White Bear Lake - March 2024

from CITY STREETS to a WOODED R E T R E AT A COUPLE CREATES THEIR FOREVER HOME IN NORTH OAKS

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M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 2 4 “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.”

—Margaret Mead, American cultural anthropologist

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DE PART M E N TS

FE ATU RE S

I N EVERY I SSUE

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Shelter and Stability St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center is restoring hope and dignity to locals in need.

Bridge Over Water At H2O for Life, taking on the global water crisis means empowering students to become changemakers.

4 9 29 32

Preserving History Take care when cleaning out your loved one’s home—some artifacts may be vital to your community’s heritage.

16 Parenting for Peace Amanda Carrara helps clients learn new ways to relate to their kids—and to their own childhoods.

22 From City Streets to a Wooded Retreat A couple creates their forever home in North Oaks.

Photo: Chris Emeott

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Editor’s Letter Noteworthy On the Town Last Glance

TASTEM AK E RS

26 All Good Things A family-owned retailer celebrates 50 years with the opening of a new cafe.

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FROM THE EDITOR Zo e Yates — zoe@localm edia.co

Photo: Chris Emeott

In this day and age, there are many who wonder whether something’s been lost. Towns aren’t as safe anymore. Neighbors aren’t as helpful as they used to be. Society is worse off than it was before. I was listening to a podcast recently that discussed these “persistent myths” as a psychological illusion driven by memory bias. That, as the years go by, bad memories look less bad and good memories seem even better—so our past always looks sunnier than our present.

As I listened, I wasn’t surprised by this research and its conclusions—perhaps because my role at White Bear Lake Magazine is all about sharing goodness. In this issue alone you’ll find stories of a teacher who discovered a need to empower, and be empowered, in schools across the world (page 18); a family that built a successful business by investing in its community (page 26); and a nonprofit that recognizes and serves local families in need (page 12).

In this role, I’m ever aware that we are surrounded by good people doing good work. And at a time when some feel disillusioned and heartbroken, sharing this joy is a pursuit that I’ll never grow tired of.

This Homes, Family and Senior Living issue is full of stories of love and hope. Flip to page 22 to read about one couple’s path to finding their forever home. Their tranquil North Oaks abode reflects their life and love in every corner. And on page 16, learn about a Mahtomedi mother whose journey to become a better parent has led her to become a parenting coach. Her insight into how our pasts can affect children is revelatory.

I hope this season brings you peace,

On the Cover Interior Impressions, photo by Jill Hamilton, page 22 See what we’re doing behind the scenes and around town!

White Bear Lake Magazine @whitebearlakemag @whitebearlakemag

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PUBLISHER Susan Isay EDITOR Zoe Yates MANAGING CREATIVE DIRECTOR Renée Stewart-Hester MANAGING EDITOR Hailey Almsted DIGITAL EDITOR Madeline Kopiecki

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COPY EDITORS Kellie Doherty, Sherri Hildebrandt STAFF WRITERS Kelly Cochrane, Mollee Francisco, Emily Gedde, Meredith Heneghan, Daniel Huss, Jennifer Pitterle, Rachel Schuehle, Josie Smith, Kristie Smith CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Karen Alnes, Alexandra Eve, Ellie Fuelling, Katie Tomsche

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EDITORIAL INTERNS Findlay Drabant, Morgan McFadden, Emma Mehl EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Lisa Beecroft, Beecroft Marketing; Kevin P. Donovan, White Bear Rotary; Kelly Neeb, Greater White Bear Lake Community Foundation; Lexi Munson, White Bear Center for the Arts; Russ Reetz, White Bear Lake Area Schools 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 Cynthia Hamre, Mary-Catherine Hartel, Sara Johnson, Abbie Kinn, Kathie Smith

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showcase local people, places and events.

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Meet Jamie Klang

associate art director associate art director Q: What’s the best part of your job?

A: I love that I’m able to be creative and work with creative people. I’m always getting inspired and learning new things from my coworkers.

Q: What are you reading right now?

A: I’m currently reading Never Never Whistle WhistleatatNight: Night: An Indigenous An Indigenous Dark Dark Fiction Fiction Anthology.

Anthology.

It’s It’s a colleca collection of horror and mystery stories written by various Indigenous authors.

Q: What’s currently sparking your interest?

A: Because I spend so much time looking at a computer screen, I’m trying to express my creativity through other mediums like drawing, painting and knitting. I also want to get into pottery.

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lo c al tip s, tidb its & insi ght s

N OT E WO RT H Y

READ

CELEBRATE WOMEN WOMEN’ S H ISTORY M ON T H has arrived!

Observe the strength and sacrifice of women this March by digging into these new releases by female authors.

Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll In this acclaimed thriller, two women come together to pursue justice following one man’s violence. Knoll expertly shifts focus from a real-life celebrity serial killer to the women impacted by his crimes.

