FOUR PLYMOUTH AUTHORS HAVE WRITTEN CHILDREN’S BOOKS MEANT TO ENCOURAGE, EXPAND AND PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING
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What better way to cap off summer than with a state-wide celebration? When you’re at the Minnesota State Fair this August, be sure to keep an eye out for neighbors receiving accolades in a wide variety of competitions.
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Four
One of my favorite ways to learn is through travel. Leading up to my trip to Berlin this past summer, my reading list included the novella collection The Berlin Stories by Christopher Isherwood and the psychological thriller The Innocent by Ian McEwan. My watch list included the musical Cabaret and the bittersweet comedy Good Bye, Lenin! Researching Airbnbs led me down a rabbit hole about the history of Berlin boroughs, including Kreuzberg and Friedrichshain. The website atlasobscura.com identified some lesser-known museums and oddities to explore.
Traveling to new places presents the opportunity to learn more, regardless of age. When preparing this education, family and senior living issue, I especially resonated with a question posed by Plymouth recreation supervisor Meghan Constantini: “How do we feel young?” She says, “By doing new things each day, breaking the routine and seeing new places.” Constantini details how Plymouth’s Community Tripsters program allows adults 55 and older the chance to check off bucket-list destinations (page 10).
For the young explorer, sibling authors Anusha and Arnav Chakraborty draw on their own experiences, visiting over 30 countries to write their first book, It’s Time to Travel the World, which presents 12 global cultures and destinations to early readers. “We love to explore the food, languages, landmarks and culture of new countries,” Anusha says. Learn more about the Chakraborty siblings alongside two other Plymouth authors on (page 14).
Travel encourages us to be lifelong learners. Whether you’re visiting a familiar locale or broadening your travel horizons, I’d encourage you to dive headfirst into the history for a richer and more nuanced experience.
Until next time,
Madeline Kopiecki madeline@localmedia.co
On the Cover: Sarah Schuh, page 14
Photo by: Chris Emeott
VOL. 21 NO. 1 plymouthmag.com
PUBLISHER
Susan Isay
EDITOR
Madeline Kopiecki
MANAGING CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Renée Stewart-Hester
MANAGING EDITOR
Hailey Almsted
DIGITAL EDITOR
Madeline Kopiecki
COPY EDITORS
Kellie Doherty and Sherri Hildebrandt
STAFF WRITERS
Mollee Francisco, Emily Gedde, Meredith Heneghan, Jennifer Pitterle and Paige Udermann
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ryan Barland, Douglas Broman, Emily Maxson, Ashley Meyers, Amy Sundet and Grant Whittaker
DIGITAL INTERN
Taylor Hamilton
EDITORIAL INTERNS
Ellie Heyerdahl and Emma Souza
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
Kelley Giancola, Interfaith Outreach ; Meghan Milovich, blogger and fundraiser for Children’s Hospitals ; Zach Nelson, Wayzata School District ; Mark Poppendeck, Beez ‘N Treez Foundation ; Brian Rosemeyer, City of Plymouth ; and LuAnn Svendsen, Plymouth Reads chair and community volunteer
SENIOR MANAGING ART DIRECTOR
Sarah Dovolos
ART DIRECTOR
Allison Nolden
ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR
Jamie Klang
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Yaz Lo
LEAD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Chris Emeott
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR
Brittni Dye
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Lisa Stone
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Mimi Coz
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Laura Bjorgo, Cynthia Hamre and Sara Johnson
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Rochita Chatterjee and Gina Neumann
PRESIDENT
Pete Burgeson
To subscribe to Plymouth Magazine , please visit localmedia.co. For customer service inquiries, please contact hello@localmedia.co, or call 612.208.6248. ©Local LLC 2025. All rights reserved.
Getting out the door in the morning for work, school or otherwise can present some challenges, and it’s important to fuel up for the day ahead. Lunds & Byerlys’ Katie Tomsche has some suggestions. “Smoothies are not only a wonderful, healthy way to start your day but also a great mid-afternoon snack,” she says. “Filled with fruits and veggies, they’re a perfect way to beat the munchies without spoiling a meal.”
