Senior Connections Senior Connections June 2019 | Page 3

KITTOK from Pg 1 help in whatever way we can to further the par- ish’s mission.” One of those people pulled a prank on Kittok this April Fool’s Day. “Somebody put my home phone number on the answering machine at church and forwarded all the calls to my home,” Kittok said. “ . . . We kept track of all the calls that came in. At noon, I went over there and said, ‘These people are trying to get a hold of you.’ She said, ‘I wondered why the phone was so silent.’” He is a member of the American Legion, the VFW of Wright County in Montrose, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Order of Foresters, and Cath- olic United Financial. In addition to his volunteer service, Kittok also works as a gravedigger and Delano’s dogcatcher. Though he is compensated for digging graves, he also considers it as a type of ministry, as he prays for everyone he buries and those left behind. As dogcatcher, he takes the opportunity to let people know the rules of caring for dogs in Del- ano. Perfect Peas CHRISTIE SCHLUETER Peas can be planted as soon as you can get the garden worked up. They can even take frost. There are lots of varieties of peas. Once you have picked the variety you want to use you are ready to get started. The norm for soil temperature for peas has been between 40 and 45 degrees. They really do well in areas that have full sun and rich, well drained soil. Peas grow best in cool spring weather, If the soil is too wet or cold at planting time, the seeds get fungus and rot or barely grow if they sprout. With warmer soil, germination and growth are faster. But when it gets hot out, they stop producing well. To make germination faster or if your soil does lack some nutrients, dust them with an inoculant. This is available at garden centers or on line. This gives them enough nitrogen to help them grow quickly. Soaking the seeds overnight also helps. To retard fungus in cold soil, coat the seeds with a fungicide. If you have powdered fungicide, sim- ply put it in a paper bag with the peas and shake. Plant the seeds one-inch deep and two-inches apart. You should be able to use seeds for up to three years. Peas also respond well to the addition of phos- phorus (the middle number) so digging in bone meal or rock phosphate will help with pea produc- tion. Peas love to climb, so plant them next to some kind of structure. You can tie a string across the row or plant them in a hole surrounded by twigs or He does not shy away from work or human in- teraction. “I like to stay busy,” Kittok said. “The meet- ing of people, to me, is a wonderful experience. I realized before I was educated on it that I was an extravert and gregarious. It thrills extraverts when there’s a line and there’s another extravert behind you and, before you know it, you’re having a conversation about who knows what. My wife will say, ‘Who was that?’ ‘I don’t know, just a guy I met in line.’” He encourages others to get involved. “Don’t be shy,” he said. “If you feel it’s some- thing you want to do, go ahead and do it. There are always going to be naysayers in your way. Don’t let them be obstacles to your happiness.” He said he was humbled by the recognition, calling it motivation to keep moving forward. “That’s my joke, that I can’t quit now,” Kittok said. “I’ll remain Citizen of the Year for a good long time now. I need to be an example to others. Come to think of it, that’s what I do as a deacon, to be an example. I think every good citizen is bur- dened with that responsibility.” Previous winners A long list of individuals have preceded Kittok as Citizen of the Year: Loretta Diem in 1978, Mary and Bill Wallisch in 1979, Cliff Lundsten in 1980, Dr. Pierre Guilfoile in 1981, Angie VanLith in 1982, Jack Schumacher in 1983, Phil and Helvie Carlberg in 1984, Don Gilmer in 1985, Perry Ditty in 1986, Horace Keplinger in 1987, Gerhard Meiners in 1988, Char and Jim Iten in 1989, Bill Diem in 1990, Win- nie Sinkel in 1991, Mary Robinson in 1992, Don Hamilton in 1993, Maria Logsdon in 1994, Rich Ditty in 1995, Art Zitzloff in 1996, Ann and Jim Lundsten in 1997, Jon Hanson in 1998, Cliff and Sandy Simon in 1999, Scott Shoutz in 2000, Carol Lundeen and Gordy Wetter in 2001, John Tacka- berry in 2002, Gail Sinkel in 2003, Wayne Estby in 2004, Margaret Parsons in 2005, Dave and Gary Zitzloff in 2006, Donna Anderson in 2007, Clar- ence “Deacon” Bruhn in 2008, Ted May in 2009, Steve Gilmer in 2010, Dave Carroll in 2011, Jack Lynch in 2012, Dale Vander Linden in 2013, Deb- bie DeBeer in 2014, Lloyd Griep in 2015, Carol Plocher in 2016, Frank Muckenhirn in 2017, and Terri Mills Harris in 2018. away their fresh, sweet taste. Try to keep them soft bamboo tied with string around the twigs or bam- but fi rm, not mushy. You just have to pour boiling boo so they can climb. water in order to cook them. Movable wire fencing works well and then can Different varieties are available that can be be used for tomatoes when the peas are done. Add compost or fertilizer to make the soil better. But More PEAS on Pg 8 do not cultivate heavily if the soil is damp, it ru- ins the texture. When the fi rst pods appear, try side dressing with compost or fertilizer, or a liquid fertilizer. Peas also like wa- ter, so be sure they have plenty to drink, especially when they start blooming. Add a Short Trips layer of mulch to keep June 24 - 26, Mystery Tour the soil cool and the One Day Tours weeds out. This will July 26 - 29, Medora July 11, Jasper Theater keep the peas com- August 11 - 13, Duluth Tall Ships ing for another two to July 31, Guys and Dolls three weeks. Sept 27 - Oct 9, New England Pick peas frequent- August 6, Stillwater Nov 7-12, Nov 15- 20, and ly. If you want for a meal, pick the same Nov 29 - Dec 4, Branson evening. Pea sugar changes to tasteless starch very quickly. 952.442.4443 To preserve the sweet- ness immediately 16 W Main St. | Waconia, MN 55387 freeze any extras in TravelEasyInc.com | [email protected] freezer bags or the vacuum bags. Do not @traveleasyinc overcook peas; it takes Senior Connections HJ.COM Senior Connections June 2019 3