One Blood: A Novel by Denene Millner Bestselling author Millner weaves a multigenerational tale that spans from the Great Migration to the civil unrest of the 1960s to the early 2000s, exploring the lives of three women tied by their hope, dreams and family secrets.

March/April 2024

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Radiant Rebellion: Reclaim Aging, Practice Joy, and Raise a Little Hell by Karen Walrond During her own transitional period, Walrond explores what it means to get older—connecting with social workers, neurologists, activists and the clergy to learn more about the cultural conventions and internalized ageism that hold us back from celebrating beauty through the years.

The Women by Kristin Hannah One of the most anticipated releases of 2024, this coming-of-age novel follows one young woman whose sudden reimagining of her life in the turbulent 1960s finds her in the Army Nurses Corps in Vietnam. A compelling story of love, friendship and sacrifice that reminds readers that women can be heroes, too. —Zoe Yates

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N OT E WO RT H Y

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To view the complete recipes, visit whitebearlakemag.com.

Katie Tomsche is the content manager for Lunds & Byerlys.

Taste more at lundsandbyerlys.com.

Workplace Wear

The traditional business attire we once

than full suits for daily wear. Retailers and

knew has given way to a more relaxed and

designers have caught on to this change

comfortable style. The strict suits and for-

as well, making it much easier to find com-

mal business wear that were once manda-

fortable, yet professional-looking pieces to

tory in many offices have become relics of

incorporate into your work wardrobe.

the past with comfort now a primary focus for workwear.

Working from home for extended peri-

Appearance and feeling good is still important, but we have more choices and freedom when it comes to what we buy and

ods has redefined our fashion priorities.

wear to the office. As we continue to adapt

COVID-19 transformed virtually every

After years of Zoom meetings and remote

to this new normal, it’s clear that fashion in

aspect of our lives, including the way we

collaboration, it’s no surprise that people

the workplace is forever changed.

dress for work. As time passes, we are see-

value comfort more than ever. As a result,

ing more companies asking employees to

we are seeing dress pants with stretch, bal-

return to the office, and the employees are

let flats and loafers over heels, and mixing

noticing a drastic shift in workplace attire.

and matching of separate pieces rather

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Alexandra Eve is a local stylist and wardrobe consultant. To learn more, visit alexandraeve.net.

March/April 2024

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Photo: Lunds & Byerlys

STYLE

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Ellie Fuelling is the communications manager at WBCA. Learn more about classes, programs and events at whitebeararts.org.

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PHILANTHROPY

Shelter and Stability St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center is restoring hope and dignity to locals in need.

By Jody Carey

From left to right: Summer Ettesvold, Breanna Nichols, Jenelle Thorvilson

WHEN A MOTHER OF TWO NEEDED A PLACE TO LIVE, she

walked into St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center (CRC) and found hope. Welcomed with open arms, the mother and her preschool-aged children became guests of CRC and were offered more than temporary housing.

“They’ve given me the comfort and assurance that I can believe in myself again,” the CRC guest says.

In 2011, St. Andrew’s Church in Mahtomedi took a bold step, launching CRC as a response to the growing housing insecurity in Washington County. CRC’s offerings include a family

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sheltering program, employment mentoring program, rental assistance and a free food market and clothing store.

Staff receive up to 50 calls a day from families needing assistance and hundreds of calls each year from families seeking shelter.

CRC director Breanna Nichols says the crux of the issue is affordability. A lack of affordable housing in Washington County—coupled with rising food prices—can leave area families struggling to meet their basic needs.

To help families get back on their feet, CRC has two family shelters, one in Hugo and one in Oakdale. Guests are

paired with a case manager, who helps them create a plan to reduce barriers and secure stable housing. “We’re striving for long-term stability and not a Band-Aid fix,” Nichols says. CRC helps more than 600 families a year. With 30 families living in the shelters, other guests receive rental assistance to protect them from being evicted.

Nichols says the most challenging part of her job is identifying the barriers guests encounter when looking for housing. “We can hit a lot of roadblocks, and there’s a lot of red tape,” Nichols says.

The aforementioned CRC guest

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Photo: Chris Emeott

has experience with these roadblocks.

Her case manager is helping her work through a strict list of landlord requirements, so she can rent a home—previous addresses, credit score, pay stub and social security number. She was ready to give up, but says with a support system behind her, she has hope.

For families living paycheck to paycheck, it only takes one unexpected bill like an expensive car repair to cause a discouraging setback. This is a common issue for many Washington County residents because of the area’s longer-than-average commute times.

Transportation complications lead to job absenteeism, which can result in housing insecurity.

Nichols and her team continue to respond to changing community needs.

