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The Club PUBlication  07/25/2022

7/25/2022

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Maplewood attraction lets you meet animals you've never seen up close (and maybe never even heard of)
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At Sustainable Safari at Maplewood Mall, visitors see, hold and feed animals — and, its founders hope, come away wanting to protect their cousins in the wild.  

By Katy Read Star Tribune  * JULY 22, 2022 — 2:30PM

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Evelyn Jeanetta, 8, and her mother Natalie meet Rudy, a baby kangaroo at Sustainable Safari in the Maplewood Mall.
Sustainable Safari is the place to go if you want to smell an anteater. Or stroke the downy fur on a baby kangaroo's head. Or be swarmed by parakeets. Or wrap a boa constrictor around your neck and feel the serpent ever-so-slightly tighten its hug, as 16-year-old Wyatt Love of Farmington did on a recent visit.

"You can feel the muscles just, like, moving — it's a strange feeling," he said cheerfully as the snake twisted around his throat.

At Sustainable Safari, in Maplewood Mall, you can interact with more than 25 species of exotic animals, including a few you might never have heard of, and probably have never seen close up. At the Safari, you can peer at them from inches away, touch them, feed them and hold them in your arms. (For some holding experiences, there's an extra charge above the $14.50 admission.)
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Wyatt Love, 16, of Farmington got a slightly tight squeeze from a boa constrictor at Sustainable Safari in Maplewood.

There are kangaroos — on a recent day, two baby feet poked out from the pouch of a lounging kangaroo mom. Porcupines fanned out their decorative black-and-white-striped quills to reveal what's underneath — the more menacing black quills that can pierce flesh. Visitors carried wooden sticks coated with seeds into the aviary and suddenly found themselves extremely popular with dozens of brilliantly hued parakeets.

There were goats, foxes, deer, alligators, prairie dogs, marmosets and cute (yes, cute!) little armadillos. There were less familiar species such as coatimundi, greater grison, kinkajou, binturong and capybara — the world's largest rodent.

A slender anteater, let out of its cage for a bit, strode purposefully across the floor, apparently determined to inspect a chair.

"We let them run around a lot," said Melissa Gallup, the Safari employee in charge of supervising the animals' health. "I love anteaters. I love how they smell, too." (The latter is something of a minority opinion).
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All the animals have names, many involving groan-worthy puns: the boa constrictor is Rocky Balboa, a porcupine is Don Prickles, a kangaroo is Marilyn Monroo.

The experience is meant to be fun, of course, but it also has a serious purpose. The hope is that after bonding with the Safari's animals, visitors will go away wanting to help protect their counterparts in the wild.
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A capybara is the world’s largest rodent, native to South America.

Non-boring pets
Bob Pilz, the Safari's founder and owner, was never one for common pets like dogs or cats or goldfish.  "That's to normal — a dog is boring," said Pilz, although he now has three and has come around to finding them "adorable."

As a kid growing up in White Bear Lake, he'd sneak quail and geese into the house, telling his mother they were for a school project. He grew up and became a firefighter, living in the White Bear Lake station where he kept a potbelly pig hidden in the basement. When his bosses found out about the porcine resident, they gave Pilz a choice between his job and the pig. He quit the fire department.

In 1998, Pilz and his wife moved to a 10-acre hobby farm in Scandia, and soon filled it with farm animals — chickens, ducks, a donkey. His wife, Mishelle, came home one day to find Pilz had acquired goats. She was fine with it.

"He's got a really great wife," said Safari President and CEO Dave Harvey with a grin.
Pilz's animal collection turned more exotic in the early 2000s, when someone brought camels to town around the holidays to appear in an event. While in Minnesota, the camels had a baby. Pilz offered the camel a home.

He gradually began collecting wild animals, trying to avoid anything native to Minnesota. For a while, he showed them at county fairs and city festivals. But the business was seasonal and inclement weather a frequent annoyance. Pilz decided to try setting up an exhibit in a warm, dry, year-round mall. In December 2019, Maplewood Mall, struggling like many malls these days, welcomed Sustainable Safari.
Pilz has some rules: He's never had anything dangerous, like lions or tigers or bears. He acquires all his animals as infants from facilities licensed by the USDA. They grow up comfortable with being around people.

