,

Choir Room.

Tuesday, Feb. 19 Free Blood Pressure Screenings,

8-9:30 a.m. at Crossroads Mall,

10-11 a.m. at Hy-Vee (Dining Area)

Caring - a Cancer Support

Group, for survivors and their care-

givers, led by Sister M. Gertrude

(Trudy) Keefe, 11 a.m. - noon, TRMC

Cancer Resource Room.

FDHS 7 Boys Basketball at

Johnston, 4:30 p.m.

FDHS 8 Boys Basketball at Ames,

4:30 p.m.

V Girls Basketball Regionals

Wednesday, Feb. 20 Storytime, ages 3-6, registration

required, 10- 10:30 a.m., Fort Dodge

Public Library.

Look Good Feel Better, help

women undergoing cancer treat-

ment cope with appearance-related

side effects of treatment, register by

calling 574-8302, 1-3:30 p.m., TRMC

Conference #2.

Thursday, Feb. 21 Storytime, ages 3-6, registration

required, 10- 10:30 a.m. and 2-2:30 p.m.,

Fort Dodge Public Library.

Employers’ Network - Work

Comp 101, $10 for GFDGA members

and $15 for non-members, RSVP to

the Greater Fort Dodge Growth

Alliance, 11:45 a.m., TRMC

St. Edmond 5th Grade Band

Performance, 12:15 p.m.

St. Edmond 6-12th Vocal

Concert, 7 p.m., Sacred Heart.

FDHS 7 Boys Basketball vs.

Johnston, 4:30 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 22 V Boys Bowling State Tournament

V Girls Bowling State Tournament

Race Car Simulator Experience,

$2 suggested donation, all proceeds

donated to Almost Home Humane

Society, noon - 4 p.m., Crossroads

Mall.

Daddy Daughter Dance, register

online or stop in to the Fort Dodge

Parks & Recreation Dept, $40/couple

($15 for each additional daughter), 6 -

9 p.m., Citizen’s Central, 617 Central

Ave.

Saturday, Feb. 23 Race Car Simulator Experience,

$2 suggested donation, all proceeds

donated to Almost Home Humane

Society, noon - 4 p.m., Crossroads

Mall.

Eggs and Issues forum, open to pub-

lic, 7:30-10 p.m. Iowa Central Biosciences

and Health Sciences Auditorium.

Drawing & Design for Young

People, ages 9-12, $10 members ($12

non-members), Blanden Art Museum.

Monday, Feb. 25 City Council Meeting, 6 p.m.,

City Hall.

Tuesday, Feb. 26 Early Dismissal - St. Edmond

Catholic School

calendar Submit event information to [email protected]

115 S. 29th Street

Page 13: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge FEBRUARY | 2013 Fort Dodge Living 13

Free Blood Pressure Screenings,

8-9:30 a.m. at Crossroads Mall,

10-11 a.m. at Hy-Vee (Dining Area)

8-9:30 a.m. at Crossroads Mall, 10-11

a.m. at Hy-Vee

Heart Failure Class, for patients

with congestive heart failure, regis-

ter at 574-6257, 1-3:30 p.m., TRMC

Cardiac Rehab Education Room.

St. Edmond Parent/Teacher

Conferences, 1:30-4 p.m. & 5-7:30 p.m.

Fort Dodge Schools 5-8 Parent/

Teacher Conferences

Wednesday, Feb. 27 No School - Fort Dodge Schools

V Girls State Basketball Tournament

St. Edmond School Board Meeting

5:15 p.m.

Thursday Feb. 28 Early Dismissal - St. Edmond

Catholic School

St. Edmond Parent/Teacher

Conferences, 1:30-6 p.m.

Fort Dodge Schools PreK-8

Grade Conferences

FDHS Debate at University of Iowa

Friday, March 1 No School - St. Edmond Catholic

FDHS Debate at University of Iowa

V Girls State Basketball Tournament

Saturday, March 2 FDHS Debate at University of Iowa

V Girls State Basketball Tournament

Fort Dodge Trisport, $35,

7:30 a.m., Fort Dodge Community

Recreation Center.

