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VA Health – Emergency Care. Grab your scissors or take a screenshot, you might want to save this information. The VA may cover emergency medical care at a non-VA facility for Veterans. Before I explain the notification process and eligibility requirements, I need to stress a few points. First and foremost, if you are experiencing a medical emergency and believe your life or health is in danger, then call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room or department immediately. Per the VA website, “a medical emergency is an injury, illness or symptom so severe that a delay in seeking immediate medical treatment would be reasonably expected to be hazardous to life or health. During a medical emergency, VA encourages all Veterans to seek immediate medical attention.” Please go online for additional details about this benefit at www.va.gov/ COMMUNITYCARE/ programs/veterans/ Emergency_Care.asp.

Steve Hagedorn of Two Harbors is a 24-time American Birkebeiner veteran. He was one of 1,000s of skiers on the Birkie Trail last week. Read more about Hagedorn on page B1. Photo courtesy of Harriet Hagedorn

VA Health – Basics. After last week’s article introducing VA health care, I would imagine the enrollment office was overwhelmed with applications from all my Lake County Veterans. Wishful thinking aside, there is no time like the present to complete your VA Form 10-10EZ Application for Health Benefits. Contact your CVSO for assistance.

In college, I had a friend who decided to have some fun with Lent – he gave up forks and spoons, and only used chop sticks. At our college’s version of Prom, I distinctly remember him trying to eat his spinach and raspberry salad with the chopsticks he purposely snuck in.

Hello from Finland, we’ve made it to MARCH! Spring fever is settling in, show of hands who’s excited we’re gaining more daylight? It feels like the possibilities are almost endless, maple sugar season is almost upon us, and then mud season! Wait a minute, we still have that famous fun, heavy, and wet snow coming for us. You know, the kind that leaves us all wanting more winter! Okay, lets agree to just be happy with the growing daylight for now.

Taproom staff at Castle Danger Brewery, just couldn’t resist drawing some attention to a couple who have become “regulars” at the brewery this winter. “I’ve met this couple in their 60s who go in the Lake every Saturday, then stop at the brewery for beer and pizza. I thought it might be an interesting story?” was the call to the paper.