Three smoothies, one method: Combine the ingredients in a blender or in an immersion blender cup, and purée until smooth.
Katie Tomsche is the content manager for Lunds & Byerlys. Sip more at lundsandbyerlys.com.
Berry Banana Smoothie
» 1 ½ cups milk, dairy or nondairy
» 1 cup frozen blueberries
» ½ cup frozen strawberries
» ½ frozen banana
» pinch of cinnamon
Daybreak Smoothie
» 1 cup milk, dairy or nondairy
» 1 orange, seeded
» 1 frozen banana
» 1 tsp. pure maple syrup
» ½ tsp. turmeric
» handful of ice
Green Smoothie
» 1 cup milk, dairy or nondairy
» 2 cups kale or spinach
» 1 cup frozen mango
» 1 cup frozen mixed berries
» ½ frozen avocado
As kids gear up for another school year, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt offers caregivers, coaches and educators practical insights on helping children build healthy connections in the physical world.
The book prompts thoughtful reflection on important questions: Are we overprotecting kids in the physical world while underprotecting them in the virtual one? How much freedom and unstructured play do children have today compared to when we were growing up? These cultural shifts raise important questions about the impact they’re having on kids today. This book is perfect for sparking meaningful conversations and deeper understanding.
Amy Sundet is a Plymouth book reviewer, helping overbooked readers find their next favorite book. Find her on Instagram @overbookedmoms.
Bonfe is here for you 24/7, every day of the year. No answering machines. No "we'll call you back Monday" when it's an emergency that needs help now. Just real people, ready to help when your home needs it most.
August is National Hair Loss Awareness Month, which makes it the perfect time to debunk some common myths and misconceptions surrounding the topic. We spoke with hair loss specialist Tabitha Fredrichs, a trichologist at Christopher J Salon in Plymouth, to learn more.
—Madeline Kopiecki
Myth: Only men experience hair loss. Tabitha Fredrichs (TF): Female pattern baldness is a bit more complicated, but you genetically have a sensitivity to what’s called DHT, which is dihydrotestosterone. Both men and women have this.
Myth: Hair loss is genetically carried through the mother’s side of the family.
TF: You can get it from both sides, and it can skip generations as well. Sometimes, my clients come in, and they’ll be like, “My mom and my dad, they both have a great head of hair.” But it can come from grandparents too.
Myth: Hair shedding is the same as hair loss.
TF: Genetic hair loss is the miniaturization of hairs. So they’re actually not losing hair; the hairs are just getting smaller.
Myth: Wearing hats regularly can cause hair loss.
TF: Hats can actually protect the hair, in a way, from the elements. A lot of hair loss is from traction. It’s called traction alopecia, and that is mostly casued by hair styles like tight ponytails and sometimes extensions.
In 1892, town clerk Jonas H. Howe wrote that Plymouth’s “... inhabitants are nearly all farmers and fully convinced that the best stock is the schoolhouse.” This note clearly illustrates the community’s early emphasis on education.
The first schools in Plymouth were one-room buildings named by numbers assigned by the county. The first school, District 95 (located where the Beacon Heights neighborhood is today on Highway 55), was built in 1858. Ten additional schools opened around Plymouth by the turn of the century.
Consolidation of one-room schools and their replacement with modern buildings began in the 1920s as attendance increased around town. The last one-room school, District 47 (Deziel School, located at the corner of Holly Lane and Rockford Road), was burned down as part of fire department training in 1973.
The Plymouth History Center has yearbooks as well as student, teacher and PTA records about many schools. Contact staff for more information.
Ryan Barland is the historic site coordinator for the City of Plymouth. Discover more at history.plymouthmn.gov.
Plymouth’s Community Tripsters program offers day trips and extended adventures for adults 55 and older.
By Jennifer Pitterle
One City of Plymouth recreation supervisor, Meghan Constantini, is setting out to change the perception that adventures are only the purview of the very young. “How do we feel young?” Constantini wonders. She says, “By doing new things each day, breaking the routine and seeing new places. Traveling helps people feel whole and like themselves.”