None were caught in the wild — a dangerous practice even if the animal is a baby, Pilz said. A little racoon brought in from outdoors might be cute for a while, but when it matures it will become, well, a wild animal, liable to attack its owners and wreck their home.
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"Three years max," Pilz said. "Then it will turn on you."

But it isn't quite wild enough — an animal that's been kept in a home, relying on humans for food, can't be returned to its natural habitat. "Chances are it will not survive," he said. Such animals should be taken to nature facilities that can train them to be put back in the wild, Pilz said.
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Melissa Gallup carried an anteater named Antonio on her shoulder.
Most of the animals in Sustainable Safari rotate in and out, alternating time at the attraction with time at Pilz's farm (a few seem to prefer the mall). They eat well and their health is closely monitored. Thanks to protection from disease and predators, Pilz's animals are likely to outlive their wild counterparts. Their cages are cleaned daily.

But that can be a problematic word — cages. Some animal lovers believe no animal should ever be kept in a cage.

"We'll get a bad review every once in a while," Pilz said. "That person came specifically here to bash us."

His counterargument is that when people can connect with animals in person rather than knowing them only from pictures taken on another part of the planet, they become more conscious of the importance of protecting the animals' wild counterparts.

"Most of the guys we have here are ambassadors for their species," Harvey said.
"I'm not someone exploiting animals for money," Pilz said. "Plenty of research shows that zoos make a big difference in the health of the planet."

Best job ever
Gallup went to work at Sustainable Safari for her own health — her mental health, which was under strain after 18 years as an emergency medical technician at North Memorial Health Hospital. She once loved her job, but as violent crime and drug abuse escalated, treating victims of gunshots and stabbings and overdoses on a daily basis was taking a toll.

"There was a lot of anxiety about going to work," Gallup said. "It kept getting worse and worse. It was just hard to go in and know all these young kids are going to come in and there's nothing you can do about it."

Then she heard about Sustainable Safari.
"I was looking for something to give me some balance," she said. "I begged Dave to hire me."

At first, Gallup thought she would take a temporary break from her EMT job, she said. She spent time scooping up poop and playing with the animals. In the summer of 2020, she began working at the Safari full-time, using her medical background in the role of animal health manager. Her job involves ensuring animal well-being, scheduling veterinarian appointments and keeping track of animal health records.
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She had tried other treatments for stress, but nothing helped her relax like Sustainable Safari. She still gets to care for others, but in a happier environment.
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"Animals are just nicer than people — they really are," she said. "This is the best job I've ever had, hands down."


​Katy Read writes for the Star Tribune's Inspired section. She previously covered Carver County and western Hennepin County as well as aging, workplace issues and other topics since she began at the paper in 2011. Prior to that, she was a reporter at the Times-Picayune in New Orleans, La., and the Duluth News-Tribune and spent 15 years as a freelance writer for national and regional magazines.


[email protected] 612-673-4583
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The Club PUBlication  07/18/2022

7/18/2022

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​Don’t let negative thinking take over

OUTSWIMMING THE SHARKS - 
HARVEY MACKAY

One Sunday afternoon, a cranky grandfather was visiting his family. As he lay down to take a nap, his mischievous grandson decided to have a little fun by putting Limburger cheese on Grandpa’s mustache.
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Soon, Grandpa awoke with a snort and charged out of the bedroom saying: “This room stinks.” Through the house he went, finding every room smelling the same. Desperately he made his way outside only to exclaim, “The whole world stinks!”

​So it is when we fill our minds with negativity. Everything we experience and everyone we encounter will carry the scent we hold in our mind. Maya Angelou, one of my favorite poets and authors, said: “I am convinced that the negative has power, and if you allow it to perch in your house, in your mind, in your life, it can take you over.”

We all have negative thoughts from time to time.  But studies show constant negativity can lead to depression, anxiety, personality disorders and even mental illness.  That’s why I don’t recommend hanging around with negative people. A negative person sees the difficulty in every opportunity, while a positive person sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

According to the website Power of Positivity, there are three leading causes of negative thoughts:

Fear of the future.
​People often fear the unknown, which can lead to predicting failure and disaster. Accept that there is a limit to what you can change in the future and strive to focus on the present instead.

Anxiety about the present.  
Negative thinkers often come up with the worst-case scenarios Organization and routine can help with banishing negative thoughts.

Shame about the past.
Everyone does and says things they feel embarrassed about, but negative thinkers tend to dwell on past mistakes and failures more than others.

