Michael Southam retired in Chicago during the pandemic. His life was relatively quiet until his parents began requiring more care in 2022. Since he was retired, it made sense that he would come home to North Dakota to care for them. Around this same time, the Russian assault on Ukraine began, and millions of Ukrainian families were being displaced. He learned about one such family, who had taken up residence nearby. Hearing the story of what they had gone through in Ukraine w

Death is a difficult, even taboo, topic for many. It’s uncomfortable to contemplate our mortality and the fleeting moments in our life leading up to that point, nevermind discussing what happens to our mortal shells once they’re reclaimed by earth (burial) or our loved ones (cremation). It all just feels so final. Those who work in that liminal space are all too familiar with that discomfort - not from themselves - but from others. Being so removed from the care of those that

Today, we’re featuring Sliced Bakery & Luncheonette. Located in a historical location, where Great Harvest Bread Co. used to reside, Sliced opened in January of this year and, if you go to enjoy a meal, you may recognize some of the staff! Upon walking in, I found Cassie at the register taking orders. She helped me decide on an egg salad sandwich with tomatoes and microgreens - grown by Shane at Red River Microgreens - on their homemade wheat bread. It was delicious! The egg

Food insecurity is on the rise for a multitude of reasons, from rising prices across the board to mass layoffs - people are struggling to stay afloat. Thankfully, we have people like Skip and Sherry Espeseth, who run the Food Pantry at Olivet Lutheran Church, who serve our neighbors with compassion and respect. Both Skip and Sherry have extensive volunteer backgrounds and, when they moved here 5 years ago, it was very important to them to give back to the community in meaning