While they primarily serve families experiencing housing insecurity, Nichols says that they recently initiated a pilot program for senior rental assistance. “We are aware that there is a ... need for more senior services as we see the baby boomer population is aging, so we need to adapt,” Nichols says.

Currently, residents of Washington County and north suburban Ramsey County are welcome to utilize the clothing distribution center and food pantry. “Anybody who comes in our front doors, single, family, old, young, doesn’t matter, we will serve them,” Nichols says.

St. Andrew’s CRC staff and volunteers are breaking down barriers and giving people in the White Bear Lake area hope. “Everybody deserves to feel love and dignity, and some of the best moments are when we see our guests have hope and pride and excitement— and bringing that back,” Nichols says.

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To learn more about how to help CRC’s mission, visit whitebearlakemag.com.

St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center, 900 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi; 651.762.9124; saintandrews.org St. Andrew's Community Resource Center @saintandrewsmn

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ARCHIVES

Preserving History Take care when cleaning out your loved one’s home— some artifacts may be vital to your community’s heritage.

By Zoe Yates

OUR LIVES ARE STORIES EVER UNFOLDING. Each year brings memo-

ries and memorabilia—high school yearbooks and graduation caps, love letters and family photographs. Inevitably, many of us will have the experience of sorting through our own belongings or clearing the homes of our loved ones.

So there comes the question: What items are worth saving?

We connected with Washington County Historical Society (WCHS) executive director Brent Peterson and White Bear Lake Area Historical Society (WBLAHS) executive director Sara Markoe Hanson to learn more about what donations the organizations may accept and include in their collections.

“If we don’t have community interest or support, we don’t exist,” Markoe Hanson says. “... We are honored to be a depository for many items and have them live on and continue to tell the stories of our community.”

Keep an Eye Out

As you return to beloved family photographs, consider the context of the image. Often, what’s happening behind your loved ones is the most important to archive—like a shop in transition or a town parade. And this need not apply only to black-and-white images. Recent photos are also appreciated. “We’re not always looking for things from 100 years ago. We’re looking for things that have made history today,” Peterson says. Both historical societies accept scans of photographs,

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too, so your family may continue to pass down the original for decades to come.

Letters and documents, including club minutes, contracts, deeds, diaries, family records, letters and maps, offer context and legitimacy to a moment in time. While they’re some of the most time-consuming items to sift through, they often hold the most historical value. “We tend to keep an eye out for collections of letters,” Markoe Hanson says. “One of the most fascinating things we’ve received over the years is a collection of letters from a home that was going to be torn down … from the World War II-era. It’s a sampling of letters that this woman received from different friends serving in the war.”

Occasionally, both historical societies accept textiles and miscellaneous artifacts. These could range from a military uniform or coffee grinder to a 1920s fire truck (which now calls WBLAHS home) or a Minnesota House of Representatives chair (recently

obtained by WCHS).

“All of our collections-making decisions really come down to, ‘Can we do justice to this piece? Can we care for it properly? Can we utilize it to further our mission?’” Markoe Hanson says.

Donate

Interested in donating to a local historical society’s collections? The best way to inquire about an artifact is to send an email with a photo and description of the item with the local connection. Staff and committees at organizations will decide whether to accept the artifact.

“It has to tie to our purpose,” Markoe Hanson says. “We don’t just take things because they’re old. When we accept something into the collection, we’re bound to care for that in perpetuity.”

For WBLAHS, this means that all items must have a clear connection to one of the the five municipalities that touch the lake. At WCHS, donations must relate to Washington County.

“I always say that families should

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LOST TREASURE Could these sought-after artifacts be in your attic?

WBLAHS is on the hunt for the first minute book for White Bear Township. “There were sightings of it over the decades, but it has not surfaced in the last 20 years,” Markoe Hanson says.

The community also hopes to discover an early 1900s photograph of the White Bear Town Hall.

“There is a reward still active out there for a picture of the White Bear Town Hall pre-1923 when it was damaged by fire,” Markoe Hanson says. “That would be excit-

Photos: Washington County Historical Society; White Bear Lake Area Historical Society

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take what they want first because family artifacts belong in the family. But if they don’t want them—and they want to know where they are—then the historical society is the next best step,” Peterson says.

To view items from the organizations’ collections, appointments are required and can be made by email or phone.

For more information about an upcoming WBLAHS event, Saving Your Stuff, visit whitebearlakemag.com.

Washington County Historical Society, 1862 Greeley St. S., Stillwater; 651.439.2298; wchsmn.org Washington County Historical Society @wchsmn White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, 2228 Fourth St., White Bear Lake; 651.407.5327; whitebearhistory.org White Bear Lake Area Historical Society @whitebearhistory

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ENLIGHTEN

Parenting for Peace Amanda Carrara helps clients learn new ways to relate to their kids—and to their own childhoods.