Author Emma-Marie Smith suggests asking yourself these five questions when you feel negative thoughts creeping in:

• Is the thought true?
• Is the thought giving you power, or is it taking your power away?
• Can you put a positive spin on this thought or learn from it?
• What would your life look like if you didn’t have these negative beliefs?
• Is the thought glossing over an issue that needs addressing? Thomas Edison used to say his deafness was his greatest blessing — a blessing because it saved him from having to listen to reasons why things couldn’t be done.
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I love that thought. In fact, I would suggest that practicing “selective hearing” is a positive step toward filtering the negativity that discourages you from trying new things.

Think about the famous story of David and Goliath. A small boy with only a slingshot and a few stones was facing a fierce giant who could crush him with one hand. David could have looked at his formidable foe and thought, “He’s really big. And mean. And scary. And I am none of those things. I’m outta here.”  But he turned his thoughts toward what he could do.  Looking at the giant towering over him, he said instead, “That guy is so big. There’s no way I can miss him.”
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Mackay’s Moral: Negative thinking will not produce positive results.


Harvey Mackay is a Minneapolis businessman. Contact him at 612-378- 6202 or e-mail [email protected].
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The Club PUBlication  07/11/2021

7/11/2022

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A touch of THC headed to seltzers

Minnesota breweries experimenting with infused beverages.

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Indeed Brewing in Minneapolis is planning to release a nonalcoholic seltzer with 2 milligrams of THC this summer in response to Minnesota’s new law legalizing small doses of the intoxicating cannabis compound in food and drink.
When Minnesota legalized cannabis edibles, it also opened the door to THC-infused beverages — which some breweries are planning to roll out this summer. Indeed Brewing announced this week it's developing a nonalcoholic seltzer with a low dose of hemp-derived THC.

"We see more and more customers drinking less alcohol who are interested in alternative experiences," said Tom Whisenand, CEO of the Minneapolis brewery. "We're excited to have another offering."

Bent Paddle Brewing in Duluth is also bringing back its CBD seltzer this summer, including a new one with small amounts of hemp-sourced THC.

"We're looking into how we can best do that and make sure it's something we can offer customers for a long time to come," said Pepin Young, Bent Paddle's director of taproom and retail operations. "We're still going to paddle responsibly into these waters."

A number of Minnesota breweries are expected to make use of the new law that allows up to 5 milligrams of THC, the main intoxicating compound in cannabis, in food and drinks.

"We have members who are super curious as to the regulations and the ability to do THC seltzers," said Bob Galligan, director of government and industry relations for the Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild. "I know there are some who have started or will start producing them, and right now it's up to each business owner as we wade into these waters."

Indeed is aiming for an Aug. 1 launch of its Two Good seltzer, which will contain 2 mg of THC and 2 mg of CBD. One can might not get regular users high, but it will provide an intoxicating effect for many.

Bent Paddle is a few weeks out from releasing its seltzers, one of which will contain up to 2 mg of THC. Both breweries work with Minnesota-based Superior Molecular to get water-soluble cannabinoids from Minnesota-grown hemp. They previously made nonalcoholic seltzers with CBD only, which are also expected to return this summer.

Whisenand, of Indeed, said he's worked with lawyers, insurance, banks and credit card-processing companies to navigate the law as he works to "turn yellow caution lights green.""We're trying to be an example of a participant in this space who is cautious and prudent," he said. The consumer-education piece is important as well, said Young, of Bent Paddle. "With alcohol, it's really on the consumer," he said. "We want people to be aware that if there is hemp-derived THC present, we don't want to surprise them."

Both breweries are looking into whether they are able to sell THC seltzers at the taproom or only in cans for off-site consumption. Minnesota's cannabis edibles law allows up to 5 mg of THC per serving and up to 50 mg per clearly labeled package in food and drinks sold to those 21 and older. The Minnesota Board of Pharmacy is charged with overseeing the burgeoning industry.

As with edibles, the effects of THC may come on slowly when consumed in a beverage compared when smoked or vaped.
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Local cannabis attorney Susan Burns said she thinks 2 mg is the right amount for beverages. "If you put 5 mg in there, many people could only have one," she said. "These are responsible business owners who want to meet customer demand and do it in a safe and legal way."