Sunday, March 3 Doubley Dvorak!, $10 adults and

$6 students, Phillips Middle School

Auditorium, 1015 Fifth Ave. N

Monday, March 4 Fort Dodge Schools PreK-4

Conferences

ITEDs - FDSH

Tuesday, March 5 Fort Dodge Schools PreK-4

Conferences

ITEDs - FDSH

Free Blood Pressure Screenings,

8-9:30 a.m. at Crossroads Mall,

10-11 a.m. at Hy-Vee (Dining Area)

FDHS V Boys Track at Wartburg

College, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, March 6 Early Dismissal - Fort Dodge

Schools

Early Dismissal - St. Edmond

Catholic School

ITEDs - FDSH

Late Prenatal Class, 6-8 p.m., reg-

ister online, TRMC.

Thursday, March 7 ITEDs - FDSH

Spay it Forward Dinner and

Auction, benefits fund for those

unable to afford spaying and neuter-

ing pets, 5:30-8 p.m., Willow Ridge

Restaurant & Golf Course.

Cholesterol Screening, blood

pressure/blood sugars test free, $3

fee for cholesterol screen, 8 - 10 a.m.,

Crossroads Mall.

Friday, March 8 ITEDs - FDSH

Nordic Choir Concert, 5:30 p.m.,

St. Olaf Church.

Saturday, March 9 SAT Test Date

Winter Flea Market, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.,

Webster County Fairgrounds, 22770

Old Highway 169

Fun-D-Night, Stratford

Community School., Stratford.

Drawing & Design for Young

People, ages 9-12, $10 members

($12 non-members), 10 a.m.- noon,

Blanden Memorial Art Museum.

Greater Iowa Swim League State

Swim Meet, Fort Dodge Senior High

Pool.

Sunday, March 10 Daylight saving time begins

Winter Flea Market, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.,

Webster County Fairgrounds. 22770

Old Highway 169

Monday, March 11 City Council Meeting, 6 p.m.,

City Hall.

LifeSaving Screening, call 274-

6505 for an appointment, 9 a.m.,

Cardiac Rehab- TRMC.

FDHS V Girls Track at Ames, 4 p.m.

Tuesday, March 12 Free Blood Pressure Screenings,

8-9:30 a.m. at Crossroads Mall,

10-11 a.m. at Hy-Vee (Dining Area)

St. Edmond MS Solo Festival at

SE, 4-7 p.m.

Wednesday, March 13 FDSH Drill Team Try-outs,

3:45 p.m., Main Gym.

Thursday, March 14 FDSH Drill Team Try-outs,

3:45 p.m., Main Gym.

Community Blood Profile, screen-

ing for Chemistry Panel, TSH, PSA, CBC

and/or HA1c, 7:15-9:20 a.m., register by

calling 574-6505, Crossroads Mall.

Friday, March 15 FDSH Drill Team Try-outs,

3:45 p.m., Main Gym.

FD March Madness Mens

Basketball Tournament, register by

contacting Blake Utley at butley@

fort-dodge.k12.ia.us, High School

FDHS Blood Drive, 7:30 a.m.-

3:30 p.m., Auxiliary Gym.

calendar Submit event information to [email protected]

View events and happenings from this community and others at

www.iowalivingmagazines.com

Page 14: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

H ave you ever thought about learning a foreign language, maybe several

languages? The Fort Dodge Public Library offers a great online service called Transparent Languages with more than 80 different foreign language learning programs. It’s a self-paced approach that includes learning vocabulary, practicing speaking and discovering the culture of the people who speak that language. The best part is you don’t have to come to the library to access the service. You can log on at home or a coffee shop, anywhere there’s an Internet connection and continue to learn. Visit us at the library or online at our website, www.fortdodgeiowa.org/library, to find out more about Transparent Languages. Bonne chance. (That’s “good luck” in French.)

Valentine ideasValentine’s Day is just around the corner. Here are some ideas for that special someone in your life.

poem or making your own Valentine’s Day card? The library has some great books of poetry

along with books on how to make cards for all occasions.

you” in several languages, using Transparent Languages.

getaway or a longer trip. We have Midwest Living magazine that adver-tises some wonderful B and Bs and many guidebooks to most of the United States as well as foreign countries.

Day-themed books for children. Come in and check out the selec-tion Even if you’re not into valen-tines, we have a great selection of DVDs that, with a little popcorn, can create a romantic evening, or a fun family night. Here are some suggestions:

Abbey.” If you haven’t been hooked on this PBS show yet, start from the beginning.

the best chick flicks ever made.

can resist Gonzo, Kermit and Miss Piggy?

Green.”A boy mysteriously mate-rializes in the lives of a childless couple. The Fort Dodge Public Library is open Mondays and Tuesdays from 8:30 a.m. until 8 p.m., Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. We’ll be happy to help you find what you need.