By Jennifer Pitterle

Amanda Carrara

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WHEN COVID-19 HIT in early 2020, most parents found themselves navigating the strange limbo of lockdown.

Mahtomedi’s Amanda Carrara and her family? They were not only locked down, but also far from home.

“Our entire family had moved to Costa Rica for my husband’s job,” Carrara says. “Costa Rica was very shut down for a very long time because they didn’t have the [medical] infrastructure,” she says. She noticed her kids—Julia, now 15; Elsa, 13; and David, 7—struggling with so much togetherness, as well as the strain on her own nerves. “My coping mechanism with the anxiety of being locked down was to learn something,” she says. “I decided to get my parent coaching certificate.”

With experience as an elementary educator, Carrara had a solid foundational knowledge of how kids’ brains work, but she had never really investigated her own parenting techniques. Her virtual training, via the Jai Institute for Parenting and the Positive Discipline Association, “completely altered the way I parent,” she says. “I learned how to do boundaries and daily values and to respect our children’s voices.”

When the family ultimately returned to Mahtomedi, she decided to launch her own parent coaching business. At her Revival Parenting workshops and private sessions, Carrara walks parents through the fundamentals of what she calls “conscious parenting.”

“When children feel safe, soothed, seen and understood, they have the safety to become an adult, and they can take risks,” Carrara says. “There isn’t a magic age where kids earn our respect.

They deserve the same respect, privilege, love and care as a full-grown adult.”

One area where Carrara is frequently asked to help—and where she’s made

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Either way, “it’s completely natural and normal,” Carrara reassures. She first asks clients to think about their own sibling dynamics from childhood.

“Were you the funny one? The smart one? And maybe, are you projecting some of what happened in your own story onto your children’s stories? We sometimes take the fear of our past and try to fix our kids,” she says.

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Be a “sportscaster,” says Carrara; describe what’s happening in a neutral way. “Safety is always first. After that, if everyone is safe, your role is to be neutral. There’s no judgment. I might say, ‘David, you took the toy from Elsa. Elsa’s face looks really sad. Did you notice that?’ If we give our kids the tools and space, they rise to those expectations.”

And Carrara knows parents can rise to those expectations—because she’s done it herself. “My girls were already 9 and 11 when I started learning about this,” she says. “It’s never too late.”

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BRIDGE

OVER

WATER WRITTEN BY MEREDITH HENEGHAN

18

AT H2O FOR LIFE, TAKING ON THE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS MEANS EMPOWERING

Patty Hall

STUDENTS TO BECOME

Photos: Sarah Dovolos; Chris Emeott

CHANGEMAKERS.

For students in White Bear Lake, the opportunity to make a life-changing impact on a global scale isn’t a pipe dream—it’s a reality that many of them have participated in more than once, thanks to one locally based nonprofit.

Founded in 2007 by White Bear Lake resident Patty Hall, H2O for Life offers service-learning opportunities for students to make a difference in the global water crisis. Youth around the country take action by spreading awareness and raising money to support water, sanitation and hygiene projects for global partner schools.

What sounds like a major undertaking is right-sized for classrooms of all different ages and subjects, pairing education with social good and expanding students’ worldviews.

Hall considers herself an “accidental nonprofit founder.” At the time, she was teaching at Highview Middle School in Mounds View and heard about a small village in Kenya that was desperate for an operational clean water system. She took on the project and, with the enthusiastic help and hard work of her school community, donated $13,000 to Kathungu Village.

Hall was inspired by her school’s commitment to this project and

March/April 2024

whitebearlakemag.com

Doug Niemela

interest in continuing to take on the global water crisis. After she visited that first project and saw its impact on the community, she returned and showed everyone what they’d made possible. Hall says that, after seeing that project in action, “Children understood they could really change the world.”

Since the original project, students and school communities across Minnesota—and the world—have continued using H2O for Life as a jumping-off point for changemaking.

At schools close to home, students also learn about the importance of protecting and conserving our local clean water.

It’s the service-learning aspect of the organization that is to be thanked for its flexibility and staying power.

“The key with our projects is that it gives young people hope, taking their local effort and having a gigantic impact on the lives of people they’ll probably never see,” says Doug Niemela, H2O for Life executive director and White Bear Lake Area High School (WBLAHS) graduate.

Students who have participated in H2O for Life projects over the years remember these lessons far beyond raising the right amount of money and seeing the project to completion.

WBLAHS junior Callie Donoghue, who engaged with H2O for Life

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Otter Lake Elementary Walk for Water

projects as an elementary student at Matoska International, says, “Starting to teach children at the elementary school age how important it is to be knowledgeable of your environmental impact on your community and world … I think [it] really makes a difference in how they will view these issues throughout their lives.”

EMPOWERING EDUCATORS

H2O for Life is not just about fundraising, though ultimately it is dollars raised that translates to completed water projects. It all starts with teachers. H2O for Life started from a place of education and works best when teachers weave it into curriculum.

