COUNTRY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2019
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
VOL. 35 NO. 37 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
SCANDIA: Doing the math on fiber optic internet. PAGE 7
Folk School announces new winter locations Marine Mills Folk School opened this past fall to great success. This winter, the Folk School announced they will be partnering with Gammelgården Museum in Scandia and HWY North in Marine on St. Croix as locations for classes through April 2019. The Folk School will return to its original location at River Grove Community School at Wilder Forest for spring and summer SEE FOLK SCHOOL, PAGE 2
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The Carolina wren is a “rare-regular” visitor to Minnesota, but may be expanding its range. It has only been seen five times previously during the Christmas Bird Count in the St. Paul Northeast Suburban count area.
Uncommon visitor spotted in Christmas Bird Count BETH HONETSCHLAGER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The Audubon Christmas Bird Count was held on December 29 in Marine on St. Croix and May Township. While the weather was not particularly cold, rain a few days earlier left a treacher-
ous layer of ice on many roads and sidewalks. Nevertheless, 21 birders took to the streets and trails to count birds in the morning, and several birders drove the rural roads in the afternoon. Early in the morning three birders also drove around listening for owls, and heard two great
horned owls. The most interesting bird counted was a Carolina wren, which was hopping around on the ground and eating from a suet feeder in Marine. The bird is considered a “rare-regular”
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HWY North in Marine on St. Croix will be one of two locations for Marine Mills Folk School winter classes.
SEE BIRD COUNT, PAGE 2
Oldest ski race in the Midwest offers Nordic races for all ages The St. Croix Valley Ski Club will host its annual Marine O’Brien Cross-Country Ski Race Sunday, Jan. 27. Skiers are invited to William O’Brien State Park located north of Marine on St. Croix. Proceeds from the race benefit the St. Croix Valley Ski Club youth skiing program. The club raises funds through three adult races of varying distances and children’s races through age 13. Hon-
oring the history of the race, the event also boasts a wooden ski race.
Race Registration Registration participants can register online through Jan. 24, at http:// marineobrien.com/. Day-of registration and packet pickup opens at 9 a.m. and will close 30 minutes prior to race start. The first 100 registrants for the 25 km and 12.5 km races will receive a custom Ski MO race hat.
Races and Start Times The races begin with the 8 km wood ski tour over mostly flat and moderately hilly terrain. Adult races include a 12.5 and 25 km (single and double loop), circling the park on both flat and hilly terrain.
• 11:00 a.m.: Adult Skate (12.5 and 25 km) • 1:45 p.m.: Children's Races: ages 3 and under, 100 m “dash;” ages 4 and 5, 1/2km “sprint;” ages 6-9, 2 km “thriller;” ages 10-13, 6 km “mad dash.”
Results and Awards Race Schedule • 10:10 a.m.: Wood Ski (8 km) • 10:30 a.m.: Adult Classical (12.5 and 25 km)
Race results will be posted on Skinnyski.com and PickleEvents.com. The SEE SKI RACE, PAGE 2
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