Constantini is the city’s recreation supervisor for adults 55 and older, and she helps organize the popular Community Tripsters program, which
offers local and regional day trips plus extended adventures abroad. (Although the trips are primarily geared to that 55-and-older crowd, anyone 18 and up can register, making it easy for adult children and other caregivers to tag along.)
Community Tripsters—which also includes the recreation departments of Brooklyn Center, Crystal and New Hope—has offered day trips to locations like art museums, apple orchards and other outings locally or within an hour or two of the Twin Cities. The cost
per traveler is kept around $100 and includes admission or tickets as needed, coach bus fare and a meal. “People love having everything taken care of from the moment they park their car at the community center,” Constantini says. Volunteer escorts go along on all day trips to help with logistics and serve as guides.
The program’s extended trips, which began in 2023, have also been very popular. “We work through a tour operator who does all the planning,” Constantini says. “For a lot of travelers, this allows
• September: Tour St. Paul’s historic Summit Avenue and peep some fall colors.
• October: Take a train ride to Osceola, Wisconsin, and visit an apple orchard after lunch.
• November: Enjoy a morning “coffee concert” at Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall.
• December: Tour local holiday lights, and enjoy dinner.
• November 17–21: Christmas in New York City.
• January 7–26: with fellow adventurers.
• April 24–May 2: Pacific Coast.
them to check off a bucket-list destina tion. We work to keep the trips reason ably priced so that, when people retire, they can still find adventure.” Recent trips have included a voyage to Belgium and the Netherlands to see spring tulips in bloom; an Alaskan cruise to view glaciers; and a trip to Washington, D.C., to cel ebrate America’s birthday. Pricing varies and typically includes accommodations, airfare, cruise fees and most meals.
Constantini says registration informa tion also includes a mobility estimate. “We let people know whether wheelchairs and walkers are welcome, or whether we’ll be walking several miles a day, for example,” she says.
Check out the sidebar for a glimpse of upcoming trips and register soon— Constantini says they tend to fill up quickly. “It’s a great way to get to know yourself all over again on these adven tures,” she says.
Find more details in the current Parks and Recreation Guide, available at plymouthmn.gov. Register online or call 763.509.5200.
City of Plymouth, 3400 Plymouth Blvd.; 763.509.5000; plymouthmn.gov
City of Plymouth, MN - Local Government @ plymouthmn_gov
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A local family has an intergenerational commitment to kidfriendly engineering.
By Meredith Heneghan
For the Martell family, Legos are serious business. “We had to build the field ourselves so that we have a replica we can practice with,” says dad Brian Martell. He’s talking about First Lego League, a robotics program in which kid engineers design and build robots to complete missions and address real-world scenarios. Daughter Allie and her five middle school teammates practice twice weekly at the Martell dining room table.
“I actually was in Lego League when I was a kid, and I loved it,” says Katie Martell, Allie’s mom. “My dad was my coach, and we were the first all-girls team. We were state champions in Minnesota for the 2001–02 school year and made it to nationals,” she says.
Katie’s dad, Joel Stone, still helps with the team, and so does Allie’s uncle, Andy Stone, who sometimes stays after practice to build silly robots just for fun. “Also, my dog Kiki is the team mascot,” Allie says.
Top: Back row, left to right: Coaches Katie Martell, Joel Stone, Brian Martell and Andy Stone. Front row, left to right: Team members Andrew Hoult, Matthew Berrones, Lilly Gagliardi, Rohey Jobe, Allie Martell and Emilie Glaeser.
Bottom: Brian and Allie Martell work on the First Lego League competition board together.
The Martells are enthusiastic about keeping First Lego League in the family. Brian started the original team at Meadow Ridge Elementary when Allie was in fifth grade, and everyone enjoyed it enough to continue the community team when the group started attending Central Middle School too.