H2O for Life offers a wide range of free materials for teachers to implement for students of all ages, from kindergarten

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through high school. There are reading guides, videos and full curricula for teachers to choose from, creating an a la carte system of resources that fits into all sorts of subjects and involvement levels.

There’s also an implementation option for educators who work in less well-resourced schools. A $500 mini grant program provides opportunities to educators to engage their students in learning about the global water crisis in whatever way they see fit.

Monthly programming on Saturdays is also offered for high school students to hear from people who have real life experience advocating for clean water.

Because of H2O for Life’s local roots, there are teachers in the White Bear Lake area who have been

doing these projects for a number of years. One of these teachers is Mark Domschot. Named White Bear Lake Area Educators 2023 Teacher of the Year, Domschot is a teacher at WBLAHS with a passion for developing empathy alongside his students. He wants to get away from feeling pity for the communities and kids who benefit from the students’ efforts. Instead, he hopes his students learn from the kids, who are just like them: smart, creative and fun. “I love watching our students learn from them and realizing that both sides, both schools, are learning from each other,” Domschot says.

High school junior Libby Butters is one of Domschot’s past students. “The thing I enjoyed most about working on our project has to be the build-up

March/April 2024

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BY THE NUMBERS

850 THOUSAND students at H2O for Life schools have supported global water projects for schools in the developing world.

1,200 water, sanitation and hygiene education projects have been completed.

550 THOUSAND international students now have access to water at school thanks to H2O for Life efforts.

2,000 schools around the U.S. and Canada have participated with H2O for Life.

$4 MILLION

Photo: Emilee Vizenor

has been raised by students for H20 for Life projects.

and excitement that grew within the whole school as we all worked together to reach our goal,” she says.

While students anywhere from Nicaragua to Uganda are getting the life-changing experience of clean, accessible water, students in the White Bear Lake area are becoming changemakers.

“When people come back and say the impact it’s had on their careers and futures, it shows that service learning really has a place in education,” Hall says.

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H2O for Life

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4750 Washington Square • White Bear Lake, MN 55110

21

from CITY STREETS to a W O O D E D R E T R E AT A COUPLE CREATES THEIR FOREVER HOME IN NORTH OAKS. WRITTEN BY RACHEL SCHUEHLE

Homes. And once partnered with Amy Leferink, owner of Interior Impressions in Woodbury, they got to work on every detail, big and small.

While Kate shares that she never plans to retire (Todd is retired), the pair built this home to serve them through the years. “We designed it for first floor living, so we could live here for the rest of our lives,” she says.

The size? That’s an investment, Kate asserts, for themselves and their family today—and for those to come. “We made it with the idea of the family that will live here after us,” she says.

The details of the home—from the layout to each knob and light fixture—provide an ambiance of warmth and serenity.

The unique character of every room is meant to be savored, but each contributes to the house’s overarching aesthetic. The design elements have been so thoughtfully curated that this home will certainly stand the test of time, beloved for many years to come.

“Even now, when I drive into North Oaks, a sense of peace comes over me.

You’re in the wilderness, out here with nature, and it’s just so peaceful and calming. And that’s just how I feel every day,” Kate says.

Photo: xxxxxxxxx

We all dream of what life might look like when retirement comes—a vacation across the globe, a sparkling new motorcycle or perhaps an in-ground pool with endless refreshments. For one Minnesota couple, the dream for their later years is an outlier from what one might consider typical. After many wonderful years spent in the Twin Cities, the pair uprooted and moved to a custom home in North Oaks. And while their move isn’t out of the ordinary—upsizing is extraordinary.

Homeowners Kate and Todd were intentional in their decision, which is evident in every nook and cranny of their tranquil wooded retreat.

Kate still recalls driving out to North Oaks with Todd in the early days of their relationship, now 30 years ago, and reveling in the serenity of the area. And while they chose to settle in the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul, North Oaks was always in the back of their minds. “I would get the itch over the years to relocate,” Kate says. “I grew up in Iowa; I like being in the woods, in peaceful areas.”

One day, they drove to North Oaks and noticed lots for sale. The timing lined up, and, before long, they were creating their forever home with the help of Hudson, Wisconsin-based builder Divine Custom

PHOTOS BY JILL HAMILTON

22

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THE PROPERTY The lot sits adjacent to a conservation area with a wetland, offering endless sightings of birds and critters enjoying the serenity alongside their new neighbors. The location inspired an earthy palette inside and outside the home with a focus on green, blue and white, and an emphasis on traditional wood features.

THE TV ROOM Kate particulary loves the living space they call the TV room, which features a coffered ceiling with white beams and hickory squares. “There’s a wonderful view of the backside of the lot, which is a nature preserve,” Kate says.