In states that have legalized recreational marijuana over the past decade, infused beverages are just starting to take off. Beverages accounted for 5% of cannabis sales in legal states but grew 64% between 2020 and 2021, according to a recent report from analytics firm BDSA.

Michigan-based Happi says its 2.5 mg THC seltzers have "just enough THC to leave you feeling buzzed (think one glass of wine)."

Michigan's recreational THC market is more heavily regulated than Minnesota's, however, and Galligan said breweries should proceed with caution. "Right now I'm telling our membership we're interested in this as a space, but tread lightly," he said. "We want to do what's best for safety and legality, and every day it becomes a little more clear."


Brooks Johnson is a business reporter covering Minnesota’s food industry, 3M and manufacturing trends.


[email protected] 612-673-7633 readbrooks
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The Club PUBliation  07/04/2022

7/4/2022

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​YOUR ASSETS IN A BEAR MARKET
401(K) ADVISER
By MICHAEL FRANCIS

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While stock values are down, it's a moment to evaluate holdings and rebalance your portfolio.
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The first half of 2022 has been miserable for just about everyone's retirement investments. Not only have U.S. stocks dropped into bear market territory, but the bond market has experienced its worst start to a year since they started keeping modern records in the mid-1970s.

My advice: Think long-term and use this market decline to your advantage. First, let's do a reality check. We're experiencing our fourth bear market since 2000, with the S&P 500 Index down just over 20% from its peak in early January.

The previous 11 bear markets since World War II saw the S&P 500 Index fall on average 33%, with the worst, a decline of 58%, coming during the Great Recession of 2008-2009. The average recovery period, defined as the period of time from the market low to a new high, for the last 11 bear markets was 27 months.

Because stock and bond market prices are constantly discounting expected future events, they started moving down in January anticipating that growing inflationary pressures would force the Federal Reserve to raise rates and economic growth would slow. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in late February exacerbated these pressures.

With three rate hikes now in the books for 2022 and more expected, higher short-term interest rates are priced into the current market. Predicting when the next bull market will begin is tricky because it requires you to correctly anticipate how high rates will go, when inflation pressures abate, and the impact inflation will have on future corporate earnings.

As for investment strategy, the first question you need to answer is about your time frame for needing the money you have invested. If you need any of it in the next 12 months, I recommend selling that amount immediately.

If your time frame is longer, there's a good chance you will be better off hanging on. If you are investing via a 401(k) or 403(b) plan, your regular bimonthly contributions are "dollar-costaveraging" your cost basis lower which will help boost returns once the rebound occurs.
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If you have read this column before, you know I'm a big proponent of building and maintaining a diversified portfolio for the long term. If you came into the year with a portfolio diversified between stocks, bonds, and hard assets, you are definitely feeling pain, but not as much as most. Now, rebalancing your portfolio is the smart play. That means selling some of the assets in your portfolio that have done well, or less bad, and buying more of the assets that have been hardest hit. If the stock market falls another 10%, look at this as an opportunity to rebalance again.
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In addition, this sell-off presents an opportunity to implement a Roth conversion. Whether you hold your retirement assets in your employer's qualified plan or in your own IRA, consider paying some ordinary income taxes now in exchange for a lifetime of tax-free appreciation from these discounted values. Depending on your time frame for withdrawing this money, this move can save you thousands, if not millions, in future taxes.

A market sell-off presents a window of opportunity for such a maneuver. This assumes, of course, you are able to invest these Roth assets in a manner that allows for significant capital appreciation over time. It also assumes you have other assets you can liquidate to cover the tax bill that will come due next April to the pay the ordinary income tax you will owe on the amount you converted into Roth. Don't worry wondering what your tax bracket might be a decade or three from now; what matters is the avoidance of all taxation on the gains that will compound in this account from this point on.

For many, converting taxable retirement accounts to Roth is best done with partial conversions over a number of years. This allows you to minimize the tax bill in any one year and avoid pushing yourself into a higher tax bracket. Generally speaking, if you have more than five years before needing the money, a Roth conversion makes sense to consider.

Between making sure you are protecting your near-term spending needs, rebalancing your long-term investments, and converting taxable retirement savings into Roth, now is not the time to sit idly by fretting about how much lower the stock market might go.
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Michael J. Francis is president of Francis Investment Counsel, a registered investment adviser with offices in Minneapolis and Brookfield, Wis. He can be reached at michael.francis@ francisinvco.com.
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