Each competition includes a game element during which robots complete missions against other robots on a field. There’s also an innovation element related to real-world circumstances. Katie remembers her winning team’s theme was Arctic Impact. The 2024–25 school year’s theme was Submerged, so Allie and her team considered how they could explore oceanic activity. They built a machine that converted waves into clean energy. Their team name, Jibe, Tack, Cyberhack, stayed on theme, inspired by sailing and coding terminology.
An additional element of the process is to present the project to judges. “The kids presented it to their classmates in science class, and one of the kids’ parents had a connection with Polaris, so they went and presented it to the engineers there, which was really cool,” Brian says.
“I get excited to present because I get to share my work that I did with the team and share what I’ve learned over the whole Lego League year,” Allie says. “Going into competitions, I think it’s really fun, but at the same time a little nerve-racking because you don’t know if your robot [will] malfunction. But we programmed ours to drive straight, so ours did really well. It’s really fun to get to feel like your program worked out,” she says.
Allie’s teammates are Matthew Berrones, Lilly Gagliardi, Emilie Glaeser, Andrew Hoult and Rohey Jobe. Their coaches are Brian and Katie, with assistant coaches Andy and Joel. The group plans to compete again this school year. Having made it to the state championship stage during the 2024–25 school year among 60 other teams, they’re excited to see what’s next. Maybe nationals? “Hopefully, one day we’ll make it there,” Katie says.
Four Plymouth authors have written children’s books meant to encourage, expand and promote understanding.
by Anusha and Arnav Chakraborty
Anusha and Arnav Chakraborty are siblings who, despite being only 15 and 13, have traveled to 39 countries and counting. “We have been traveling the world since we were infants. We love to explore the food, languages, landmarks and culture of new countries,” Anusha says.
Their first book highlights the siblings’ 12 favorite countries. “Each page gives some history, some important information and some fun facts,” Anusha says. “We have the capitals, flags and where it’s located on each page.”
“I think my favorite country is Thailand, because I think their history is amazing, and the food there is very good,” Arnav says. “The people are amazing there. And I love the tropical weather.”
The duo hopes that their book helps other kids get excited about traveling the world and visiting new places. “Since we have traveled so much, we want to share our experiences about where we’ve been and our favorite countries,” Arnav says. “We want other kids to open up to the world.”
Anusha and Arnav make a good team, and they’ve already published their second book, Let’s Travel to South America. “I really enjoy writing, and I was like, ‘Since I love to write and travel, why not create a traveling book!’” Anusha says. “We enjoyed it together. Even though we had some ups and downs in the process, it went really smoothly.”
by Keenan Jones
Keenan Jones grew up down the street from his local library in University Park, Illinois. “I would go to the library to get a drink of water [after] playing basketball,” Jones says. “The librarian wouldn’t let me leave without taking a book.”
Jones has been writing nonstop throughout his life. When he first returned to a barbershop after COVID19, he had an idea. “I sat in the chair, and I was like, ‘This is it. I know what my first book is going to be about,’” Jones says. He participated in the Minnesota Writing Project through the University of Minnesota and was accepted into a fellowship for writers of color at the Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. Ultimately, with significant effort getting his book in front of publishers, Simon and Schuster’s Beach Lane
Books picked up Saturday Morning at the ’Shop. With the book’s vibrant illustrations and friendly characters, Jones encapsulates a Black barbershop. “It’s more than just a haircut; it’s an experience,” Jones says. “There’s laughter; there’s wisdom. It’s a community hub. I also wanted to counter some stereotypes by showing Black men smiling, having a good time, that positive human connection.”
Every page in the book is a new scene, pulling readers into a different aspect of the shop. Jones’s goal is that the book demystifies the barbershop experience for people who aren’t familiar with it and acknowledges its importance for those who call the barbershop home. “There’s an element of its intention that it’s for Black boys, but it’s really for everybody,” Jones says.
Find it: Strive Bookstore and Wild Rumpus Books in Minneapolis; Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul; Barnes & Noble at Edina, Mall of America and Roseville; or online at Amazon and Simon & Schuster
by Sarah Schuh
This high-contrast board book is designed with both babies and moms in mind. By pairing black-and-white images, which are important for babies’ early development, with encouraging messages to new moms, Sarah Schuh captures two distinct audiences.
