Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
North Branch couple wows guests at reception
Rick and Stacy Austen surprise family and friends with their first dance
Rick Austen of North Branch isn’t a dancer. But for his wedding reception last year, he and his bride, Stacy, performed a choreographed swing dance — complete with aerial lifts — that wowed their guests.
“Their jaws just dropped to the floor. They were all very surprised,” remarked Stacy.
Looking back, Rick admits it was a fun experience. “If I had to do it over again, I would,” he stated. “It was definitely worth it.”
A LOVE STORY
Chisago Lakes High School graduates Rich Austen (1999) and Stacy Vomela (2002) met through mutual friends as teenagers. Their high school romance blossomed into true love. On Christmas Eve 2007, Rick treated Stacy to a classy dinner at Bella in Blaine and asked her to marry him. She said yes. Two years later, on April 26, 2009, they tied the knot at North Redington Beach in Florida. Fifty close friends and family accompanied them on their destination wedding.
It had been Stacy’s idea to take lessons to prepare for their wedding dance. “I didn’t want to do one of those sappy, back-and-forth first dances,” said Stacy. The childhood dancer wanted to do something special for the once-in-a-lifetime event.
In the summer of 2008, Stacy talked Rick into taking a survey class at DanceSport Center. Rick’s parents, Ralph and Patty Austen of Cambridge, were also taking the class, which made it easier on Rick who had never danced before. The survey class planted the seed, and soon Stacy suggested that they take lessons. To double the fun, they roped in Rich’s sister, Anne, and her husband, Neil Ladd of Harris. The Austens picked their own song, but let Tracy Heinze, owner of DanceSport Center, choreograph their moves. They told her they were open to doing more than the basic swing so Heinze created a dance that included aerial lifts and shoot-through-the-legs moves.
The lessons were more than just preparation for their reception. It also gave Rick and Stacy valuable time with each other. “Taking dance lessons is a great way to reconnect with your partner during the stressful time of planning a wedding, or anytime for that matter,” noted Stacy.
“Dance is something you can learn and keep with you for the rest of your life,” said Heine. “It doesn’t expire. It doesn’t change.”
A SURPRISE
After 12 lessons, Rick and Stacy felt ready to wow their guests. The big day dawned, and the two vowed their eternal love to one another during a beautiful ceremony. Then it was showtime.
For drama, the newlyweds started off dancing to a more traditional slow song, “A Whole New World,” the theme song from “Aladdin.” Their rocking back and forth was interrupted by Neil, who shouted, “That’s a horrible song. You can’t dance to that!” His wife Anne sashayed up to the DJ, handed him a CD, and told him to play the song on it. The opening notes of “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” belted out. Neil told the bride and groom, “We’ll show you how it’s done.” Stacy and Rick followed their lead, as their guests stood there stunned. When they started the lifts, the silence was broken. “People went kinda crazy,” Stacy remembered, clapping and hollering.
“Our guests were surprised,” Rick remarked. “They said it was fun and different.”
“People will always remember the gift you give them at your wedding,” Heinze stated. At her own wedding, she and her husband performed a simple rumba. “People still talk about that,” Heinze said.
A FUN TIME
“We’ve helped a lot of couples get ready for their first dance,” observed Heinze. She’s also helped fathers and daughters prepare for their special dance, and grandparents get ready for the wedding of a grandchild. A few months ago, she taught lessons to a couple who wanted to do something unique for their wedding anniversary party. Heinze is also available to attend the reception and give lessons to guests before or during the dance.
“Even if you feel uncomfortable like I was, it can be a lot of fun,” said Rick. He appreciated the jokes Tracy made during lessons, as well as the names she had (such as “babymaker” and “nose-wipe turn”) for various moves. Stacy also recommends taking lessons from DanceSport Center. “Tracy is a great teacher. She does a wonderful job of making you feel comfortable, and makes it so much fun!” she said.
“It doesn’t matter if you have two left feet,” Heinze said. “I can work with that.”
Heinze advises couples to put dance lessons on their to-do list three to five months before the wedding. Lessons should continue until right up to the event so that no one forgets a move. The dance can be simple to elaborate; Heinze works with each couple to determine what sort of moves they feel comfortable with. A single lesson costs $65 while a 12-lesson package is $576. All lessons are 55 minutes long.
Not sure you’ll like it? Do a 30-minute sample lesson to check it out and then decide. Heinze stresses that you don’t need to know how to dance before you come. “Why would you take lessons if you knew how to dance?” she asked.
While “Dancing with the Stars” has been great for her sport, it has turned a lot of men off to dancing, Heinze noted. “You don’t need to look like that,” she said. “You can have a lot of fun with the basic steps.”