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23

THE KITCHEN The muted green kitchen cabinets offer a pop of color while maintaining the nature-centered palette. Tile on the kitchen backsplash (and the fireplace surround of the TV room) come from Tabarka Studio in California. The tiles are custom-designed and painted on a clay base.

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THE SITTING ROOM “Wallpaper has come back in a huge way,” Leferink says. “It’s not just one style—there are so many types: wood paneling, feminine, stripes, floral.

Wallpaper gives a small space a personality without a huge commitment if you change your mind.” The sitting room is just one of a handful of spaces in the home that leverage wallpaper as a design element.

THE PRIMARY BATHROOM The walk-in/standing shower in the primary bathroom features a hexagonal floor tile and marble surround.

The seamless threshold and meticulous measurements make the shower functional and ADA compliant with enjoyment and accessibility at the forefront of the plans.

DIVINE CUSTOM HOMES 2424 Monetary Blvd., Hudson, Wisconsin; 715.760.2298; divinecustomhome.com Divine Custom Homes @divinehomes

INTERIOR IMPRESSIONS 650 Commerce Drive Suite 140, Woodbury; 651.238.0995; interiorimpressions.org Interior Impressions @interiorimpressions

25

TA S T E M A K E R S

AL L G O OD THINGS A family-owned retailer celebrates 50 years with the opening of a new café.

Written by Zoe Yates Photos by Purpera Style Photography

M U C H H AS C H A N G E D OV E R TH E PAST 5 0 Y E A R S , both near

Three generations of Conrads stand in front of the newest addition to their family-owned business. From left to right: Tahari (holding dog, Tanner) Michelle, Tyler, Matinly, Ron, Sharon and Matissa.

26

and far. But in White Bear Lake, there remains a core group of businesses that have stood the test of time. These shops and their owners have come to define the heart of this community, seeing it through a dramatic period of growth by providing goods and services that locals and visitors alike can depend on.

Sharon Conrad, founder of GoodThings, has participated in the awakening of downtown since opening her first shop, Spanky’s Emporium, in 1973. Her son, Tyler Conrad, joined her as co-owner of GoodThings in 1998.

After many moves, additions and name changes, the family-owned business celebrated its 50th anniversary last autumn with an expansion—continuing the legacy of Grandma’s Bakery.

The duo launched GoodThings Café on October 30, just two weeks after Grandma’s Bakery (under new owner, Wuollet Bakery) moved out. “That bakery meant a lot to downtown, and still means a lot to downtown,” Sharon says. “We would never want to remove something that was making our downtown whole.”

Like Grandma’s, GoodThings Café will prioritize fresh-baked breads, pastries, donuts and cookies, with the hope to have everything made in-house in the coming months. Breakfast and lunch offerings are also available, including grab-and-go snacks, soups, salads and sandwiches. And, of course, coffee and espresso options—with beans sourced

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from a Wisconsin roaster.

“While we were all saddened with the closing of the beloved Grandma’s Bakery on Fourth Street, everyone is excited about the new GoodThings Café,” says Lisa Beecroft, president of White Bear Lake Main Street. “The Conrads have done a nice job of providing a charming café that complements downtown White Bear Lake.”

The quick transition means there will be much to come this year, from interior changes to menu improvements. “It’s going to evolve,” Tyler says.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect of the expansion for the Conrads is that they were able to connect GoodThings, GoodThings Café and GoodStyle, opening the three spaces and improving the shopping experience—a dream years in the making. “Customers no longer have to walk out and around to each space— they’re one continuous space,” Tyler says.

And while Sharon was initially hesitant to leap into the food industry, she’s excited for what the evolution means for GoodThings and the broader community. “The more and more we see in other cities, stores like ours expanding into food and having little side cafés in them—it makes for a wonderful shopping environment,” Sharon says.

The transition has already been a hit with longtime customers, Tyler notes. In the weeks after opening, he recalls greeting two women who have been loyal customers since the first years of Spanky’s.

One of those women had been the sole visitor to Sharon’s first holiday open house during a blizzard in 1973, arriving at the event on cross-country skis.

It’s that family-to-family connection that the Conrads will forever value.

Meeting new people, developing lasting friendships and serving and supporting the community. “I thank them all,” Sharon says. “The ones that have gone and the ones that come after them.”

50 YEARS OF GROWTH Since opening her first store with a

the move to White Bear Lake.