“I was looking for something that would keep me entertained too,” Schuh says. “Wouldn’t it be cool if I infused some messaging that spoke to a mom specifically in her fourth trimester [12 weeks post delivery], which is typically the most challenging with a baby?”
Schuh, who has three children, experienced a challenging fourth trimester with her second child and was struggling to keep herself mentally healthy while
also caring for her new baby. There was only one type of book her baby would respond to: black-and-white board books that she would lay him down with to steal a few minutes to herself. “We read these same two blackand-white books over and over,” Schuh says. She craved variety but also validation that she was doing a good job.
Strong Mama, Beautiful Baby reads like a poem where every spread includes something for a baby to engage with as well as a message for a mom who may need some encouragement. “I just want postpartum moms to not feel so lonely in those tougher newborn times and that they’re doing an amazing job with their newborn even if it doesn’t feel like it,” Schuh says.
Written by Madeline Kopiecki —
by Chris Emeott
Every August and September, our senior spotlight feature is a chance to introduce our readers to some of the outstanding Plymouth seniors that are making an impact at their schools. We would like to express our gratitude to the school administrators, advisors, principals and teachers who make this feature possible.
“Tavion is an exemplary student-athlete who shows leadership and problem-solving skills while working with his teammates, coaches and classmates on and off the field. In addition to playing varsity football for the Cooper Hawks, Tavion is an outstanding student in all respects. Tavion is an advanced learner who has taken honors, Advanced Placementlevel courses and International Baccalaureate courses all while staying on top of his academic and sports responsibilities. Many of Tavion’s teachers have noted how Tavion does not shy away from inquiry-based learning and actively explores concepts that require critical thinking and curiosity. Tavion has proven that through hard work, follow-through and dedication, one can truly reach their goals and dreams.” —Alessandra Bivona, school counselor
In Tavion’s words: What is an achievement or experience from your high school career that you are most proud of?
During my two years at Cooper High School, I was able to earn nine credits in Advanced Placement, Honors and International
Baccalaureate classes, as well as scoring high on all exams I took in addition to receiving a score of four on the AP U.S. History exam.
What is something that your peers might not know about you?
In my spare time, I like to write and create political models and political maps to help contextualize and visualize political data. I submit my projects to political analysts in order to influence campaign strategies and agendas.
What song should be used as the soundtrack to your high school career? Scott and Ramona by Lil Uzi Vert
What is your favorite childhood book? Trenches, Treaties, Mud, and Blood by Nathan Hale
What is your favorite school lunch?
General Tso’s chicken with rice
Describe your future in three words. Independent, Innovative, Political
“Leni Kuhn is a shining example of what a wellrounded student at Providence Academy looks like. She is active in the arts through band and theater and is a three-sport athlete. Leni is very accomplished in her extracurriculars, earning 13 varsity letters and multiple conference and state-level awards. She is also a student that has severe allergies that certainly make navigating nutrition and day-to-day life more difficult. All this and Leni still finds time to volunteer at places like Bunce Performing Arts, CycleHealth and Extreme Faith Camp as a church usher.”
—Kurt Jaeger, Upper School director
In Leni’s words:
What is an achievement or experience from your high school career that you are most proud of?
I am most proud of being selected for and attending the HOBY Minnesota Leadership Seminar. It expanded my leadership skills and changed my view on what leadership is. I also met wonderful people there, and I will cherish the bonds I made forever. I am extremely proud to be a HOBY scholar.
What is something that your peers might not know about you?
Some hobbies I enjoy that others might not know about include knitting and writing! I hope that someday I have more time to pursue these more creative projects.
What song should be used as the soundtrack to your high school career? Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra
What is your favorite childhood book?
The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne M. Valente
What is your favorite school lunch?
I don’t take school lunch because of my food allergies, but I am blessed to have a mom who makes me delicious lunches! My favorite lunch that she makes is homemade sushi.
