COUNTRY
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 VOL. 35 NO. 22 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
GATEWAY TRAIL: Plans to extend. PAGE 7
Traditional-crafts ‘folk school’ opens soon The Marine Mills Folk School, a new nonprofit experiential learning center, will begin offering traditional arts and crafts classes on October 6 at Wilder Forest near Marine on St. Croix. The initial list of classes includes wooden boat building, hand-sewing leather goods, weaving, dying with materials found in nature, small-batch preserves, artistic mending, and making soap and lotion. While most of the classes will be designed for adults, the center will also feature ‘intergenerational’ classes where adults and children can learn together in a supportive, adventurous environment. “The folk school movement has been gaining strength over the past few years,” noted Robin Brooksbank, chair of the group focused on opening the new social venture. “[…] People love taking arts and craft classes at the folk school in Grand Marais, North House, but we’ve heard that often those interested aren’t able to devote a weekend, or SEE FOLK SCHOOL, PAGE 2
The Washington County Board of Commissioners set the county’s proposed property tax levy for 2019 Sept. 18, and approved proposed budgets for the county, the Regional Railroad Authority, and the Community Development Agency. The board has been reviewing the proposed budget since it was first introduced by county staff Aug. 14. The board also reviewed detailed
budget recommendations from each of the county’s departments. The preliminary levy may be reduced before the board sets a final levy in December, but it may not be raised. The county’s proposed property tax net levy for 2019 is $108.1 million, an increase of 5.47 percent over 2018. The county’s voter-approved Land and Water SEE COUNTY, PAGE 2
‘Risking Light’ illuminates path from grief to forgiveness DAN HORAN | MERCHANT LEATHER
The folk school’s entry-level leather crafting class is taught by Dan Horan of Merchant Leather. Other classes include wooden boat building, weaving, dying with materials found in nature, small-batch preserves, artistic mending, and making soap and lotion.
COURTESY WASHINGTON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Today, the Erickson Log House looks much like it did 150 years ago. It is testimony to its sturdy construction that at nearly 100 years old the structure was moved successfully to the site of the Hay Lake School Museum.
NEWS 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com
ADVERTISING 651-433-3845 sales@osceolasun.com
Kicks off doc series
generations’ use as a home, granary, garage and, finally, playhouse, before it was donated to the Washington County Historical Society and moved to the site of the Hay Lake School museum in 1974. It is testimony to its sturdy construction that the 100-year-old structure made the short journey without disintegrating. WCHS took care to
From the streets of Minneapolis, the aboriginal lands of Australia, and the killing fields of Cambodia come the stories of three people who had the courage to step out of the darkness COURTESY FILMMAKER of the past and into the light of their own Oshea, a primary figure in the documentary “Risking compassion. Light,” smiles. The film will “Risking Light,” screen October 4, 7 p.m. at a documentary by the Marine Village Hall. Minnesota filmmaker Dawn Mikkelson, explores resilience and the painful process of moving from grief to compassion and forgiveness. Through the unforgettable stories of Mary Johnson, who grieves a murdered son; Debra Hocking, a victim of government-sanctioned genocide; and Kilong Ung, who survived the terror of the Khmer Rouge, the documentary challenges its audience to examine their own beliefs about forgiveness
SEE LOG HOUSE, PAGE 2
SEE FILM, PAGE 2
Erickson Log House celebrates 150 years When they built their new home in America in 1868, the Erickson family would hardly have imagined that their log home would still be standing in 2018, let alone being used as a museum. Johannes Erickson built his spacious, two-story house to last, squaring off massive logs and putting them together with wooden pegs in the Swedish style. The structure survived several
County Board sets preliminary levy, adopts budget
PUBLIC NOTICES 651-433-3845 editor@countrymessenger.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS 651-433-3845 office@osceolasun.com
BREAKING NEWS, UPDATES Whenever, wherever you are! Scan me with your smartphone