COUNTRY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2016
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
VOL. 33 NO. 23 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
'OBSERVATION & EXPERIMENTATION': Exhibition to open at ArtReach. PAGE 6
Journey to Standing Rock
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Scandia City Administrator Neil Soltis explained the impacts of limited housing options on Scandia’s ability to continue to grow. JENN CRESS
Residents weigh in on city’s future BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
More than 100 Scandia residents turned out to the city’s community center last week for a visioning workshop organized by the Country Messenger and the City of Scandia. Called “Scandia 2040: Mapping the Future,” the event was designed to offer information on current demographic trends, the impacts of zoning choices, and options for the future of Scandia. The Messenger staff is compiling results of the several questions asked. The paper will report on findings from the meeting, and the city will use the resident input to begin the process of updating its comprehensive plan. “This is like mining for gold,” said City Administrator Neil Soltis at the session. For residents who were not able to attend but want to weigh in, editor Suzanne Lindgren will continue to take input via email for the next week at editor@ countrymessenger.com. General comments are welcome. The specific questions asked at the session were: • In a few words, describe your vision of Scandia in the year 2040. • What additional businesses would you support in Scandia? • What are the long-term impacts of continued zoning at four lots per 40 acres? • What would be the impacts of moving to denser housing in some areas (a three to five lot per acre average)? • What types of housing will be needed in the future? Some of the information presented at the session brought up new questions. Current trends indicate low growth and an aging population in Scandia, presumably caused by the expense of limited housing on large lots. Many young families cannot afford to live in the rural city. According to Soltis, the trend is already impacting enrollment at the elementary school and the ability of locals to volunteer with the fire department. At the workshop, residents were asked to decide whether Scandia should encourage more variety in housing by allowing denser development in some parts of the city. Scandia currently falls under the Metropolitan Council’s “Diversified Rural” classification, which SEE WORKSHOP, PAGE 2
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Hundreds of tribal representatives and others have gathered in opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline, which is routed for installation beneath land the tribe holds sacred and the nearby Missouri River, a water source for millions of people. BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
As Jenn Cress and Rosie Peters made their way from Marine on St. Croix to North Dakota, the import of their mission sunk in with each passing mile. With Peters behind the wheel and Cress offering digital updates, the
truck was loaded with supplies for the Standing Rock Sioux and others protesting construction of an oil pipeline near the tribe’s reservation. “The closer we got, the more sense of purpose I felt,” said Peters. “A sense of being and knowing that we were doing exactly what we were supposed to be do-
ing.” “We had no doubt we were in the right place at the right moment,” added Cress. The two women hadn’t known one another for very long. They’d met through a mutual opposition to the Stillwater school district’s SEE STANDING ROCK, PAGE 2
Caramelpalooza set for Oct. 15 Quirky festival celebrates caramel with food, beer, live music The historic village of Marine on St. Croix is preparing for Caramelpalooza, a one-ofa-kind fall festival, set for Oct. 15 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Gazebo Park. Produced by St. Croix Chocolate Co. (SCCC) -- which is based in Marine -- the festival features an abundance of caramel-focused foods, live music and activities for families. The festival is free to attend. “We think of Caramelpalooza as a last blast of community silliness before the weather gets cold,” says Robyn Dochterman, chocolatier and co-owner of SCCC. “We make all kinds of caramels, caramel apples, caramel corn and open up lots of jars of artisan caramel sauce and let ADVERTISING 651-433-3845 sales@osceolasun.com
COURTESY OF ST. COIX CHOCOLAT CO.
Locally made maple caramel leaves from St. Croix Chocolate Co.
people taste them, while the fall leaves swirl all around.” Performing will be “CaramElvis” (an Elvis impersonator), CroixDaddy, a local R& B band, and Jaedyn James & The Hunger, a funky soul band from Minneapolis that features the
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trumpet-playing of Jamie White, who grew up in Marine. At 1 p.m. during the festival, St. Croix Chocolate Company will unveil a new chocolate bar that will benefit the Marine Area Community School. Goldy the Gopher, the mascot from
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the U. of M. (and obviously a big proponent of education), will be on hand at the unveiling and to pose for pictures after the announcement. “We hope to sell 500 bars by Christmas, so SEE FESTIVAL, PAGE 2
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