Describe your future in three words. Full of smiles!
“Faith is the incarnation of curiosity, inclusiveness and open-mindedness. As a committed member of the Blake girls’ golf varsity team, she has earned multiple accolades. Beyond athletics, she has shown a deep commitment to journalism through her work with Blake’s student newspaper, The Spectrum, where she has served as a staff writer, page editor and creative director. Faith’s favorite articles demonstrate her strong sense of empathy by focusing on social issues that give her glimpses of all the things that life holds and the stories that people have to tell. Additionally, her volunteer work, which includes creating posters for a ministry supporting children with autism, volunteering at the Special Olympics and planning a Lunar New Year event, reflects a heart for service.”—Pachao Yajcherthao, French teacher and student advisor
In Faith’s words:
What is an achievement or experience from your high school career that you are most proud of?
I’m most proud of my ability to stay authentic to myself. In such a competitive environment and with the constant self-reminders of “I should be doing x” or “Why am I not like x?”, I have learned to have a grasp on who I am individually and to have confidence in my capabilities. I think this confidence is reflective in
all aspects of my life: school, friends, family and golf. As I continue through these seasons of life, particularly facing tough challenges and obstacles in school and especially golf, I get better at learning who I am.
What is something that your peers might not know about you?
I feel like when I’m at school or I’m at practice for golf, I can seem very stressed and busy, feeling worried about a test or nervous about a tournament. However, deep down, I actually really enjoy the process, both the ups and the downs. These experiences—studying for finals week and practicing really hard to improve my golfing—are exciting for me because I know I’m working toward who I will be in the future.
What song should be used as the soundtrack to your high school career? I Think I Like When It Rains by WILLIS
What is your favorite childhood book? Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne
What is your favorite school lunch? Pasta bar
Describe your future in three words. Exciting, Unbounded, Growth
Two local bakers are racking up Minnesota State Fair ribbons.
Written by Mollee Francisco — Photos by Chris Emeott
Watch out, Blue Ribbon Baker Marjorie Johnson of Minnesota State Fair fame. Two Plymouth residents are gaining notice for their culinary accolades, and they’re just getting started.
At last year’s State Fair, McKenna Johnson took fourth place out of 198 entries in the highly competitive Chocolate Chip Cookies category, and Marissa Weiss won a blue ribbon in the Cake-type/Single Layer bars category for her lemon bars. We sat down with both makers to learn what inspired their passion for baking and what it takes to catch the judges’ attention at The Great Minnesota Get-Together.
Johnson’s confections are so popular that she started her own business—Kenna’s Cakes—in 2017. She specializes in artful cakes and themed cupcake sets, all completely customized to fit a client’s taste.
Johnson started baking at a young age. “My mom was a home ec teacher turned stay-at-home mom,” she says. “She taught me all the techniques. That’s kind of where I got the bug.”
Johnson baked through college, which is when she began getting requests that snowballed into her cottage business. “It started really organically,” she says.
But even after starting Kenna’s Cakes, Johnson didn’t enter the state fair until 2022. Out of her four entries—chocolate brownies, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate espresso cakes and vanilla layer cake—Johnson placed second for both her cookies and her vanilla layer cake.
The Chocolate Chip Cookies category is among the baking contest’s most popular categories with hundreds of entries annually. Cookies are judged on flavor, appearance and uniqueness.
Johnson says that the key to her sweet success is three components. The first is using really good quality chocolate. “I like a blend of bittersweet chocolate and semi-sweet,” she says. She also uses brown butter in her recipe, and tops her cookies with large, flaky sea salt.
Johnson took 2023 off after having her son, but she returned to the competition in 2024 to collect a fourth-place ribbon for her cookies. Standing out among the legions of talented bakers is “so cool,” Johnson says. “I feel like I’m part of the Minnesota baking community.”
With more than 3,500 baked good entries each year, the Minnesota State
Fair is one of the largest amateur baking contests in the country. The significance of that is not lost on Johnson or Weiss.