To contact Heinze, call 651-277-6683 or email tracylwheinze@yahoo.com. For more information, browse www.MNDanceSportCenter.com. DanceSport Center (formerly Footworks Ballroom and Latin Dance) is located at 6041 Main St. Suite A in North Branch. In March, the Cambridge studio will relocate from Ashland Street to the Cambridge mall.
Serving wine doesn’t have to be intimidating
Tips from a wine expert
“You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a good bottle of wine,” noted Bobbi Mix, the assistant manager of Northbound Liquor in Cambridge.
“You can spend under $10 these days and get a really good bottle of wine,” she added.
That’s great news for couples planning wedding receptions.
Mix pointed out that the average couple spends between $200 to $300 on wine for their wedding reception, compared to the $400 to $600 it can cost to set up a bar with mixed cocktails. These days, when every dollar counts, that cost difference matters.
She recognizes that people are pinching pennies, and is happy to help them pinpoint great deals when she meets with them at the Cambridge liquor store.
If you’re not placing bottles on tables, consider a box wine. The stigma attached to box wines in the past has evaporated as winemakers have released products made from vibrant juices. “They’re a great value and there is no waste,” Mix remarked.
If you do want to use the bottles as table decorations, Mix can help you find a bottle with a pretty label, one that might even match your decor. For an outdoor wedding last summer, Mix steered the bride and groom to Barefoot Bubbly. In addition to being reasonably priced at $6 a bottle with a case discount, the champagne label features bare feet. “It was darling,” Mix recalled. The couple also purchased a case of Barefoot White Zinfandel and one case of Barefoot Pinot Grigio, two wines that fit in well with the light, summer atmosphere.
For a classy winter wedding, Mix suggested Frexenet Extra Dry and Frexenet Spumante. The bride and groom knew they wanted a French wine when they sat down with Mix. They appreciated the classy look of the black bottles with gold labels.
Many couples opt to purchase a more expensive wine, often their favorite, to serve only to the members of their wedding party.
For couples who aren’t sure what they like, Mix will open up a bottle of wine there in the store to offer them a taste. After hearing feedback, she then has a better idea of what sort of wine to recommend.
Mix has found that people often want to serve only the wine they like to their guests. However, she steers those who drink dry wines to sweeter wines. Offer both to give your guests options. “People who like dry wine will drink something sweeter, but people who like sweet wine will not drink dry,” Mix pointed out. She has had many couples thank her for this advice after the wedding when all the sweet wine is gone but bottles of the dry remain.
In general, she recommends that couples provide a white zinfandel (a sweet wine), chardonnay or pinot grigio (a dry wine), and a cabernet (a drier wine). If your wedding is in the summer, consider serving a sweet white like a reisling or moscato (which comes as regular or bubbly) in place of the white zinfandel. Or, serve a savignon blanc from New Zealand; they’re rapidly gaining popularity because of their light, citrusy taste.
Northbound Liquor offers case discount of 15 percent, which equals two free bottles of wine. You can mix and match in the case, filling it with both reds and whites.
Not sure how much to order? It’s a common problem, noted Mix. Some wedding groups drink more and some less. She advises couples to order more, and then bring what they don’t use back for a full refund.
Also, Northbound will be happy to store your wine and keep the whites chilled until you need them.
Wine helps create a relaxed atmosphere for events. “I think it can be a good value without spending a lot of money,” said Mix. “It will make your day perfect.”
Tips from a wine expert:
• Serve alcoholic champagne that is colored pink and non-alcoholic that is white. This way, you’ll know at a glance which type someone is drinking, and it’ll be easy to keep those underage drinking the non-alcoholic version.
• Taste before you serve. Try out the wine before you decide to serve it to your guests. Each year, Northbound Liquor teams up with Spectacular Events in Isanti to offer an extensive wine tasting with gourmet treats. The cost is $20, and the tasting goes from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tastings are set for April 22, Sept. 23 and Nov. 18, 2010.
• Trends in the wine industry are changing. These days, there is no stigma attached to box wines, and they are a great value for your money.
• Save money by serving your $40 bottles only to the head table. Give the rest of your guests a good wine that costs under $10 a bottle.
• If you want to match your bottles, offer a blush, white and red made by the same winery.
• Make an appointment to speak to an expert before you purchase your wine. Mix is happy to offer suggestions. Contact her at 763-689-2468.