14 Fort Dodge Living FEBRUARY | 2013 www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge

library news

Fort Dodge Public Library424 Central Ave.573-8167Hours:Mon. - Tues.: 8:30 am - 8 p.m.Wed. - Fri.: 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Fort Dodge Library offers Transparent Language

By Fort Dodge Library staff

Something new

Fort DodgeLiving

magazine reminds you to

Support Area Restaurants

www.iowalivingmagazines.com

Eat Local

LOVEReading?

424 Central Avenue 515.573.8167www.fortdodgeiowa.org/library

Not just books...POSSIBILITIES!

e-books Ask a Librarian Databases Pre-school

Magazines Story Hours Movies Internet Usage Book Sales

CHECK US OUT!

Page 15: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge FEBRUARY | 2013 Fort Dodge Living 15

out & about Submit your photos and captions to [email protected]

Kelly Bradley and Carla Warner at Lifetree Café held at CANA on Jan. 29.

Jennifer Zavala, Brenda Shipman and Adrianna Trevino at Lifetree Café held at CANA on Jan. 29.

Barbare Heileman and Jill Yriarte at Lifetree Café held at CANA on Jan. 29.

Barb Huisman and Jim McColley at Lifetree Café held at CANA on Jan. 29.

Chad Hammar and Tony Gibbins at Network at Noon held at Clarice’s Fashions on Jan. 17.

Lisa Knigge and Amy Von bank at Network at Noon held at Clarice’s Fashions on Jan. 17.

Donette Klepsteen and Rhonda Barry from Iowa Home Care put on the program for Network at

Noon held at Clarice’s Fashions on Jan. 17.

Cindy Mulroney and Mike Mulroney at Network at Noon held at Clarice’s Fashions on Jan. 17.

Kelly Sorensen and Clarice Hobgood at Network at Noon at Clarice’s Fashions on Jan. 17.

Wayne Brincks, Andrea Easter and Jim Oberhel-man, staff members for Congressman Steve King at

the ribbon cutting at King’s new office on Jan 29.Congressman Steve King cuts the ribbon for his new office at 823 Central Ave on Jan. 29.

See more photos online at www.iowalivingmagazines.com

Page 16: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

16 Fort Dodge Living FEBRUARY | 2013 www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge

GETFREESTUFF REGISTER TO WIN FREE

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Page 17: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge FEBRUARY | 2013 Fort Dodge Living 17

out & about Submit your photos and captions to [email protected]

Scott Johnson, Randy Kuhlman and Terry Allers at the ribbon cutting at the new office for

Congressman Steve King on Jan. 29.

Lisa Shimkat and Teresa Naughton at the ribbon cutting at the new office for Congressman Steve

King on Jan. 29.

Congressman Steve King spoke during the ribbon cutting at his new office on Jan. 29.

Connie Gilbert and speaker Cheryl Gerdes at the Stonecroft Women’s Connection held at Tea

Thyme on Jan. 29.

Ivola Ellis and Lavanne Vinchattle at the Stonecroft Women’s Connection held at Tea Thyme

on Jan. 29.

Dolores Doughty and Dorthy Jensen at the Stonecroft Women’s Connection held at Tea

Thyme on Jan. 29.

Joyce Peterson and Mary Jane Ely at the Stonecroft Women’s Connection held at Tea Thyme

on Jan. 29. Amber Rose prepares to cut the ribbon at the new downtown office for Proteus on Feb. 1.

Marcia Johnson and Diane Mattke at the Stonecroft Women’s Connection held at Tea

Thyme on Jan. 29.

Staff members Matt Winkler, Melissa Rude, Rachael Thompson, Amber Rose, Marcia Rodriquez and CEO Jesus Stoto at the ribbon cutting at Proteuas Feb. 1.

See more photos online at www.iowalivingmagazines.com

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18 Fort Dodge Living FEBRUARY | 2013 www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge

classifieds To place an ad, call 515-953-4822, ext. 302

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Local obituariesupdated daily online

Another reason to visitwww.iowalivingmagazines.com

Page 19: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge Fort Dodge Living FEBRUARY | 2013

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Page 20: Living€¦ · paycheck. Bones never break, hearts never grow weary, and the health we take for granted today may be our greatest regret sooner than we ever imagined. Life, if you

FEBRUARY | 2013 Fort Dodge Living www.iowalivingmagazines.com/fortdodge

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