“I want to keep this art alive at the fair,” Weiss says. “I want to keep Minnesota on the map.”
Weiss inherited her baking skills from her grandmother, Dolores Weiss. “She was a fabulous baker,” she says. “There was never a weekend we went to visit that we didn’t come home with some baked good. It seemed magical to me.”
Weiss says that though the baking gene bypassed her parents, her sister Amara Peterson embraced a love of baking early on and took Weiss under her wing at 12 or 13 to teach her some of the family’s favorite recipes. Her sister’s tutelage paid off, and Weiss used one such recipe to
The Minnesota State Fair is scheduled for August 21–September 1. Baking contest results are on display in the Creative Activities Building.
Minnesota State Fair, 1265 Snelling Ave. N., St. Paul; mnstatefair.org
impress the judges during her first time entering the state fair’s baking contest. “I entered for the first time in 2019 and won a blue ribbon for my banana bread,” she says. “It was a family recipe. A spiced, dark banana bread loaf.”
Weiss had a sneaking suspicion it might catch the judges’ eyes after walking through the previous year and noticing a glut of “pale breads.”
Weiss entered her banana bread again in 2021 (The state fair was not held in 2020.) and took home second place. “I noticed a lot of darker loaves that year,” she says. In 2022, Weiss left the state fair empty handed. “It was a bad year,” she says. “It was like I was all thumbs.”
But she came roaring back in 2023 with a new entry and a new zest for baking. Weiss entered her lemon bars in the Hennepin County Fair and was recognized with a grand championship ribbon. “It was the best thing in the entire baking competition,” she says.
Weiss was all geared up to enter the bars at the state fair only to be struck with COVID-19 just before the competition began. “I couldn’t, in good conscience, enter anything,” she says.
That made 2024 the first year that state fair judges could get a taste of Weiss’ lemon bars. “I was in the middle of moving, but I was determined to enter,” she says. Her lemon bars were a blue-ribbon hit. “These are not your traditional lemon bars,” Weiss says. “They have the texture of a brownie; a very dense, cakey bar with a glaze on top. They’re bright and refreshing and usually get inhaled wherever I take them.”
Visit plymouthmag.com for Johnson’s Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.
Get involved in Fazendin Park’s native plant garden.
In 2022, the City of Plymouth decided to grow in a different direction. “We had shifted our attitudes and our mindsets to, ‘Let’s try something different in terms of maintenance that’s going to benefit other parts of nature in Plymouth as well,’” says Jason Goehring, turf and horticulture manager. The result was some 10,000 native plants being incorporated into a section of Fazendin Park, creating Plymouth’s native plant garden.
The garden is maintained by the Native Plant Garden Club, which is led by two Hennepin County master gardeners. “We depend on them to help us with plant identification, both the good and the bad,” Goehring says. “The other volunteers definitely lean on them to get them started, to show them what the goal is.”
Those interested in joining the group can reach out to volunteer coordinator Steve Frankhouser, but Goehring says walk-ins are also always welcome. “We would love to have any and all help,” he says. Volunteers are recommended to bring bug spray, gardening tools, gloves, kneeling pad, sunscreen and water bottles.
“It’s a lot of conversation and camaraderie with a little bit of weed pulling all at the same time,” Goehring says. “It’s a group of like-minded individuals who are just out there enjoying their time in the parks maintaining this pollinator garden.” —Madeline Kopiecki
End of the Season
There are three more opportunities to volunteer at Fazendin Park’s native plant garden in 2025:
• 6–8 p.m. August 12
• 9–11 a.m. August 15
• 9–11 a.m. September 12
Interested in joining? Email volunteer coordinator Steve Frankhouser at sfrankhouser@plymouthmn.gov.