$5,000 loan from her father, Sharon

“All of the sudden, the town just

hasn’t looked back. “I always loved

became alive. It started growing and

White Bear, and I wanted to see it

growing and growing, and it was

develop because I felt it was the best

just such a wonderful place to be,”

little town in all of the Twin Cities,”

Sharon says. “I wouldn’t shoo any-

she says.

body away from coming to White

From a 12-year-old girl dreaming

Bear. I think the best thing in the

about owning a store to a 22-year-

whole wide world is competition,

old woman opening her first shop

face-to-face; it brings more custom-

in the basement of a local bank

ers, the same type of customers, and

building and now, a 75-year-old with

that’s why you can’t find parking in

a legacy of entrepreneurship and

downtown White Bear Lake.”

commitment to the White Bear Lake community, it’s been quite a journey.

With Tyler’s support, GoodThings has gone through expansion and

“It’s been like living with your

improvement in recent years. In addi-

friends and having fun with your

tion to the now four shops in White

friends your whole life. It’s just a

Bear Lake—GoodThings, GoodThings

wonderful feeling,” Sharon says.

Café, GoodThings Clothing and

“We are blessed.”

GoodThings Kids—you can also find

Up until Tyler joined her as coowner, Sharon had yet to pay herself.

“Any money, I just put back into the business, and I did that for more than 20 years,” she says.

This was, in large part, due to her

GoodThings in St. Paul, Maple Grove and at the Minnesota State Fair.

Yet, White Bear Lake will forever remain the heart of GoodThings.

“White Bear was our anchor, our flagship store, our oldest, our

desire to continue to grow, develop

first, our everything here,” Sharon

and enliven the White Bear Lake

says. “It’s just been a wonderful

community. As a spokesperson

ride through life to be able to do

for downtown for many years, she

what you love, and I’ve loved

encouraged new businesses to make

every minute.”

GoodThings Café, 2184 Fourth St. Suite 2, White Bear Lake; 651.426.8006; shopgoodthings.com GoodThings

@goodthingsmn

Tyler and Michelle Conrad’s daughters, Matissa (15), Tahari (13) and Matinly (8), look into the sweet-filled display case at GoodThings Cafe.

27

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lo c al things to se e an d do

O N T H E TOW N

Director Kivan Kirk leads the cast for the first read-through of the show.

INSIDE AN EXTRAORDINARY MIND Lakeshore Players Theatre production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, opens March 8.

I N TH IS L IM IN A L SPACE BE TW EEN W INTE R AND

Photo: Charliey Libra

S PRIN G , there’s no better time to indulge in the arts.

Lakeshore Players Theatre has a plethora of shows planned for all ages at Hanifl Performing Arts Center, including an adaptation of Mark Haddon’s bestselling novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.

“We’re interested in exploring new and imaginative ways to do theater, and this was the perfect story for us to be able to do that,” says Megan Pence, managing director of Lakeshore Players.

The story centers on 15-year-old Christopher, a boy with autism spectrum disorder whose extraordinary brain sets him apart from others. He’s often quiet and has trouble imagining the nuanced inner worlds of those around him. Yet, his unique intelligence and love for animals drives him to investigate the killing of his neighbor’s dog. The journey of discovery will forever change his world.

“What’s really exciting about it is that it’s a great opportu-

March/April 2024

whitebearlakemag.com

nity for us to showcase the work of a neurodivergent actor in the lead role,” Pence says. The artistic and production teams, led by director Kivan Kirk, are also taking a unique approach to actor experience and set design. “Because of the nature of the role being set in the mind of somebody who has an extraordinary brain, we are able to produce the show in a way that audiences are probably not going to be expecting from us,” Pence says. —Zoe Yates Curious Incident runs from March 8–17, with ASLinterpreted, pay-what-you-want and audio-described showtimes available. To purchase tickets and take a look at Lakeshore Players’ upcoming productions, visit lakeshoreplayers.org.

Lakeshore Players Theatre and Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake; 651.478.7427; lakeshoreplayers.org Lakeshore Players Theatre

@lakeshoreplayerstheatre

29

O N T H E TOW N

BEST RATE OF THE DAY CERTIFICATE SPECIAL

Take advantage of special daily rates on our Certificates of Deposit!

Compiled by Findlay Drabant and Hailey Almsted

Interest rates are consistently changing, so to ensure we’re always offering our best CD rates, each morning we will publish our “Best Rate of the Day.”

LOCAL EVENTS

Visit our website for today’s BEST CD RATE! Family Story Time 03/01–03/29

www.citiescu.org | 651-426-3773 Not available on money currently on deposit at Cities CU. Offer subject to change without notice. Federally insured by NCUA.

Every Friday, Ramsey County Library welcomes children between the ages of 2 and 5 along with their caregivers for an afternoon of reading, rhyming and music.