GREAT DEALS
BLUSH
Sutter Home White Zinfandel, $4
WHITE
Barefoot Pinot Grigio, $6
RED
Sutter Home Cabernet, $6
A STEP UP
BLUSH
Beringer White Zinfandel $7
WHITE
Robert Mondovi Chardonnay, $8
RED
Robert Mondovi Cabernet, $8
MAKE IT BUBBLY
VALUE-RANGE
Andre Spumante, $5
MOST POPULAR
Ballatore, $7
MID-RANGE
Korbel, $12 or Mondori Asi, $15
HIGH-RANGE
Chandon, $25
Karate lessons help children focus
Professional Karate Studio head instructor Derek Reid admits that if he were a child today, he would likely be diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD). He advises parents to seek help by enrolling their children in a karate class. “It really helps them to focus,” Reid noted, “which helps them in school.”
Focus is a primary part of Taekwondo training. There are three points of focus, Reid tells his students. One, bring your attention to bear on something. Two, notice what is distinctive about that thing. And three, which is the most important, stay in the here and now. “Don’t think about the mistakes you made in the past. Don’t think about the future. Think about the here and now,” said Reid.
Many parents have written letters to Reid commenting on the changes they’ve noticed in their children following Taekwondo lessons. “Their behavior and grades were improved,” noted Reid. “Even their teachers noticed they were more calm, more secure and more sure in themselves.”
By participating in the program, each student considers what he would like to achieve, and then sets goals for himself. Those who do well in school are rewarded with academic achievement awards.
There are a number of classes offered Mondays to Saturdays for children at Professional Karate Studio in Cambridge. Little Dragons is for ages four to seven. Instructors acknowledge that young children have a limited attention span, and they focus on making the class stimulating. There are also classes for 14 and under that meet several times a week. Older children are included in the adult classes. Students learn techniques through repetition and practice. New students begin with a white belt, and move up through the ranks. It takes adults about five years to earn a black belt; it takes children a bit longer depending on the level of their motor skills when they enroll. The youngest black belt at Professional Karate Studio was 11 years old.
In addition to the mental benefits of karate, there are the physical benefits associated with regular exercise. Sessions focus on cardio, strength and flexibility training, as well as self-defense skills. Martial arts are also well known for their stress-relieving benefits, which help both children and adults.
See if Taekwondo is for you by signing up for a one-month trial. The $24.95 fee includes unlimited access to classes and a uniform. Learn more by calling 763-552-KICK (5424). Professional Karate Studios is located in Crossroad Commons at 1001 1st Ave. E., Suite 70, in Cambridge. Browse professionalkaratestudios.com for more information and a schedule of classes.
Things to know before filing your taxes
Do you qualify for any of the new credits?
File your taxes early and get your rebate fast, advises Kevin Bauer of Bauer & Associates, Ltd. If you file electronically, you speed up the process. You can count on seeing your state rebate in as little as one week and your federal rebate within two and one-half weeks. He warns against paying anyone extra to get your rebate faster. “It’s kind of a waste to pay money to get it instantly,” he noted, because if you file electronically it will come quick anyway.
He reminds people to keep receipts for all the charitable contributions they made over the year. “A lot of people think there is a standard deduction for charitable gifts,” he noted. There isn’t. And if you don’t have your receipts before you file, you might be in big trouble later if you’re audited. The IRS is cracking down on charitable giving. In a recent court case, a man who had given his church about $7,000 was denied the deductions because he didn’t have the receipts first. He got them later, but it didn’t matter. “If you give more than $250 at a time, a cancelled check won’t do,” stated Bauer, who has 39 years of experience in tax and financial issues.
CHANGES THAT MAY BENEFIT YOU
• First-time homebuyer credit: A credit of $8,000 is available to first-time homebuyers who purchase a home between Jan. 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010. Those who have not owned a home in the past three years are considered first-time homebuyers.
• Long-time resident credit: While many know of the credit for first-time homebuyers, not many are aware that long-time residents qualify for a $6,500 credit. You qualify for this credit if you sold a home you had owned for five consecutive years of the past eight and purchased a new one. Purchases must have been made between Jan. 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010.
• Energy credit: The energy credit has returned after a year’s hiatus, and it has been increased. For 2009 and 2010, you can get 30% back on what you spent to install windows, insulation, exterior doors, high efficiency heating and air conditioning systems. The cost of installing the systems is included. This credit is capped at $1,500. Be sure to bring the purchase documents with you when you visit your tax preparer.
• Unemployment compensation: Unemployed? For the first time ever, a portion of your unemployment compensation is not being taxed. For 2009 only the first $2,400 of your unemployment is excluded from gross income.
• Sales tax on new motor vehicles: Did you buy a brand new vehicle between Feb. 17 and Dec. 31, 2009? If so, deduct the sales tax paid. You can claim this deduction even if you don’t itemize. However, you can’t claim it on a “new-to-you” vehicle you purchased used. Bauer stressed, “It has to be brand new.”
