2012 Forest Lake Times Progress by ECM Publishers

�� 14A �� – �� Page Thursday, �� April �� 12, �� 2012 �–�� Forest�� Lake�� Times

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progress Photos by Jennifer Mevissen

The new Goodwill store in Forest Lake opened to customers in midFebruary, but the public was invited to an official grand opening ceremony on March 24. Colleen Eddy, president of the Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce; Mayor Chris Johnson and store manager Rick Leistico look on while John Bergstrom, board chairman of Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota, cuts the ribbon last month. The retatil store and donation center is located at 197 SW 19th Street. The Forest Lake Goodwill is the first store in the the state to be LEED certified. Below, customers browsed toy shelves and clothing racks to find the best deal in town.

New Goodwill in Forest Lake is first MN store LEED certified “The values you instill everyday are vital for all of us in the Forest Lake community,” said Colleen Eddy, president of the Forest Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, during the ceremony. “We all benefit from your LEED certified store and donation center, the employment base you provide for local residents is very much needed and appreciated,” she added. Wirth-Davis said Goodwill encompasses the

three R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. He noted that achieving LEED certification of the 20,600-square foot building was a threeway partnership between Goodwill-Easter Seals, Oppidan, Inc., the developer; and Fendler Patterson, the contractor. “We have a commitment to be a responsible steward of the environment,” Wirth-Davis said. The Forest Lake Goodwill is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday

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through Friday, 9 a.m. to For more information, 6 p.m. Saturdays and 11 call 651-464-4003 or visit a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. www.goodwilleasterseals. Donations are not taken org. one hour prior to the store closing.

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Jennifer Mevissen Forest Lake location is the Staff Writer 25th retail store and joins At first glance, the new a family of 179 across Goodwill in Forest Lake North America. The new might resemble other sec- donation center at 231 ond-hand shops. But look SW 19th Street opened in around the building and mid-February and is the you’ll see signs mounted first site in the state to be on the walls highlight- LEED certified. Mayor Chris Johnson ing job development and said the city is always skills training. looking to expand Forest “Every time we open a store and sell merchan- Lake and bring in more dise to customers, it cre- businesses and families. “Goodwill is certainly a ates a net that we welcomed addition use to invest in to our community,” program services he said. because we’re all Not only will the about assisting store provide empeople with barriployment opportuers to education, nities and shopping independence options, but Johnand employment to achieve their Wirth-Davis son is optimistic Goodwill will also goals,” said Presidraw outsiders here dent/CEO Michael Wirthwho may not otherwise Davis at a March 24 ribcome. Customers can enbon cutting. Goodwill-Easter Seals joy a convenient drivehas been in Minnesota through donation center for 93 years, he said. The open daily and staffed by an attendant.

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