COUNTRY
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, 2018
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
VOL. 35 NO. 01 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
"THE ENDURING GIFT": Minnesota photographer publishes book. PAGE 7
Tech for prosperity, a river for the soul BY JIM MORTWEDT CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Up the river, with a smile as wide as the day was sunny, came kayaker Greg Richert of Forest Lake. One week following a full-blown April blizzard, snow banks lined the river banks. The paddler was clearly a happy man. Lakes in Minnesota were still locked up, yes, but the St. Croix was once again rolling downstream and open on a sparkling April day. It’s hard to take a poor photo on such a day, in such a place, and Richert, amiably paddles over to pose. He’s the only paddler so
early in the season. Like most of us, if not all of us, Richert is in thrall of the 169 miles of the protected river, the river the French saw fit to call “Holy Cross.” Last year he did a Namekagon trip, a tributary. But that was rare. Mostly he comes back time and again to the stretch of river between Osceola and William O’Brien State Park. “I put in at Log Cabin Landing” today, he says, “I love this river... I don’t want to see it change... I want to keep it like it is.” How do you keep SEE MORTWEDT, PAGE 2
SUZANNE LINDGREN | COUNTRY MESSENGER
River Grove students celebrate Arbor Day Ella Pearson, a second grader at River Grove, shovels soil to help plant a white pine. Students called the tree "a living reminder of all the great things we've done this year," and talked about how the industry around felling and milling white pine was foundational to Marine's history.
Scandia, Columbia Heights students learn together JIM MORTWEDT | COUNTRY MESSENGER
This year, second and third graders from Scandia Elementary befriended students from Highland Elementary in Columbia Heights through a program funded by Equity Alliance Minnesota. The second grade outings have emphasized music and art from different cultures. They created and performed skits with children from Highland Elementary, toured the Minneapolis Institute of Art, and created group murals. They will also see a play at Stepping Stone Theatre. Third graders from each school corresponded via letter and video. They also went on three field trips together, including trips to Fort Snelling State Park and the Science Museum of Minnesota. The outings offered hands-on learning in alignment with state science and social studies standards. Students also met new friends, learned about other cultures and communities, and gained a more global perspective.
CUTLINE: A three season kayaker, Greg Richert gets out twice or three times a week on the St. Croix. More than the lake he lives near, the passing panorama of the river, always changing, keeps him coming back.
Theatre helps River Grove prepare play River Grove school is partnering with Stillwater’s Zephyr Theatre to bring music and performance to all grades in the school. The partnership is also key to preparations for the sixth grade play, a longtime Marine Elementary tradition that will continue at River Grove. Artists from the theatre are teaching elements of musical literacy such as vocal and choral techniques, musical theater, dance and ensemble performance with an emphasis on pitch, rhythm, creative expression and stage presence. Although such skills serve as the foundation for musical performances, students will likely use them for the rest of their lives. The artists’ approach is focused on student creativity and inspiration. Music is a powerful tool of self-expression and an essential skill for a child’s emotional and intellectual development. Most important, the kids love it! Part of River Grove’s mission includes partnership with community resources and experts, SUBMITTED
Second grade students from Scandia and Columbia Heights paint a mural together.
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SEE PLAY, PAGE 2
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