• Education credits: Tuition has always been eligible for a tax credit, but for the first time you can also get up to $2,500 per student in credit for books and course materials. This credit can be applied to the first four years of post-secondary education. For those who have been in school longer, check out the Lifelong Learning credit, which hasn’t changed.
Along with planning and tax preparation, Bauer & Associates offers services in accounting, creating financial statements and setting up QuickBooks. Call the Cambridge office at 763-689-4044 or drop by 237 2nd Street S.W. (Courthouse Square). In Princeton, call 763-389-3090 or go to 121 Rum River Drive.
Longtime electrician offers tips on how to lower your electric bill
Paul Nordberg of Nordberg Electric in Cambridge knows how frustrating it can be to see a sudden rise in your electric bill. As an third-generation electrician, Nordberg is happy to share what he’s learned through years of experience.
Customers who get a rude shock when they open their electric bill ask whether the meter could have failed. Nordberg’s answer: no. If a meter fails, it moves slower not faster, resulting in a lower bill versus a higher one. “There’s no trick or slight of hand,” stated Nordberg. “If there’s a big spike in your power, you used it.” It happens at his own house every time his college-aged children come home. More people in the house equates more power being used. December is also sure to bring on a higher bill because of the lights decorating the inside and outside.
If you weren’t expecting an increase, Nordberg recommends checking to see if something was left on that shouldn’t have been, like the oven. Make sure items get shut off when you’re done using them. Some people keep their furnace fan on all the time to even out the heat. But even that small fan draws power and pushes up electric use.
To lower your bill, Nordberg advises taking a hard look at your appliances. “That old fridge in the basement is an electric killer,” he noted. “Appliances by their very nature are expensive to run.” Consider replacing it with a newer appliance as they are more energy-efficient to run. Replace lightbulbs with CFLs. Although they cost more to purchase, they last longer and use up less energy. Evaluate whether it’s time for a new furnace or water heater. Programable thermostats can be a wise investment, as well.
When you hire an electrician, be sure to check whether he is licensed and insured. Get references. As it is with any other business out there, those with loyal customers are a sign that the owner is doing something right. Nordberg is proud of the fact that it was his grandfather and father who started Nordberg Electric back in 1946. “We must have done something right,” he observed.
His favorite thing about the job is making service calls. “I enjoy problem solving,” remarked Nordberg. “The customer has a problem, you can fix it and everybody is happy.”
To contact Nordberg Electric, call 763-689-1322 or stop by 127 S. Buchanan St. (behind Casey’s) in Cambridge.
What's the best pizza at Pizza Man?
Staff share their favorite pizzas
Get a pizza that will make your mouth water as soon as the delivery man drops it off. The pizzas at Pizza Man in Isanti are made-to-order with the freshest ingredients. Choose from seven specialty pizzas, or customize your own by mixing and matching up to 23 toppings.
Ordering for the first time and not sure what to get? The staff at Pizza Man -- those “in the know” -- recommend the following:
• Owner Kevin Kriz – I like them all, but my favorite is the deluxe. (Toppings include: sausage, pepperoni, onions, mushrooms, green peppers, Canadian bacon, black and green olives, and extra cheese.)
• Tiffany Erickson – Pepperoni and breakfast bacon with cheddar cheese. If you don’t have as many toppings on it, I think it has more flavor.
• Tami Thomsen – The special. It has fresh green peppers, onions, mushrooms, sausage and pepperoni. The sausage here at Pizza Man is fantastically great. I could eat that pizza every day and never get tired of it.
• Brandon Kriz - Pepperoni because it’s simple.
• Logan Thomsen – I like it when you make your own pizza. (Available toppings include: fresh Italian sausage, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, fresh ground beef, breakfast bacon, chicken, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, black olives, green olives, pineapple, tomatoes, mild banana peppers, jalapenos, shrimp, anchovies, sauerkraut, fresh garlic and cheddar cheese.)
• Ashley Kriz – The pepperoni. The taco pizza is pretty good, as well. Try new ones. They’re all good pizzas.
Save money by ordering a special. The Monday-Tuesday Special features a 16-inch jumbo, two-topping pizza for $12.49 plus tax. The carry-out specials include a one-topping 12” for $7.99; 14” for $9.99; and 16” for $11.99. Don't forget to order oven-roasted wings, Italian cheese bread and ice cold pop.
Pizza Man is located at 404 Whiskey Road N. and is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Browse www.pizzamanpizza.net. Call 763-444-3434 to place your order.
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