Imagine Art

Youth Summer Camp

Ages 2–5. Free. 10:30 a.m. Ramsey County Library, 2150 Second St., White Bear Lake; 651.724.6007; rclreads.bibliocommons.com

The Music of Patsy Cline with Joyann Parker 03/24 Join Joyann Parker in her authentic ren-

Art classes for grades 1-8

dition of Patsy Cline’s classics. Stories of Cline’s life will be included between songs, such as Walking After Midnight and Sweet Dreams in a show that has sold out hundreds of times. All ages. $17–$42. 2 p.m. Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake; 651.478.7427; lakeshoreplayers.org

Visit WhiteBearArts.org

I Am My Own Wife 04/05–04/14 Based on a true story, this play depicts the life of Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, a transgender woman who survived Nazi Germany and the East German Communist Regime. All ages. Prices

vary. Times vary. Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake; 651.478.7427; lakeshoreplayers.org

Home Show 04/20 The biannual White Bear Lake Home Show has up to 120 home improvement professionals who want to help with your home improvement projects.

“

Saving Your Stuff

FILLORY DESIGN COMPANY

“

Come visit our showroom in downtown White Bear Lake, where you can pick out a beautiful piece of wood to make something yourself or we can create a one-of-a-kind piece for you!

All ages. Free. 10 a.m. Hippodrome Ice Arena, 4855 Bloom Ave., White Bear Lake; 952.232.1765; minnesotahomeshows.com

Our trees are locally sourced & we work with local artisans as well to keep new and exciting items coming in to the showroom.

04/22 Learn about how to preserve and protect your valuables with Megan Narvey, outreach conservator at the Minnesota Historical Society. All ages.

Free. 6 p.m. Ramsey County Library, 2150 Second St., White Bear Lake; 651.407.5327; whitebearhistory.org

2193 4th Street | Thurs-Sat 10am-5pm | For an Appointment, call Todd: 763-218-1136 30

March/April 2024

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l o ca l t h i n g s to se e a n d d o

AREA EVENTS

18 Nordic Village

20

03/01–03/31 The Four Seasons Hotel Minneapolis

WINNER

BEST OF

is offering a cozy winter dining experi-

’21

ence with seasonally decorated cedar cabins, which are available to rent for dinners, private events and buyouts Wednesdays through Sundays through March 31. All ages. Prices vary. 5 p.m. Four

Seasons Hotel Minneapolis, 245 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; 612.895.5700; fourseasons.com

Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament 03/06–03/10 See one of the biggest postseason events in women’s basketball at the Target Center. All ages. Ticket prices vary. Times vary. 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; 612.673.1300; targetcenter.com

Hairspray 03/12–03/17

You give us a vision, and we handcraft it into reality.

Custom, handcrafted kitchens, vanities and furniture you want and can afford for your home.

Farmhouse Style Furniture 5350 Highway 61 N. Suite 3, White Bear Lake 651.528.8527 putnamfarmhouse.com

Whether you are a famous celebrity or a “regular” person, everyone needs a good estate plan. Let me help you put together a plan that suits you and your family.

Sheila J. Kelly Law Firm, LLC 4856 Banning Ave. 612.568.8758 sheilakellylaw.com

Hairspray features 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad, who takes on 1960s Baltimore, hoping to be featured on a popular TV show. All ages. $44–$162.

Times vary. Ordway, 345 Washington St., St. Paul; 651.224.4222; ordway.org

Hot Dash 03/23 Tackle the cold in true Minnesota fashion and race around the Mississippi River with Twin Cities in Motion.

This event will have a 5K and a 10K, a free kids race, and runners will have access to post-race food, a free beer, pull tabs, bingo, meat raffles and more. All ages. $0–$54.

8:45 a.m. NE Main St. and Third Ave. NE, Mpls.; 651.289.7700; tcmevents.org

To have your event considered: email whitebearlakemag@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

Children’s Discovery is a local, family owned child care. Our mission is serving families through the exceptional care and education of children.

Discover the difference, today!

since these pages went to print. Please visit affiliated websites for updates.

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It’s the TRUST we earn each and every day from our patients that makes us a TOP AREA DENTIST.

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LAST GLANCE

Home of the Wobbler An award-winning image captures a beloved backyard visitor.

Sometimes, you need not go far for an exceptional photograph. For White Bear Lake resident Debbie Hartmann, a local friend’s home is a bird watching destination. “My friend Brenda and I both live in White Bear Lake, and I love hanging out on her deck with my camera because she has so many birds in the woods behind her home. One day, my friend asked if I would take some pictures of the wobbler birds because it was her husband’s favorite bird. Over the next few hours, every time she said, ‘wobbler,’ I smiled big because it was hilarious,” Hartmann says. (The bird in question is a yellow-rumped warbler). “ I took many photos that day, and this one ended up being my favorite.” —Zoe Yates

Photographer: Debbie Hartmann

Title: My Best Friend Calls This Bird a Wobbler, and I Don’t Correct Her Equipment: Fujifilm XT5 with a 70–300mm lens Category: Wildlife Award: Third Place

To view other Lens on the Lake photo contest winners, visit whitebearlakemag.com.

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