All ages. Free. Times vary. Fazendin Park, 17040 24th Ave. N.; 763.509.5230; plymouthmn.gov
Compiled by Ellie Heyerdahl and Emma Souza
08.08
Beaches, Bands and Brews
Attend a live performance of the band Shirts and Skins alongside food and beverage vendors for a night of entertainment. All ages. Free. 5:30–8:30 p.m., East Medicine Lake Park, 1740 E. Medicine Lake Blvd.; 763.509.5000; plymouthmn.gov
08.15
Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show
Cover band Rumors takes to the stage in period-accurate costumes for the ultimate Fleetwood Mac tribute show. All ages. Prices vary. 6–9:30 p.m. Hilde Performance Center, 3500 Plymouth Blvd.; 763.509.5200; plymouthmn.gov
08.21
Kids Fest
Enjoy a summer carnival full of games and activities for kids. There will also be live entertainment and food trucks. All ages. Free. 5–8 p.m., Hilde Performance Center, 3500 Plymouth Blvd.; 763.509.5000; plymouthmn.gov
09.06
The Mega Show, Part Deux
Join Imola Motorsports in celebrating its 16th anniversary with a European car show, alongside food trucks and raffles. All ages. Free. 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Imola Motorsports, 13300 15th Ave. N.; 763.205.2561; allevents.in/plymouth
09.06
5K and 10K Beer Run
Participate in the Minnesota Brewery Running Series by joining Luce Line Brew Co. in its 5K or 10K scenic route around Plymouth. All ages. Prices vary, registration required. 11 a.m. Luce Line Brew Co., 12901 16th Ave. N.; breweryrunningseries.com
09.20
Medina Celebration Day
Visit Medina for its annual Celebration
Day festival and enjoy a live performance by the School of Rock Plymouth House Band. All ages. Free. 5–7:30 p.m. Hamel Legion Park, 3200 Mill Drive, Hamel; 763.308.3074; schoolofrock.com
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AREA EVENTS
08.02
Food Truck Festival
Enjoy local cover bands with over 40 different food trucks, alongside different four wheel vendors, such as clothing and photo trucks. All ages. Free. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Father Hennepin Bluff Park, 420 Main St., Mpls.; mnfoodtruckfestival.com
08.03
Vintage Market
Browse one-of-a-kind pieces from various vendors while sipping on craft beer from Utepils Brewing. Ages 21 and older. Free. 11 a.m.–9 p.m. Utepils Brewing, 225 Thomas Ave. N., Mpls.; 612.249.7800; utepilsbrewing.com
08.05–08.17
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Gather at the Orpheum Theatre
for its production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast: The Musical Ages 6 and older. Prices vary. Times vary. Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612.339.7007; hennepinarts.org
08.08–08.10
Irish Fair of Minnesota
Celebrate Irish heritage, culture and community in this two-day festival full of activities, dance, food and music. All ages. Prices vary. 3–11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.–11 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m. Sunday. Harriet Island, 175 W. Water St., St. Paul; 651.461.4990; irishfair.com
08.09–08.10
Street Art Festival
Admire unique chalk and spray art, food, murals and performances. All ages. Free. 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Downtown Minneapolis, 803 Nicollet Mall, Mpls.; mplstreetartfest.com
To have your event considered: email plymouthmag@localmedia.co by the 10th of the month three months prior to publication. Please note that some events/dates and even some business operations may have changed since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.
“I love to share photos of my kids with family and friends,” Janet GroverManthey says. “We have a lot of family who live outside of Minnesota, so we use the Tinybeans app to keep everyone up-to-date on our activities. I’ve gotten in the habit of pulling out my camera whenever we’re out of the house, doing activities, but we’d been at a lot of parks lately, so I was playing around with different angles to keep things interesting. I also have to be creative because my kids don’t always want to participate in posing for pictures, so I’m getting lots of practice at taking candid photos. This was a fun moment where the angle and the action seemed to tell a story, even though my son didn’t want to say, ‘Cheese!’” —Madeline Kopiecki
To view other Picture Plymouth photo contest winners, visit plymouthmag.com.
Photographer: Janet Grover-Manthey
Title: Park and Play
Equipment: Samsung Galaxy S22
Location: West Medicine Lake Park
Category: Places
Award: Honorable Mention
Reclaim the joy of being active
